Center For Innovation and Strategic Partnership

Lynchburg’s President, Alison Morrison-Shetlar, described collaborative innovation as one of the University’s three pillars of success. The Center for Innovation and Strategic Partnership (CISP) was created in 2021 to encourage innovation, remove barriers, and support departments’ collaboration.

The Innovation Collaborative (IC) is a team of volunteers from different parts of the University who work together in the CISP. They help advocate for new and creative ideas that people submit, working with them to learn more about their ideas and helping connect them to the right areas of campus.

The Center works with organizations and individuals in the community to further projects and also has a consultation process for big, long-term projects that don’t fit within the university. The CISP is recruiting an advisory board of faculty, staff, and community members.

Contact Us

University of Lynchburg
Center for Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
1501 Lakeside Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24501

 [email protected]

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The Innovation Collaborative (IC) will review and categorize each proposal. Then, each proposal will have an advocate who will help the project move forward. The advocate will use the combined knowledge of the IC, form partnerships among similar proposals, help with institutional requirements, and ease access to money.

The idea process includes the following steps:

The idea is submitted to the Innovation Collaborative.
The idea is assigned an advocate on the IC.
The advocate connects with the submitter to learn more and make appropriate connections to campus areas.
They work together to decide what is needed for idea implementation (funding, process, staffing, etc.).
Determine the long-term home for the implemented idea, and secure necessary support for idea sustainability.
Request funding (if applicable) and endorsement from IC for idea launch.
Determine the impact and follow-up.

All ideas are welcomed – big or small! When an idea belongs in an academic department or University center, the IC will work with the department to provide a “kick start.” This can be in the form of advocacy or, in some cases, funding.

The Center for Innovation and Strategic Partnerships becomes the home for larger, long-term projects that do not have a home within the University yet.