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About the Flywheel Challenge
MSU Denver offers an exciting opportunity for faculty, staff and students to earn extra money by developing innovative solutions that address Flywheel Friction. These solutions can range from simple tweaks to more complex innovations, as long as they effectively save time and/or money and improve efficiencies across various systems and processes. By incentivizing the creation of practical solutions, the University not only empowers its community to tackle real-world challenges but also strengthens the overall experience for everyone involved.
Moreover, these efforts contribute directly to the financial stability of MSU Denver. By encouraging the development of cost-saving strategies and operational improvements, the University can ensure that resources are used more efficiently, ultimately supporting its long-term success. This collaborative approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement, where the benefits of innovation are felt campus-wide, reinforcing MSU Denver’s commitment to operational excellence.
Application Requirements
Submissions to the President’s Flywheel Challenge must meet the following criteria:
- Description of the problem, inefficiency, and/or Flywheel Friction.
- Articulate a solution that saves the University time and/or money
- Explain how the solution aligns with MSU Denver’s mission and CADRE values.
- Include a budget that shows initial funding (if needed) and financial savings for the University.
Fuel the Flywheel
Submit Your Idea HereCommon Questions
Submissions are reviewed on a quarterly basis, and below are dates in which submissions will be considered:
- February 14, 2025 – Q1 Submission Review
- May 15, 2025 – Q2 Submission Review
- August 14, 2025 Q3 – Submission Review
- November 14, 2025 – Q4 Submission Review
All submissions received between the previous quarterly review date will be considered. For example, if an idea is submitted on February 15, 2025, that submission will be included in the May 15, 2025 review.
Submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Time efficiency and financial savings: What potential impact does the proposal have to time management, and how financially feasible is its application within MSU Denver’s budget?
- Mission Alignment: To what extent does the proposal align with MSU’s mission, CADRE values, and the President’s Flywheel
- Implementation: How straightforward will the solution be to implement?
- Presentation and Clarity: How effectively is the proposal communicated, including clarity of purpose, methodology, and expected outcomes?
Feel free to use the worksheets below to guide you through the submission process; all worksheets adapted from worksheets created by Rebecca Reid, Innovation and Transformation:
- Problem Statement Worksheet
- Business Case Worksheet
- Opportunity and Risk Statement Worksheet
- Funding and Resources Worksheet
You can save your progress and return to complete your application at any time. However, once it’s submitted, no further changes can be made.
Upon submission, the President’s Office will oversee the evaluation process with input from the following units represented on the evaluation committee:
- Project Management Office (ITS)
- Budget/Finance
- Legal
- Subject Matter Experts (ex: if an idea is submitted that will impact the Enrollment Management Office, then an employee from Enrollment Management will sit on the evaluation committee)
- Faculty, Staff, and Student volunteers
The review process will take approximately 4-6 weeks.
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email, followed by a notification from the President’s Office once the review process begins. For any questions, comments, or concerns during submission, evaluation, or post-evaluation, we encourage you to contact the Presidential Faculty Fellow.
Every submission must have a sponsor as outlined below:
| Submitter | Appropriate Sponsor |
| Faculty member | Department Chair or above |
| Staff member | Director level or above |
| Student | Academic Department Chair or above, or Staff Director or above |
The listed sponsor will be included on the email confirmation after submission is finalized.