This innovative investment in UNO will provide funding to priorities that benefit from catalytic investments. These funds aim to inspire faculty and staff to consider new and innovative ideas that will help move UNO from good to great. Potential projects are not exclusively for academic endeavors and all projects that enhance the university’s top priorities and strategic areas are welcome. Partnerships across colleges and/or units are encouraged.
All faculty and staff are eligible to submit applications through NuRamp. Principal Investigators (PIs) may apply for no more than one grant; there is no limit on their participation as Co-PIs.
A campus advisory committee will evaluate applications and consider how well the application addresses the priorities, whether intercampus or interdisciplinary connections strengthen the application, the nature of the needs the application addresses, and the application's likelihood of success.
Funding will be available at up to $500,000, $250,000, and $100,000 levels. The intent is for funding to support an idea or project that could be spent over a number of years. For example, someone may request $100,000 to spend $50,000 of the funds over two years to fulfill the project. All awards are subject to funding availability and determinations of application suitability.
Strategic Priorities- applications must align with at least one of these three pillars of the UNO Core's four pillars:
- Pillar 1 Educating All Learners
- Pillar 3 Community Engagement, Development, and Partnerships
- Pillar 4 Workforce and Economic Development
For a full list of funded proposals, visit the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Initiative Stories page.
Fiscal year funding 2027
August 2026 to October 2026: Program Review
December 1, 2026: NuRamp open for applications
February 1, 2027: Applications due by 5PM
April 2027: Notification of funded projects
July 1, 2027: 2027 funded projects begin