OASIS Academic Innovation Accelerator Program

The OASIS Academic Innovation Accelerator program supports innovative, one-year pilot projects that drive progress towards NC State’s institutional academic goals. By aligning with college and unit priorities, the Accelerator serves as a dedicated engine for transforming ambitious academic concepts into sustainable institutional realities.

Selected projects join a cohort that prototypes bold ideas, integrates research and practice, and engages students as active partners in design. 

Following the success of the inaugural Accelerator cohort in 2025-26, space in this year’s cohort will be available to previous Accelerator projects with a clear next step that need additional funding and support, as well as new projects that can be fully completed in the 2026-27 academic year. 

Why Participate?

• Access to funding for transformative one-year pilot projects; up to $20,000 for new projects and $10,000 for existing Accelerator projects with a clear next step.
• Institutional support and expertise, including curriculum innovation, program design, market research, marketing communications and data analysis, to help align your project with NC State’s academic and strategic priorities.
• Opportunity to innovate locally with institutional impact.
• Designed as a cohort program, receiving ongoing support and project feedback along the way.
• Dedicated project management support, keeping momentum with access to tools and frameworks.

Core Pillars of the Accelerator

To ensure program success, projects are rooted in the following concepts:

• Design Thinking and User-Centricity: Projects must demonstrate a deep understanding of the student experience, utilizing iterative feedback loops to refine academic offerings.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Emphasis will be placed on robust market research, financial modeling and the establishment of clear success metrics to justify long-term strategic investment.
• Strategic Scalability: Focus on moving beyond small-scale pilots toward initiatives that can be integrated into the university’s core infrastructure or scaled across multiple units.

Accelerator Project Focus Areas

The 2026-27 cycle will consider proposals addressing:

• AI-ready programs: Equipping students and stakeholders with the necessary skills to navigate and lead in an increasingly AI-driven workforce.
• Curriculum design/redesign to meet workforce needs: Ensuring academic programs maintain market relevance, giving graduates the skills required to meet evolving workforce demands.
• Stackable non-degree credentials for multiple audiences: New or redesigned academic credentials in various formats that meet the needs of learners.
• Cross-disciplinary programs only NC State can build: Leveraging unique institutional strengths to create academic solutions that address complex challenges and opportunities inaccessible through traditional, siloed approaches.

Request for Proposals

To be considered for this year’s Accelerator cohort, please submit your proposal no later than Friday, Sept. 4. We anticipate a high volume of submissions and will not be able to review late submissions. 

If you have any questions about your proposal submission, please contact Jack Rodenfels, director of Non-Degree Credential Innovation at jtrodenf@ncsu.edu.

Program Overview

• Request for Proposals (RFPs): Open Aug. 3-Sept. 4.
• RFP review: September 2026
• MOU creation: September 2026
• Cohort kickoff: October 2026
• Research and strategy: October-December 2026
• Design and prototyping: January 2027
• Piloting and validation: February-March 2027
• Completion and launch: March-April 2027
• Showcase: April 2027