February 1, 2018

UCI Big Ideas Challenge

To the Anteater community,

When we introduced UCI’s strategic plan, which sets out a bold road map for UCI’s growth, we knew it was vital to involve the entire university community in the goal-setting process. Now, as we embark on the planning process for the next comprehensive fundraising campaign, we again ask for your critical participation.

The primary objective of our next fundraising campaign will be to expand our capacity to carry out our mission of research, teaching and public service. With support from generous donors, we aspire to meet the goals of UCI’s strategic plan, positively impact the campus and society, leverage our multidisciplinary strengths, change lives, and become a leader in helping to solve the world’s grand challenges.

But this brilliant future depends on you. As faculty, students and staff, you are UCI’s most important partner in our effort to achieve our aspirations. For that reason, we are launching the UCI Big Ideas Challenge today.

The purpose of the UCI Big Ideas Challenge is to source visionary ideas from the campus community that will help advance us toward our brilliant future. The best will be included as specific priorities in the next fundraising campaign and will be shared with donors and other potential funders. Whether they support groundbreaking research, leading-edge equipment and technology, or an innovative new program or institute, big, bold ideas from students, faculty and staff should be multidisciplinary, ambitious and far-reaching so that, given the proper resources, they can have a transformational impact. I encourage you to review the UCI Big Ideas Challenge criteria, begin formulating ideas with your colleagues and classmates, and then submit your ideas.

The deadline is Monday, April 2, 2018. After that, multiple rounds of review will be conducted by a diverse group of judges including faculty, staff and students from across campus, as well as UCI Foundation trustees, alumni, emeriti, retirees and university leadership.

We look forward to seeing your visionary ideas for UCI’s future. To learn more, please attend the UCI Big Ideas Challenge information session at 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, in the Student Center’s Crystal Cove Auditorium.

Fiat Lux,
Chancellor Howard Gillman