General Information
The University Research Committee is composed of nine volunteer
members selected by the University Faculty Senate. Members are drawn
from the various disciplines on campus for staggered, two-year
terms. The Committee is responsible for the allocation of the
University funds provided for research and scholarship activities by
faculty members. This funding is typically used for small grants
(generally a few thousand dollars) in support of faculty research
and scholarship.
Allocations for proposals are based on the appropriateness of the
project, the merits of the project as reflected in the proposal, and
the availability of funds. The committee receives and evaluates
proposals and makes recommendations to the Vice President for
Academic Affairs concerning actions on proposed projects. The
Committee is not obligated to expend all of its allocation and will
recommend for funding only those projects that it feels have
sufficient merit.
Where to Get Additional Information and
Application Packages
Above, you will find links to the applications, either in Word or
PDF format. Application packages also are available from the Office of Sponsored
Programs, Erickson Hall, room 511. The Office
of Sponsored Programs provides clerical and organizational support
for Committee activities. For additional information, you may
contact any current member of the URC or call the Office of
Sponsored Programs, X3088.
Who May Submit Proposals
Any University faculty member with rank of Instructor/Assistant
Librarian or above (including one-year contract faculty) is eligible
to apply for institutional research support. Faculty members on
approved leave are eligible to submit.
When to Submit
The first round of the URC applications will have a
deadline of the first Monday of October. A second round of
evaluations will have a deadline of the first Monday of February.
The deadline is understood as the end of the normal University
workday (4:30 pm) on the day indicated above.
Where to Submit
All materials are received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.
It
is the responsibility of the individual submitting the proposal to
ascertain that one complete copy has been received for processing
before the appropriate deadline. The committee is not responsible
for any proposal lost or delayed in transit. Hand delivery to the
Office of Sponsored Programs, Erickson Hall, room 511, is recommended.
Nature of the Grants
Funds may be used to support project expenses such as
equipment/supplies, printing/duplicating, and the hiring of special
support personnel beyond those normally available through the
applicant's department. Requests for research-related travel and/or
per diem will be considered in so far as they relate to the
priorities specified below and to available resources. Travel to
professional meetings will not be funded by the URC.
Summer
stipend requests will be entertained only from faculty members who
are able to devote a minimum of five weeks full-time work to the
project during the summer and who have a continuing appointment for
the following academic year. Faculty stipends are limited to $3,000.
Student stipends as appropriate will be considered with
justification.
The URC reserves some funds for grants that
partially cover costs related to the dissemination of research:
reprints of articles, page costs and submission fees for accepted
articles, and subventions for publication of books. Grants for
subvention of books are limited to $1,500, and the three other types
reimburse applicants by paying for the first $100 plus 75% of the
remaining cost up to $400, as long as the publisher is reputable and
the application substantiates her or his claim with an acceptance on
letterhead or some other verifiable form. Any level of support
above $400 in a single year will void the possibility of making
another grant application in the same academic year.
The Committee considers requests for direct support of research
proposals in any field. However, preference is given to:
-
Requests from faculty members seeking to
demonstrate research competence on which they can base future
requests for funding from outside sources
-
Projects expected to result in information
dissemination appropriate to the discipline
-
Projects in areas where outside support is not
available
The Committee will not consider proposals for
-
Program assessment grants
-
Projects whose primary purpose is the writing of textbooks or other
standard teaching material
-
Projects in which course development is the
primary goal
-
Projects whose primary purpose is to fund dissertation work or other
for-credit academic activities
-
Projects proposed by faculty members previously
supported by the Committee who have not filed interim or final
project reports
-
Summer stipend requests from faculty members who
are teaching more than six semester hours (or the equivalent)
during the summer
-
Requests from faculty members which would result
in more than two grants in a four-year period
-
Projects submitted by members of the University
Research Committee
What to Submit
In order to facilitate and expedite the review of proposals, the
committee REQUIRES that proposals be submitted in the following
format. Please note that only one copy of the complete proposal
needs to be submitted.
I. Cover Sheet
II. Abstract
A concise description of the project, 200 words or less,
double-spaced.
III. Proposed Budget
A breakdown of project expenses by category, ideally grouped by
University accounting sub codes (if enclosed form is expanded upon
in the proposal). If research will be conducted in stages, each
stage should have a separate budget entry. For budgets requesting a
faculty or student summer stipend, indicate estimated time input by
faculty and student and responsibilities of each.
IV. Budget Explanation/Justification
This narrative should explain each item requested on the budget
form. When "expendable supplies" are requested, these must be
listed, with justification including why the department cannot
provide more support. If equipment is requested, explain why it
cannot be borrowed, rented, or purchased by the department. Include
also a description of any other project costs that are being
provided by the department, school, college, or other source(s). If
persons not eligible for I.S.U. grant support (i.e. persons form
other institutions) are co-researchers, it should by stated how much
support will be provided by them and, if none, why.
V. Proposal Justification
This brief narrative describes why this research is necessary and
why it should be funded by the URC. Please consider the three
preferences listed in the section "Nature of the Grants."
VI. Project Narrative (eight double-spaced pages or less, excluding
bibliography)
The project narrative is the core of the proposal. Members of the
committee make their decisions based on their interpretation of your
project as described in your proposal. It is to your advantage to
provide background information in enough detail to convey why you
are proposing the project, a description of what specifically you
propose to do and how you propose to do it, the goals or objectives
of the research, the schedule of activities, how the project fits
into an ongoing research plan, and other pertinent information. Be
as clear and complete as possible within the eight page limit.
Please remember you are writing for a general audience representing
various disciplines. If you refer to the works of others, include a
bibliography. In preparing your narrative, you should keep in mind
the standards by which the proposal will be evaluated.
VII. Resume of Principal Investigator(s)
A concise vita focusing on research, scholarship and publications
which relate to the proposed research.
VIII. Other Documents or Appendices
If the cooperation of some other organization is
involved, attach
evidence of support and/or clearance of your project.
IX. Clearances and Approval
If your project involves
animals or human subjects, you
may
submit an application to the URC prior to obtaining the
required approvals, but you must not begin any research
without the appropriate approvals. If your project is approved,
funding will not be dispersed until proof of approval is
received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.
Review of Proposals by the University Research
Committee
The Committee reviews each request individually, weighing the
general merits of the proposal without regard to any quotas by
discipline. At times, the Committee may call upon other faculty
members and/or University administrators for assistance in reviewing
the merits of research work/scholarship applications. Generally, the
Committee uses the following considerations in evaluating eligible
proposals:
-
The extent to which the purpose of the project
is clear, specific, and attainable
-
The extent to which the project makes a
contribution to the discipline
-
The extent to which the project is part of an
ongoing stream of activity within the discipline. This may most
commonly be demonstrated by a literature review
-
Methodological rigor, the extent to which the
procedures described in the proposal (tools, subject, time
frame, research design, type of analysis of evaluation planned)
are likely to achieve the purpose of the project. The standards
used in this evaluation are those that are appropriate for the
discipline related to the project
-
The extent to which supporting facilities (such
as laboratories, special equipment, or supplies) will be
available to successfully complete the project and achieve the
project goal(s)
-
The extent to which the faculty member has the
qualifications and background necessary to pursue the project
-
The quality and nature of the products of the
project
This list is not meant to be exhaustive, and the
Committee reserves the right to apply general standards of research
and scholarship (such as objectivity) and other standards that may
arise only in isolated proposals. In addition to evaluating the
quality of the project, the Committee also evaluates the proposal on
the basis of related and appropriate costs and availability of
funds.
Notification of Applicants
Applicants will receive notice of Committee action from the
chairperson of the University Research Committee. When a proposal is
not recommended for approval, the chairperson will include an
explanation of the Committee's decision.
Grant Management
All University-supported research projects are administered in
accordance with established University fiscal procedures and
research policies relating to the conduct of research.
Grants are awarded for approximately 18 months from the date of
approval. All funds must be expended by June 30 for Fall (Round 1)
approved grants or December 31 for Spring (Round 2) approved grants.
Upon completion of a University-supported project, a final written
report must be filed with the Vice President for Academic Affairs
and with the URC (at the Office of Sponsored Programs). One copy of
submitted, published, or conference papers should be attached.
Faculty who apply for a second grant prior to completion of the
first must file an interim/status report prior to the application
deadline for the second grant.
All publications must acknowledge the assistance of the University
Research Committee, Indiana State University.
The University Research Committee Mentor Program
The Committee has established a mentor program to assist faculty in
the development of high quality proposals. The mentor list is
comprised of the names and departments of faculty who have recently
served on the University Research Committee and those who have had
proposals funded within the last five years. These faculty members
have agreed to offer guidance during the development of URC
proposals. This list is provided so that you may identify and
contact fellow colleagues considering your department, research
topic, and needs.
