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Become A Member

Call For Proposals

All applications for the 2023-2025 selection cycle should be submitted via email to Executive Director Carrie White by February 28, 2023.

Become A Member

Becoming a member of the IDEA Faculty Fellow Program is a great way to get involved with West Virginia University's initiative to broaden the horizons of innovation, design and entrepreneurship. Faculty members who are active in the program have the opportunity to work directly with faculty and students to spark entrepreneurial success in their own lives and beyond.

While self-employment and business development are critical outcomes of entrepreneurship education, they are not the only outcomes. To encourage a cross-disciplinary approach to the entrepreneurial mindset, proposals incorporating social entrepreneurship, design thinking, product design, technology development, emergent organizational ideas and innovation will also be considered. Since entrepreneurship will not likely be a faculty member’s primary discipline, IDEA Fellows will be provided with extensive training and professional development in entrepreneurship. The Fellows will be required to participate in specific training and will have the opportunity to request support for additional training specific to their proposal and niche areas of interest.

Questions regarding the IDEA Faculty Fellows Program should be directed to the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab Executive Director, Carrie White via email at  cwhite17@mail.wvu.

Application Materials

Interested faculty must provide the following:

The proposal documents should be combined into a single PDF file and emailed to cwhite17@mail.wvu by midnight February 28, 2023. No late applications will be considered.


  1. A current curriculum vitae or resume

  2. A letter of interest

    A letter of interest explaining their desire to be part of the program and why they feel they would be a good champion for innovation, design and entrepreneurship education on their campus.

  3. A proposal

    A proposal, not to exceed 3 pages, detailing plans for a infusing innovation into an existing course or development of a new course. In addition to the items outlined below, the proposal should explain how it directly relates to the goals of the cross-campus innovation, design and entrepreneurship program.

    - Modification of an Existing Course proposals should include the existing syllabus of the course to be modified and a detailed description the modifications including revised course objectives, expected learning outcomes and possible course activities or projects.

    - New Course proposals should include a course description, course objectives, expected learning outcomes and possible course activities or projects

    - All proposals should describe the target audience (preference is given to proposals that allow students from multiple majors to participate) and expected number of students served. Courses that meet requirements or restricted elective towards degree programs or acceptance in the GEF are favored. Proposals with strong experiential learning and/or problem-based learning components will be given preference.

  4. Availability to Participate in Training

    The faculty member’s availability to participate in out-of-town training May 2023, is required for participation in this program.

  5. Letter(s) of support

    Letter(s) of support from both the faculty member’s division/department chair and the dean should include the following:

    - A statement that, if selected, the faculty member will deliver the course or activity to the described audience in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years.

    - A discussion of the faculty member’s ability to collaborate and be an effective champion for entrepreneurship across campus.

SELECTION PROCESS 

The proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of the Executive Director, Hayhurst LaunchLab, a representative or designee from the Provost’s office at WVU Tech and the Dean of Academic Affairs’ office at Potomac State College and an existing IDEA Fellow. Top candidates will be invited to interview with members of the selection committee. 

Selection Criteria

  • Proposal’s alignment to existing programs or courses and with goals of the cross-campus innovation, design and entrepreneurship program including:
    -Clearly defined course/project objectives
    -Expected learning outcomes
    -Potential activities and projects - especially those that include experiential and  problem-based learning.
    -Credit towards a degree program
  • Anticipated number, level and major of the students served
  • Faculty member’s enthusiasm for the program and ability to collaborate with the cohort,

Notifications will be made on or before  March 11, 2023