MU-ADVANCE Faculty Development Initiative

Individual or Collaborative Mini-Grants

 

On-line application form

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

MU-ADVANCE:

Mini-Grants are available for female faculty in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines seeking to enhance networking (e.g., travel to national meetings), grant proposal submissions, interdisciplinary research efforts, or manuscript preparation. For non-tenured faculty, these activities are expected to tangibly enhance faculty careers. Collaborative-projects which involve more than one faculty member may request support for shared research and/or teaching interests with a goal of promoting professional activities.

 

ELIGIBILITY:

All full-time, tenure-track, female members of the Marshall University faculty in the College of Science, College of Information Technology and Engineering, School of Medicine (basic science departments), and Departments of Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, and Geography are eligible for funding. Faculty groups applying for collaborative grants must include at least one female STEM faculty member.

Faculty who have received mini-grants and failed to submit a report are ineligible.

 

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS:

Include such activities as tuition for professional development courses, registration and travel expenses for professional meetings, workshops, courses, conferences and other similar activities that will enhance faculty career development. Seed money for collaborative projects is also available. Seed money could include support for undergraduate or graduate student support, supplies, consulting services, small equipment, and most related costs associated with research.

 

BUDGET: Each eligible faculty member is limited to one mini-grant per academic year up to $1,000.

DEADLINE: October 1, 2011 by (on-line submission)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Complete the on-line application form, paper applications will not be accepted.

 

This application requires:

  • A project summary of no more than 600 words. If funds are requested for travel to a meeting, please include specific information from the conference program to support the request;

  • An explanation of how the project will improve the applicant's professional development;

  • A short, but detailed budget.  

METHOD OF REVIEW:

Applications will be reviewed by members of the MU-ADVANCE Initiative for Faculty Development Committee. The highest endorsements will be given to projects that offer the greatest opportunity for professional development, especially for pre-tenure faculty, and those who have not previously received an ADVANCE grant. The Committee will consider the following criteria when selecting successful applications:

  • Is the application complete?

  • Are goals and objectives clearly stated?

  • Is the long-term impact of the project clearly stated?

  • Is the proposed activity an appropriate match for the written explanation of how the project will improve the applicant's professional development?

  • Is there a clear statement of the amount of funding being requested and how these funds are to be spent?

Because of the variance in types of applications, the following will also be evaluated: 

 

Travel requests will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Type of travel and its professional significance.

  • Ability to build networking and/or collaboration.

  • Ability to enhance research, publications, or grant proposal capabilities.

Teaching or research projects will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Project is achievable within time period listed.

  • Methodology is appropriate to achieve the stated goals.

  • Project involves collaborative and/or interdisciplinary efforts.

  • Ability to enhance research, publications, or grant proposal capabilities.

NOTIFICATION:

Applicants will be notified of the Committee's decision within three weeks of the deadline. Successful applicants will be required to complete a short report form within one month after the end of the supported activity.

 

MU-ADVANCE Home Page