Internal Funding

Below is a breakdown of how Mini-Grant funding CAN and CANNOT be requested. 

You CAN request funding in the following ways:

• Through basic or applied research (e.g., literature or archival search, data collection, data analysis), which could support the future preparation of an external grant proposal or final publication
• Through acquisition of materials or supplies in support of creative projects (e.g., exhibit, artistic performance, development of new creative techniques).
• Through other scholarly activities in your field
• Undergraduate and graduate student salaries to work on your research; student travel to present the research.
• Through requesting travel and equipment expenses, if the primary purpose of your travel is to collect data or do scholarly research and travel is integral to your proposed work

 You CANNOT request funding for the following:

• Fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree.
• Activities designed mainly for department or school programs or facilities.
• Curriculum development (except as part of a project involving research, scholarship or creative activity).
• Faculty assigned time or faculty stipends.
• Meeting refreshments/hospitality.
• Attendance at workshops or seminars focusing on the development of grant-writing skills.
• Faculty travel to present and/or attend professional meetings

Mini Grant Funding level: Up to a maximum of $7,000 for proposals that include graduate and undergraduate student researchers; up to a maximum of $5,000 for proposals that do not include graduate and undergraduate student researchers).

Sample Narratives for Mini-Grants Proposals:

• Mini-grant - Arts & Humanities
• Mini-grant - Business
• Mini-grant - Science & Technology
• Mini-grant - Social Sciences

Summer Fellowships assist faculty with their efforts in disseminating scholarly activities to students through a variety of media and venues, and/or to prepare and submit grant and other external funding requests. Summer fellowships must be completed in the summer for a total of two weeks. Fellowships can be done on any of the following topics to be completed by Spring:

• Prepare a research, scholarly or creative activity for publication
• Prepare an external grant proposal
• Prepare for a publically reviewed conference, exhibition, performance, or creative activity         

Fellowship funding may not be requested for activities that fall under the mini-grant competition (See above). If fellowship funding is requested for time to finalize (not begin) data analysis or a creative activity, there must also be a plan for disseminating findings and/or products within the appropriate fellowship timeframe. 

There are two fellowship funding options: $5,000 summer stipend (Option A) OR a 3 WTU course buyout/release (Option B). The scope of work is expected to be the same, and thus evaluated with the same criteria, regardless of which funding option is pursued.

• Fellowship Funding Option A ($5,000 Summer stipend - subject to normal tax withholding):

All Unit 3 faculty members are eligible

Covers the equivalent of 2 to 3 week work period for the proposed task, which should be completed during the summer between May 25 and August 14.

• Fellowship Funding Option B (3 WTUcourse buyout/release at the replacement rate of $2,325/unit): Only tenured/tenure track faculty members are eligible

Provides tenured/tenure track faculty member with a 3 WTU course buyout/release for Fall or Spring for the proposed task. It is important to discuss this option with your department chair and/or dean, and to receive approval from them. Up to 5 Fellowship applications requesting the 3 WTU buyout will be awarded based upon the fellowship proposal ranking (see fellowship review criteria). If an application is ranked high enough overall to be funded, but not ranked high enough to receive a 3 WTU course buyout, the committee may offer the applicant the $5,000 summer stipend instead of the course buyout/release.

Sample Narratives for Summer Fellowships Proposals:

• Summer Fellowship - Education
• Summer Fellowship - Social Sciences