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About
Fall Open House
Join us for our last Fall Open Houses and experience our beautiful, riverfront campus firsthand. Learn more about Marist’s academic experience, the admissions process, and get an inside look at life as a Red Fox! You'll have the opportunity to hear directly from students, faculty, and staff about what makes the Marist Community so special. Register Below:
About
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Academics
Fall Open House
Join us for our last Fall Open Houses and experience our beautiful, riverfront campus firsthand. Learn more about Marist’s academic experience, the admissions process, and get an inside look at life as a Red Fox! You'll have the opportunity to hear directly from students, faculty, and staff about what makes the Marist Community so special. Register Below:
Academics
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Admission & Financial Aid
Fall Open House
Join us for our last Fall Open Houses and experience our beautiful, riverfront campus firsthand. Learn more about Marist’s academic experience, the admissions process, and get an inside look at life as a Red Fox! You'll have the opportunity to hear directly from students, faculty, and staff about what makes the Marist Community so special. Register Below:
Admission & Financial Aid
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Student Life
Fall Open House
Join us for our last Fall Open Houses and experience our beautiful, riverfront campus firsthand. Learn more about Marist’s academic experience, the admissions process, and get an inside look at life as a Red Fox! You'll have the opportunity to hear directly from students, faculty, and staff about what makes the Marist Community so special. Register Below:
Student Life
- Athletics
Marist SPARK Grant Funding
Marist SPARK program invites faculty and staff to envision and shape the University's future through innovative initiatives that advance the ambitious goals outlined in Marist 100.
This competitive grant program will invest a total of $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 to provide seed funding to create, scalable projects that demonstrate novel approaches to addressing institutional priorities while fostering an environment of entrepreneurial thinking and strategic problem-solving. As a venue for experimentation, Marist SPARK seeks proposals that push boundaries, challenge conventional thinking, and create new opportunities for growth and distinction.
Successful proposals will present clear proof-of-concept ideas that can be tested, evaluated, and potentially scaled for broader implementation. Projects must be completed within the funding year and demonstrate measurable impact to campus through concrete outcomes.
- Four to six awards ranging from $10,000- $20,000 are anticipated
- Faculty and staff are eligible to apply as primary applicants, either as individuals or teams.
- Requests will not be considered if alternative sources of funding, such as operating budgets, professional development funds, capital project funds, etc. are available and/or more appropriate.
- While research may be included as part of a proposal, proposals purely focused on advancing research without a direct benefit to Marist will not be considered.
- Priority consideration will be given to proposals that meaningfully integrate students into the project design and implementation and advance institutional priorities including:
- retention
- artificial intelligence
- environmental sustainability
- post-graduation readiness
- Materials and equipment to develop, test, communicate, or assess the proposed project
- Project-related travel
- Specialized training or professional services directly related to the project
- Software or technology tools (prior engagement with Chief Information Officer by emailing MaristSPARK@marist.edu is strongly encouraged).
- Additional pay at a maximum amount of $2,500 per person
- Student employment (hourly limitations apply)
- Creation of new FT/PT permanent employee positions
- Payment for salary of existing employees or student workers
- Requests for course releases
- Building/space renovations
- Operating supplies, equipment, or furniture covered under department budgets
- Routine software licenses or subscriptions
- Maintenance costs or requirement of ongoing maintenance
- Travel to conferences routinely attended
Executive summary
Strategic Alignment and Innovation
- Statement of need/opportunity
- Description of innovative approach
- Selection of primary Marist 100 goals and initiatives
- Descriptive alignment with Marist 100 priorities
Implementation Plan, Outcomes, and Deliverables
- Detailed project description and methodology
- Timeline of activities and evidence of implementation within project year
- Summary of deliverables, including anticipated outcomes
- Plans for assessment and evaluation
- Potential for scalability/sustainability
Budget and Resources
- Detailed budget with itemized expenses - Budget Form (MS Excel Document)
- Budget narrative/justification
Supporting Documentation
- Letters of support from relevant stakeholders
- Dean/VP endorsement - Sample Letter (MS Word Document)
Timeline
Date
Event
Successful projects will be required to:
- Meet with operational staff to support project implementation (e.g. Business Office, IT)
- Submit a mid-year report on June 30, 2026
- Conclude project no later than December 31, 2026
- Submit a final project report on March 1, 2027
- Participate in a panel presentation showcasing outcomes in Spring 2027