Faculty Creative Activity Research Grants
Southern CT State University Faculty Creative Activity Research Grant - Guidelines for the 2013-14 Competition
(Project Performance Period July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014)
General Provisions
These guidelines are intended to guide application and distribution of the research grant fund created by the Faculty Senate Resolution S-10-03 "Proposal Concerning University Support of Creative Activity" Approved 4.26.10/Revised 11.09.11.
University Grants Committee Composition
Faculty Creative Activity Research Grants are screened by a University Grants Committee comprised of 7 faculty members: 4 from The School of Arts and Sciences; 1 from The School of Education; 1 from The School of Health and Human Services; and 1 from The School of Business.
For the first year of the committee's existence members shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.
Beginning with the Spring 2011 elections for membership on academic year 2011-2012 university committees, three regular members and one alternate will be elected for three-year terms, two regular members and one alternate will be elected for two-year terms, and two regular members and one alternate will be elected for a one-year term.
There shall be three alternate members elected by the faculty. Alternates shall take the place of voting members under the following circumstances:
a. when a voting member is applying for a Faculty Creative Activity Research Grant that year;
b. when a voting member resigns;
c. under other circumstances, such as prolonged absence, as evaluated by the committee.
To the extent that it is possible to do so, elected alternates who are called upon to serve on the committee shall be selected in such a way that the school by school proportions of the committee's membership are preserved.
Statement on Applicant Eligibility
Applicants for SCSU Faculty Creative Activity Research Grants must be tenured or tenure-track members of the faculty and must remain on the faculty for the duration of the grant-supported activity, including the project reporting phase. Faculty planning sabbatical leaves are eligible for a grant. Faculty receiving or applying for CSU-AAUP Research Grants are eligible to apply. Faculty on unpaid leave are not eligible to apply. University Grant Committee members are not eligible to apply for a grant.
Guidelines
These guidelines detail the following aspects of the competition: funding priorities, instructions for proposal preparation and submission, and proposal review criteria; a calendar for submission, review and announcement of awards
Priorities
The program seeks quality proposals that enhance the educational mission, visibility, and research stature of Southern Connecticut State University. For the purposes of this grant competition a broad definition of research is adopted. Research is defined as any scholarship activity which results in one or more of the following: 1) the creation of new knowledge in a particular discipline, including making connections across traditional fields (i.e. multidisciplinary research); 2) the application of disciplinary/multidisciplinary knowledge, methodologies and/or insights to problems of individuals or groups in the broader society; 3) the production of creative works in the arts; and 4) research in student learning within a discipline or area of learning. Curriculum development and faculty development projects will not be funded by the SCSU Faculty Creative Activity Research Grant program; projects in those areas are best suited for programs supported under sections 9.6 and 10.6.5 of the CSU-AAUP contract.
In addition, proposals submitted to this research program should take into account one or more of the following aspects of faculty research:
1. Establish new research (in the broad definition of the previous paragraph) at the university;
2. Support faculty in the continuation and completion of meritorious research;
3. Encourage the development of projects with potential for external funding.
Review Criteria
The University Grants Committee will use the following criteria to rate the quality and completeness of the proposals submitted:
1. Significance: Presentation of a well-focused and worthy purpose in the context of previous research.
2. Work Plan: An appropriate and feasible methodology and a plan of action and/or conditions that will result in the accomplishment of the objectives of the project in the context of the particular area of research. The plan should be appropriate to the nature and area of research of the proposal, and may include a timeline accordingly.
3. Outcomes and Reporting: Likelihood of achieving significant outcomes such as publications in refereed journals, conference presentations, performances, exhibitions, or other means of dissemination of research results. Submission of a proposal to an external agency for funding is a legitimate, and encouraged, outcome. A final report highlighting the scholarly accomplishments is due 90 days after the completion of any funded project. Reports of joint projects should reflect the contributions of individual participating faculty.
Review of the Proposals by the University Grants Committee
Faculty Creative Activity Research Grants are screened by a University Grants Committee comprised of 7 SCSU faculty members: 4 from Arts and Sciences; 1 from Education; 1 from Health and Human Services; and 1 from Business. In the first grant year, Spring 2011, Faculty will be appointed by the Faculty Senate and thereafter will be elected through Faculty Senate elections. For the purposes of grant proposal review, the University Grants Committee will be responsible for scoring proposals.
Scoring
LEVEL-ONE REVIEW
After full discussion and deliberation on received grant applications using the review criteria included in the Grant document in the sections titled "Priorities" and "Review Criteria"), the committee shall conduct via secret ballot an initial yes/no vote on each grant application. Applications receiving a majority "Yes" vote in the level-one review ballot shall constitute the pool of applications to be scored and ranked in the level-two review process (described below); applications receiving a majority "No" vote in the level-one review ballot shall be eliminated from further consideration.
LEVEL-TWO REVIEW
For each application remaining in the pool of active applications after level-one review, each member of the grants committee will be asked to assign a score from "1" for weak to "5" for excellent for each of the items 1 through 3 listed in the "Review Criteria" section above. The combined scores should produce a total proposal score ranging from a low of 21 to a high of 105. The University Grants Committee will meet to review and discuss these applications and scores as the basis for determining the final ranking according to which proposals are recommended for funding.
Proposal Components and Rules for Submission
A grant proposal must contain the following components and adhere to the following rules:
1. Cover Sheet Abstract and Sign Off:
Please use the exact format provided on Appendix A.1. This form must be signed and dated by each participating faculty member.
2. Proposal Narrative:
The narrative should be organized using headings 1. to 3. of the "Review Criteria" Section on page 1 of these guidelines (i.e. Significance, Work Plan, and Outcomes and Reporting). The narrative should be limited to about 1200 words in up to five pages of printed text using Times New Roman 12 point (or equivalent) font, in double spaced paragraphs and one inch page margins top, bottom, left and right. For added space allocation permitted in joint proposals please see numeral 7 below. To maintain the limit in number of pages, an appendix with graphics and similar elements is recommended only for cases when they are a considered a crucial and necessary part of the application. Cover page, curriculum vita(e), and other appendices do not count towards the narrative word and page limits. Optional Appendices may be attached at the writer's discretion and should be labeled Appendix B, C, etc. Optional appendices will not be scored and reviewers will be free to judge their relevance in support of the narrative. Each submission will be scored by a group of peer faculty who are not necessarily specialists in the specific discipline of the proposal. At the same time, it should give enough specific information on the significance of the research and the soundness of the methodology in the context of the particular discipline to allow a reasonable review. A brief outline of related research undertaken by the applicant and/or others will help the reviewers understand the significance of your project.
3. Award: Awards are standardized as $2,500 stipends per proposal.
4. Two-Page Curriculum Vita(e):
Please include brief vita(e) of no more than two pages highlighting educational background, professional experiences, and scholarly accomplishments of participants. Curriculum Vita(e) in excess of the two-page limit per faculty will be disregarded.
5. Human Subjects and Vertebrate Animals:
If your research involves either human subjects or the use of vertebrate animals, you must so indicate on the proposal cover sheet. Once a project is funded, the awardee must seek approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for human research subjects or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for vertebrate animals. You should contact the appropriate committee on your campus for information on submission procedures and timing. In no case should work with human beings or vertebrate animals as research subjects be undertaken until the proper approval is obtained. The review of the proposal will include notification to the university regarding the need for compliance according to the procedures mandated by the IRB or IACUC. Failure to obtain the proper approval may result in the termination of your award and the recovery of any funds awarded for research expenses including stipends. Letters of approval from the IRB or IACUC must be attached to the final report.
6. Number of Copies:
Submit to the SCSU Office of Faculty Development (EN B 106) Seven (7) COPIES of the proposal by the date and time specified in the calendar section of this document.
7. Joint Proposal Conditions:
A joint proposal may be submitted by two or more members of the faculty and may be funded at the standard limit of $ 2,500 per proposal. The $2,500 award for a joint proposal will be divided among the faculty who filed it. Joint proposals should specify the individual contributions and adequate level of participation by each of the faculty members participating in the collaboration. In order to allow space for this description, the five-page proposal limit is increased by one additional page (up to about 240 additional words of double-spaced printed text) per additional faculty member participating in the collaboration.
8. Number of Proposals in Which a Given Faculty Participates: A faculty member may only submit one proposal (individually or collaboratively).
9. Eligibility note: If a faculty member receives a CSU-AAUP Research grant he or she is eligible to receive an SCSU Faculty Creative Activity Grant stipend.
10. Proposal Checklist
For your convenience, a Proposal Checklist is provided in Appendix A.2. Do not submit this form with your application.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
• PROPOSALS FAILING TO ADHERE TO ANY OF THE "PROPOSAL COMPONENTS AND RULES FOR SUBMISSION" (ITEMS 1. TO 10. ABOVE) WILL NOT BE REVIEWED
• SUBMITTED COPIES OF THE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE RETURNED
• FUNDED PROPOSALS MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION BY INTERESTED PARTIES
• LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH PROGRAMMATIC OR FISCAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THIS PROGRAM WILL BE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIVERSITY PROCEDURES
Calendar
Monday October 1, 2012 by 5:00 p.m.* (*1st Monday in October by 5:00 p.m.)
Deadline to deliver SEVEN (7) copies of the proposal to the Office of Faculty Development (EN B 106) No proposals will be accepted after this closing date and time.
Monday November 12, 2012 by 5:00 p.m.* (*2nd Monday in November by 5:00 p.m.)
SCSU Faculty Creative Activity Research Grant Committee (FCARGC) submits recommendations for funding to the Faculty Senate and the University Provost.
Monday December 3, 2012.* (*1st Monday in December)
SCSU Provost approves recommendations and announces awards.
Within three (3) months of the termination date of a grant --no later than Friday September 26, 2014.* (*Within three (3) months of the termination date of the grant, i.e. by the last day of September in the calendar year that the grant ended.)
Principal contact for each project submits to the Chair of the FCARGC and to the Academic Vice President describing the results of the research.
Download application. Download cover letter.
