Faculty & Student Development Funds

Faculty & Student Development Funds Faculty & Student Development Funds

Faculty research is supported through a faculty development fund that supports scholarly and creative pursuits as well as pedagogical and professional development.

*Funds are limited and will be available until the fund is exhausted for that academic year.*

I. AWARDS & CRITERIA FOR FUNDING 

A. Attendance to Scholarly Conference.

1. Presentation of scholarly research as a paper or equivalent, (e.g., a poster, round-table, panel paper, or musical or other artistic work) to one’s academic peers or equivalent. 

2. Participation in a panel, workshop, institute, etc. that requires significant scholarly preparation. 

3. Scholarly activity that has been peer reviewed or selected by a professional organization for inclusion in a conference program (e.g., invited paper, keynote address.) 

Active participation includes documentation such as: 1) a letter of invitation or acceptance of paper, and 2) a preliminary copy of the program, or 3) a web link to conference program with your name as a presenter. 

B. Scholarly Research Awards – Preparation of scholarly work determined by the following criteria: 

1. Research related to completing books, articles, reviews, reports, creative work (music, art, drama), scientific, technological projects or other types of scholarly research. This includes travel to archives, interviews, translations, purchase of essential research materials, stipends for research assistants, etc. 

Documentation must also accompany the application for a scholarly/research award. If funding is requested for an ongoing scholarly project for which the applicant has previously received a Faculty Development award, the applicant must include a progress report demonstrating that the project has entered a new phase requiring additional funding. 

Equipment and unused materials become the property of SMC. 

C. Active Administrative Awards 

1. Fulfillment of major administrative commitments at conferences (e.g. officers in a professional organization hosting the conference, major symposium coordinator, etc.) 

2. This work requires organizational work in advance of the conference and active duties during the conference. 

3. This is not organizing one panel at a major meeting. 

Documentation of administrative work must be provided with application and should include the following: 1) email/letter of invitation, or 2) web link, and 3) correspondence or outline regarding administrative work. 

Only one active administrative award is fundable annually. 

D. Active Pedagogical Development Awards determined by the following criteria 

1. Participate at workshops or conferences where faculty are receiving substantial training to improve student learning and their teaching effectiveness. 

2. This is not course development. 

Documentation of pedagogical development must be provided with application and should include the following: 1) email/letter of invitation, or 2) web link, and 3) outline of substantial training. 

E. Passive Awards: Attendance or administration determined by the following criteria: 

1. Attendance at conferences or symposia. 

2. Passive awards have a $600 maximum per year for (pre-)tenured faculty and $300 maximum per year for adjunct faculty.

Documentation of passive participation must be attached to the application and may include: 1) a receipt for registration, 2) confirmation of travel. 

II. ELIGIBILITY 

Faculty eligible to receive awards: 

1. Faculty on the Rank and Tenure roster, including faculty on reduced services plan, academic administrators with faculty rank, and faculty on reassigned time or sabbatical. 

2. Adjunct faculty who have a contract to teach 3 courses a year and who have completed teaching at Saint Mary's College at least seven full-credit courses or their equivalent prior to applying for funds. 

Faculty ineligible for awards: 

1. Faculty contracted on a per-course basis. 

2. Faculty on leave of absence. 

3. Faculty emeriti. 

III. AWARD AMOUNTS 

A. Pre-tenured faculty: 

Funds are limited to $2,400 per individual per academic year. Active awards and scholarly research projects are funded up to the annual cap. Passive awards have a $600 maximum per year. 

B. Tenured faculty: 

Funds are limited to $2,200 per individual per academic year. Active awards and scholarly research projects are funded up to the annual cap. Passive awards have a $600 maximum per year. 

C. Adjunct faculty: 

Funds are limited to $2,100 per individual per academic year. Active awards and scholarly research projects, are funded up to the annual cap. Passive awards have a $300 maximum per year. 

IV. To Apply

  1. Applications must be submitted through eGrants portal.
  2. Applications are reviewed the 20th of each month (August-May).
  3. Faculty must apply in advance of the event. All applicants will be notified of the status of their grant application through eGrants.
  4. Faculty receiving a grant will need to submit an expense report along with receipts, for reimbursement of expenses within 30 days post event/conference. Otherwise, the award may be rescinded and returned to the faculty development fund to enable other faculty to apply for funding. 

  5. If the recipient of an award needs to cancel plans for any reasons, there are no penalties. Simply email the director of faculty development so that we can release your funds. 

  6. If the project or activity results in a publication, applicant must acknowledge "the support of the Faculty Development Fund at Saint Mary’s College of California." 

For more information about using the eGrant portal, see this FAQ sheet.

 

© 2023 Saint Mary’s College of California