“What If” Initiative
Coming together to advance ideas, create change, and support creativity and innovation at Hamilton.
Timeline
Part I: Engage
Submit “What If” Questions & Ideas
All members of the campus community were invited to submit their “What If” questions and ideas. The College received more than 300 submissions before the October 28 deadline.
Part II: Collaborate
Explore & Develop Ideas (November)
More than 90 campus community members attended a brainstorming event open to all students, faculty, and staff that took place on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Burke Library. This event was designed to facilitate enhanced discussions of an idea and for community members to attend and find collaborators.
Part III: Transform
Submit a “What If” Proposal
Deadline: Friday, Jan. 17
The online portal is now open! Selected proposals, which will be announced sometime during the Spring 2025 semester, will receive funding to support implementation and/or further research and development.
The “What If” Initiative is designed to support ideas from the Hamilton community that:
- Experiment with new ways for students to experience learning
- Encourage innovative teaching
- Explore new ways to support students
- Enhance our campus community’s creative commitment to expression, fostering belonging, and connection, through the practice of the liberal arts
- Increase our capacity as a college for collaboration, creative exchange, and non-routine approaches to fostering community, expression, and connection
Types of “What If” Proposals
Budget: Less than $2,000
Spark propositions are typically small-scale ideas with a modest budget that can be designed within a semester and implemented the following semester.
Budget: Less than $10,000
Catalyst propositions are more complex ideas that will likely require expanded community partnerships and take up to a full academic year to develop. The expectation is that they would be implemented the following academic year.
Transformational propositions do not have a maximum funding limit and represent ideas that will significantly enhance the College's ability to serve our students and build our reputation as a leader among small residential liberal arts colleges.
Important Dates
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1/8/2025 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Informal Collaboration Session
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1/17/2025
Contact
Office / Department Name
Office of the President
Contact Name
"What If" Initiative Committee
