Uncategorized Archives - Page 11 of 12 - Grants Development & Special Projects at Virginia Western

Jan

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for the Innovation Grant …

January 31, 2018Uncategorized

How are those Innovation Grant proposals going? I’ve been hearing some good questions from your colleagues about the process, and I thought I would post some tips for generating grant-winning ideas. Here are five: 1. Think “Project Runway” So if you’ve ever chatted with me for more than 5 minutes, then you probably know I’m… Continue Reading If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for the Innovation Grant …

Jan

Thinking about an Innovation Grant? Don’t skip these important first steps

January 15, 2018Uncategorized

So perhaps you have some creative ideas floating around your head … ideas to help students succeed, or possible solutions to help with student retention. If you’re like me, your idea might feel a bit half-baked … the start of something cool, but you feel like you need to talk it out with another colleague.… Continue Reading Thinking about an Innovation Grant? Don’t skip these important first steps

Jan

‘Western, we have a problem’: 5 tough takeaways from Dr. Monty Sullivan

January 5, 2018Uncategorized

More than 20 years since I first watched “Apollo 13,” I’m often reminded of one particular scene. And no, it’s not, “Houston, we have a problem.” In order to save the Apollo crew, a group of NASA engineers raced against the clock to create a carbon dioxide filter from the limited equipment available in the spacecraft. They… Continue Reading ‘Western, we have a problem’: 5 tough takeaways from Dr. Monty Sullivan

Dec

Wait! Before you log off for winter break …

December 14, 2017Uncategorized

As I’ve emphasized before, ideas — our imagination — are the real power behind grants. And I collect rando ideas like some people collect Star Wars action figures. I read like a maniac because it helps stuff my brain with as many ideas as possible — and then, like magic! — some joke or frustration… Continue Reading Wait! Before you log off for winter break …

Dec

Here’s an idea for the Paul Lee Professional Development Grant. What are yours?

December 11, 2017Uncategorized

Before we get bogged down in the details of the Paul Lee Professional Development Grant, I thought I’d expound on an idea that I mentioned in a previous blog post. In “The Power of Moments,” authors Chip Heath and Dan Heath introduced me to the Course Design Institute (CDI), a week-long workshop offered at the… Continue Reading Here’s an idea for the Paul Lee Professional Development Grant. What are yours?

Dec

Got a workshop idea for the summer? VCCS Paul Lee grant applications due Feb. 1

December 4, 2017Uncategorized

Pictured: The Instructional Technology Mini-Conference at Virginia Western in July 2016. I’m hoping you’re as excited about professional development as these folks are, because the VCCS offers two types of professional development grants: The Paul Lee Professional Development Grant, with a maximum stipend of $2,500 for the summer.The Paul Lee Workshop Mini-Grant, with a maximum… Continue Reading Got a workshop idea for the summer? VCCS Paul Lee grant applications due Feb. 1

Nov

Thanks for sharing your creative Student Success Kit ideas

November 27, 2017Uncategorized

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Student Success Kits that are mailed to each new student at Western Governors University. The kits include practical tools to help these students succeed at an online university, including a webcam. But more importantly, the act of receiving — and unpacking those kits — have become… Continue Reading Thanks for sharing your creative Student Success Kit ideas

Nov

What would you put in a Virginia Western Student Success Kit?

November 13, 2017Uncategorized

Perhaps this idea has floated around campus before … but I thought I’d share a noteworthy nugget that popped into my Twitter stream. Apparently all new students at Western Governors University (WGU) — an online university — are mailed a Student Success Kit at the beginning of their first term. I know this because WGU… Continue Reading What would you put in a Virginia Western Student Success Kit?

Nov

If Virginia Western were a theme park …

November 6, 2017Uncategorized

If you’ve ever been in my office in Fishburn, you probably noticed my bulletin board. Half of it is designated as an “Idea Shelf” — where I jot down creative thoughts to use for later. The other half prominently features a Busch Gardens park map. Let me explain. Months ago, as our office brainstormed through… Continue Reading If Virginia Western were a theme park …

Oct

We face wicked problems, personally and professionally. Design thinking can help.

October 30, 2017Uncategorized

It’s my favorite time of year — Halloween! — so I thought I’d discuss wicked problems. Wicked problems are complex, social problems that are constantly changing — which are exactly the kind of problems we face at Virginia Western. Design thinking is a methodology that can help us address these wicked problems (and write grants… Continue Reading We face wicked problems, personally and professionally. Design thinking can help.

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Shelley Lyons is glad to be back on campus as she is a Virginia Western alum, and has served as the Administrative Officer for Grants Administration at Virginia Western since early 2022. Prior to VWCC, her career focus was within the Human Services and Arts fields. She wrote her first grant in 1996 on a whim and has continued to plan and learn since that time. She most enjoys seeing a well-planned project come to fruition, where funder, project manager and beneficiaries can all feel success and see impact.