Would a shared support facility, such as a library or instrumentation lab, be an eligible department/unit in the Departmental Enhancement program?

No. Departmental Enhancement is limited to “academic, research, and agricultural departments and units,” and the unit’s mission must reflect these descriptors. Support facilities are not eligible as applicants, though a proposal from an eligible department may indicate that items purchased will be housed in a shared facility, as a way of broadening the impact of the investment. In addition, an associated academic program (e.g., Library and Information Services) is eligible, but its proposals must reflect the academic mission of the program.