Thanks to generous support from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), Miami University has established a mental health incubator fund to support programming on campus. The fund was created to inspire members of the Miami community to develop new initiatives that will enhance mental health support for students across all campuses.

“The ODHE grant allows us to build on the incredible work occurring on campus around supporting students' mental health while looking for opportunities to innovate,” said Steve Large, assistant vice president of student life for health and wellness. “The incubator fund also highlights that student mental health is everyone’s responsibility at Miami, not one person or department.”

In order to access monetary support from the fund, an application must be submitted, which is then reviewed by a small committee of faculty, staff, and students from across our campuses. Any faculty, staff member, or student (including student organizations) is invited and encouraged to request program support from the mental health incubator fund, provided the following considerations are met:

• The initiative must benefit Miami students.
• Proposed initiatives should advance an aspect of student mental health including, but not limited to: education/training, prevention, skill-building, innovative practices, stigma reduction, etc.
• Funding proposals can range from $500 to $20,000.
• Funds must be utilized within fiscal year 2024 or fiscal year 2025 (ending June 30, 2025).
• The initiative should not require ongoing funding; it's a one-time funding opportunity.
• The fund will not support research, student staff hiring, travel for professional development, or offset institutional resources.
• Applications with broader impact and larger student reach will be prioritized.
• Applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with the recommendations from Miami’s Mental Health Task Force, focusing on systems, communication, education, and culture.

Proposals requesting $2,500 or more will be invited to participate in an incubator challenge competition on April 1, 2024. Proposals requesting less than $2,500 will be reviewed and awarded separately from the competition.

For questions about the application process or project eligibility, please reach out to Ben Williams, assistant dean of students, at willi554@MiamiOH.edu.