Development Grants and Proposals

Research Release Policy
During the 2006 budget review process, the President and Board of Trustees approved funding to the Division of Academic Affairs to provide faculty members with course releases to further the faculty members´ research, scholarship, and/or creative activity. These releases are intended to recognize both past accomplishment and future promise.
Research Release Policy

Faculty Sabbatical and Leave Program - 2010-11
Sabbatical Memo September 3, 2009
Sabbatical Application 2010-11

Professional Development Leave Program - 2010-11
Professional Development Leave Memo and Guidelines September 9, 2009

Faculty Development Summer Grants Program- Summer 2010

Academic Affairs announces this year's Faculty Summer 2010 Grants opportunities in areas including Teaching, Research, and Proposal Development (due date October 30, 2009).

In order to advance two initiatives that have been identified as university priorities, Academic Affairs is especially interested in funding at least a few quality proposals (no more than 10% of total grants awarded) focused on a) community based research or learning, and b) diversity. 

a) Community-based transformational learning (CBTL) refers to well-designed, coordinated, and executed learning experiences in community-based settings that enhance academic learning, contribute to personal growth, and increase civic engagement while concurrently benefiting the community or communities in which those activities are embedded. Examples of commonly used community-based instructional approaches include service learning, community-based research, some types of community-service activities, community-based capstone projects, and some forms of community-based internships or field placements. Submission of proposals focusing on the following broad areas is encouraged:

    • Improving CBTL instructional efforts in existing courses or incorporating CBTL instructional elements in current or new courses using research-based designs;
    • Supporting research on CBTL learning, such as partnership development, assessment of student learning, evaluation of community impacts, or;
    • Developing proposals for CBTL programming or activities to be submitted for external funding.
    Applicants are invited to meet with Dr. Mark Falbo, Director of the Center for Community Based Learning, to discuss their ideas about submitting projects in this category.

b) Diversity: for 2008-09, the Diversity Task Force is conceiving of "diversity" in its broadest definition: we seek diversity in faculty, staff, and students; we seek diversity in race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, and disability. Projects for which applications are sought might include the development of courses where diversity is a focus; development of a program's curricula with a focus on enhancing diversity; and studying the history, culture or other aspects of a minority population.

If you are planning to submit a proposal in this category, you might consider the following question: Is the grant proposal’s central and substantive focus an issue pertaining to one or more minority or underrepresented groups, qua minority or underrepresented groups, including but not limited to the following categories:

    • Race/color
    • Ethnicity
    • National origin
    • Gender
    • Sexual identity
    • Sexual orientation
    • Religion
    • Age
    • Disability
    Applicants are invited to meet with Dr. David Fenner, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or any member of the Commission on Diversity to discuss their ideas about submitting projects in this category.

Applications below:

NEW: Summer Teaching Grants - download application
Summer teaching grants support faculty in developing improved or innovative instructional strategies for use in current or new courses.
Eligibility: Full time Tenured, Tenure-Earning, Instructors or Lab Lecturers

NEW: Summer Research Grants - download application
Summer research grants are provided to support research, scholarship and artistic endeavors at the University.
Eligibility: Full time Tenured or Tenure-earning faculty

NEW: Summer Proposal Development Grants - download application
Summer proposal development grants are provided by the Office of Academic Affairs to support and assist faculty with the development and submission of proposals for major programs of external funding.
Eligibility: Full time Tenured or Tenure-earning faculty

NEW: Foundation Board Proposals (Fall 2009) - download application (Word)
Eligibility: Full time, Tenured or Tenure-earning faculty or Instructors

Memo and Application Timeline

View previous grant awards

Foundation Board Initiatives Funding History 2000-2006

Academic Affairs Faculty Development Grants: