Innovation grant seeks input from students and faculty

Recently, The Utah State University Facilities department created the Innovation Transportation Grant, which is a project to help improve key transportation issues on campus. Now they are seeking proposals from students, faculty and staff on how the money should be used.

Jordy Guth, an architect for the USU Facilities department and the head of this project, said Facilities is hoping to engage the rest of the university in a discussion about transportation on campus and how problems can be solved.

“Most people have experienced some congestion from walking, riding bikes or trying to cross the roads. People may be be having concerns about safety or parking,” Guth said. “Facilities tries to create a better campus for everybody through buildings, grounds, roads and all other aspects.”

The grant allows for a budget of up to $25,000, Guth said. However, she also said the proposals don’t need to take up the entire budget.

“The money doesn’t go a long way in funding infrastructure,” Guth said. “There could be educational programs, bike share programs, things like that. And you don’t have to apply for the whole amount.”

Guth said there is a possibility that multiple proposals could be accepted, if they don’t take up the entire fund.

“We could have several awards,” Guth said. “For instance, if you wanted to put in a bike rack, that would be a smaller budget. Sometimes the lower-priced ideas help more than the other ones.”

Guth said anyone who has an idea on how to improve the transportation aspects of campus should submit a proposal.

“This is set up for anybody affiliated with campus,” Guth said. “Any student or employee who has an idea on how to improve some aspect of campus can submit.”

This will likely be a one-time opportunity for students and faculty to give their input on transportation issues they see, Guth said.

“This idea has to do with the fact that we can’t know everything that’s happening on campus,” Guth said. “It’s great to get input from people and hear about particular intersections that are hard to cross or other problems that they’re experiencing.”

Guth said USU Facilities is also working with the USU Sustainability Council on this project. She said sustainability should be a key part of the proposals.

“We’ve got a lot of air quality problems here,” Guth said. “We know our carbon footprint is large and that has to do with commuting students and employees. We’re trying to help solve those problems.”

According to the USU Sustainability Council’s statement on the grant, proposals can address a variety of topics, including safety, infrastructure, improving access on campus, raising awareness about transportation issues and environmental concerns.

“Individuals or groups may apply,” the statement said. “Faculty, staff and student collaborations and cross-disciplinary teams are encouraged. Groups must identify a leader who will also be the responsible party.”

The statement said proposals are due at 5 p.m. on Nov. 24. Awards will be announced by Dec. 12. Early submissions are “encouraged and appreciated.”

Guth said the innovation aspect of this project means that people should be creative. She also said anyone on campus who has an idea should submit.

“We tell people to be creative and have fun with it,” Guth said.