Faculty Research Grant
Purpose
The Faculty Research Grant (FRG) aims to advance the intellectual and creative achievement of SMC faculty and promotes individuals toward tenure, promotion, and/or further scholarly engagement. We especially seek to support research that centers social justice and concern for historically marginalized communities related to yet not limited to aspects of gender, race, sexuality, and class. The FRG is supported by existing endowment funds identified for promoting academic excellence.
Eligibility
1. Tenure-track faculty on the R&T roster from all disciplines.
2. Administrators who are at the rank of full professor are not eligible.
3. Faculty members may be on sabbatical during the whole academic year of the award (i.e., the grant academic year).
4. Faculty members who have not received an FRG (as a principal investigator) in the last three review cycles.
5. Faculty members must be in compliance with college-wide diversity training requirements.
Grant Content
Eligible faculty members may apply for FRGs of up to $9,000. Faculty who are collaborating on a joint project may apply for one FRG not to exceed $9,000. These grants can cover expenses such as faculty summer salary (up to $4,000), travel for research purposes, student research assistance, transcription services, miscellaneous supplies and specialized equipment (equipment purchased with FRG funds remains the property of the College at the conclusion of the grant period), and course reassignment (at $8,000 per course or $4,000 per .5 course).
A FRG for course reassignment may be used in the same academic year as other forms of reassigned time (e.g., sabbaticals, reduced services, heavy workload committees) at the Chair/Program Director’s discretion in consultation with the appropriate Dean.
Grant Period
Funds will be available for use during the following fiscal year only, starting July 1 and through the following June 30. Unspent balances from internal research grants will be used as additional funding for the awarding of future FRGs. Extensions to the grant period may be approved by the Provost with supporting documentation/justification.
Guidelines for Submission
Submit your proposal to eGrants portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
For technical instructions on how to submit to eGrants, view these slides.
A complete proposal will include the following below:
1. Cover Page (see Appendix A).
2. Project Description: Documents that exceed the 2,500-word limit will not be reviewed (see Appendix B).
3. Abbreviated CV: Emphasize your qualifications to pursue this specific project. Only the first three pages will be reviewed for consideration.
4. Budget: One-Page Budget Summary and Justification for expenses (not to exceed one page).
Submission Deadline
January 15
Requirements and Responsibility
The faculty member will provide the Office of Faculty Development with a report of grant activity within sixty days of the conclusion of the grant period. (See Appendix C for the form and required fields on the report.) Submission of this document must be uploaded to eGrant portal. Failure to submit the final report will result in a loss of eligibility for future faculty research grants. Grant recipients may be invited to share the results of their efforts with the broader SMC community in the form of a public presentation.
Review Process
Upon the recommendations by a review committee composed of the Committee on Teaching, Learning and Director of Faculty Development, the Office of the Provost will award up to nine FRGs.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the explanation of the project with respect to the following areas:
1. The research question(s) and aim of the project;
2. The methods or creative practice methodologies that will be used;
3. The expected outcomes and/or significance of research;
4. How the project will contribute to the applicant’s specific discipline;
5. How the project supports the Lasallian mission, promotes social justice, or supports historically marginalized communities within the applicant’s discipline
7. The applicant’s qualifications to pursue this project;
8. Feasibility of work plan; and
9. Demonstration of the need and budget narrative.