Scholarly Incentive Award

The Scholarly Incentives Program is a two-faceted approach to stimulate, encourage and endorse activities which advance knowledge of the faculty/staff in their fields, whether through furthering knowledge or creation of new works. The program was created in the fall of 1989 due to the increase in external funds on the campus and a commitment by the administration to stimulate, encourage, and endorse activities which advance knowledge of the faculty/staff in their fields.

The Scholarly Incentives Program falls under the purview of the Research & Creativity Sub-Committee (parent committee is the Professional Development Committee of College Senate). The Sub-Committee is made up of four (4) members from each division in Academic Affairs and one professional staff.

The Scholarly Incentive Award Cash Grant

The first facet of the program is the Scholarly Incentive Award. This is a competitive grant program with maximum awards of up to $1,000. Funds may be used to conduct research, initiate creative projects, complete projects, or pursue other scholarly activities. Funding may be used for "matching" or seed monies for larger projects, but not as maintenance of effort funding. The Scholarly Incentive Awards is a single cycle annual competition. In general, the request for proposals comes out in mid-year, with announcements of awards being made in April or May. Funds may be expended between July 1 and June 30 of the next academic year.

Funding may be used to conduct research, initiate creative projects, complete projects, or pursue other scholarly activities and for matching or seed funds for larger projects. Funds may not be used for: maintenance of effort; computer purchases (in general); conference attendance; conference presentations; curriculum development projects; or other professional development activities. New research or creative endeavors or new research directions will be given priority. Within 60 days of the completion of the activities funded under the award, a one-page report must be submitted to the Research and Creativity Committee. Persons receiving an Award in the previous year shall wait one year before entering competition again. First time applicants may be given preference over previous awardees. Applications will not be accepted from former awardees if a final report is not on file.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Potential of the proposed project to advance applicant knowledge in his/her field through either the furthering of knowledge through research or creation of new work or in the submission of a larger grant for external funds.
Clarity and completeness of the project description.
Appropriateness of outcome and activities as related to the duration of the project and the requested funds.

APPLICATION

Please limit narratives to 3-5 single-spaced pages, being as thorough as possible under the page limitations. The budget and budget narrative may be presented on an additional page.

Proposals must be written to be understandable to a non-specialist.

I. SUMMARY

On the Cover Sheet, summarize in one sentence what it is you would be seeking to accomplish with the grant funding.

II. PROBLEM STATEMENT/BACKGROUND

Succinctly state the problem to be examined, including some background information. Relate the significance of the project to your discipline.

III. OUTCOMES AND ACTIVITIES

Describe the outcome(s) of your research, especially that portion(s) which will be funded by the award. What specifically will you do with the funds? Why are the funds necessary?

IV. BUDGET

A line item budget with narrative fully explaining the need for items in the budget as related to the project.

V. CURRENT VITAE

Please use Cover Sheet!

The Release Time Awards

The second part of the Scholarly Incentives Program is the Release Time Award program. Release Time Awards were re-instituted in the Fall of 1998 for the Spring 1999. Release Time Awards are made to enable faculty members to obtain release time to pursue research and/or create new works. The RFP for these awards is generally issued in December and decisions are be made prior to the February deadline for the course listings to accommodate Chairs scheduling replacement faculty for Release Time recipients.

Release time may be used to conduct research, initiate creative projects, complete projects or pursue other scholarly activities during the time which would normally be spent in teaching activities. Release time may also be used to develop a grant proposal which would be submitted for research activities.

Proposals must have a current Vitae and a letter from the Department Chair or Unit Supervisor indicating that a suitable replacement for the applicant can be found and the approximate costof that replacement. Proposals will be reviewed by the Research and Creativity Subcommittee for scholarly appropriateness and forwarded to Vice President Reck for final approval and administrative action.

Proposal Content:

Description of the research project/creative works and activities that will be undertaken with the extra time afforded through a release time award. Please be specific.
A letter from the department chair indicating his/her knowledge of the request for release time, the probability of finding a suitable replacement for the applicant should he/she be successful in obtaining Release Time, and an approximate cost for that replacement.
Current vita.

Please use the Cover Sheet!

For more information on either of these programs, contact the Grants Administration/Research Services Office, E230 Thompson Hall, 673-3528; e-mail: bryan-peterson@fredonia.edu.