Guidelines for Faculty Development Fund Proposals
(Spring 2023 Deadline)
The Faculty Development Fund provides modest support for focused faculty development
research activities that have the potential to enhance the reputation and resources of the
university. This may include “seed money” for new research initiatives to help obtain results or
confirm ideas that can become part of a research proposal to an outside granting agency, and also
can be used for other scholarly projects and creative endeavors that hold promise to raise the
visibility and reputation of the institution.
This fund is restricted to faculty holding Regular Faculty Appointments (Faculty Handbook page
2, category D. 1) and Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Appointments defined as Open-ended Term
Appointments, including Lectureships, Professors of Practice and Full-time Research
Professorships (category D. 2. b) [see faculty handbook pages 2 and 3 for details on the nature of
these appointments].
This year the total amount awarded will be $20,000. We anticipate making several awards up to
$2500 and some up to $5000 each. We have an additional $5000 for seeding science research
from the Larry Fechter and Thomas Macke Stansbury gift, which will go toward work that will
enhance the chances for external funding for the faculty member. As in previous years, we will
again consider proposals for collaborative research (proposed jointly by two or more Clark
faculty) of up to $7500.
Applications should be brief (limit: 3 typed pages) and should include:
• A description of the proposed activity that explains its significance for:
1. How this project fits into your professional development to date, and how it
moves you toward the next stage of your career at Clark.
2. Capacity of the activity to generate additional resources through subsequent
external funding and/or to complete a major scholarly or creative project.
3. If there are specific challenges or complexities to completing this work (e.g., DEI-intensive work, community-engaged scholarship, and interdisciplinary and/or collaborative projects), please address those in the proposal and how the funding will help.
• For faculty who have already received an award from this fund: A paragraph explaining
the outcome of previous FDF grants.
• An itemized budget and justification. If you still have a start-up fund balance or an
external grant, please provide an explanation for why you cannot use those funds for the
proposed project. Please share if you have applied for alternative funding for the
proposed project.
• A current CV
The description of the proposed activity should be written in plain language, free of jargon (or
clearly explained when it is necessary to use specialized terminology), for an educated audience
of non-specialist peers. Because the proposal will be reviewed by individuals who are likely to
have no specialized knowledge of an applicant’s area of study, applicants should describe the
significance of the activity in non-technical terms that are not specific to the researcher’s
discipline.
Late submissions will not be considered.
Evaluation criteria include:
- The role of the activity in individual faculty development
- Capacity of the activity to generate additional resources through subsequent external funding and/or to complete scholarly or creative project
- How work contributes to a faculty member’s respective field
- Feasibility of the activity with respect to its stated goals and objectives
- Additionally, where appropriate and relevant, the Board will consider DEI efforts, community-engaged scholarship, engagement with students, and interdisciplinary and/or collaborative projects.
The application must be accompanied by a properly endorsed Notice of Submission Form (see link below). Funds in this program will not be available for salary supplementation, but can be used to support student research assistants. If student support is requested, specify precisely what the student will do in support of the proposed activity. Student fringe benefits must be included in the budget request (student fringe is only added in summer). Title to equipment purchased with Faculty Development funds rests with the University.
How to Apply
The application must be accompanied by a properly endorsed Notice of Submission Form (see
link below). Funds in this program will not be available for salary supplementation, but can be
used to support student research assistants. If student support is requested, specify precisely what
the student will do in support of the proposed activity. Additionally, if student support is
requested, please describe the plan for equitable recruitment. Student fringe benefits must be
included in the budget request (student fringe (9.7%) is only added in summer). Title to
equipment purchased with Faculty Development funds rests with the University.
Please submit your proposal and the signed submission form bundled as a single PDF via email to facultydevelopmentfunds@clarku.edu. Please use the following filename format: yourlastnameFD23.pdf. The applications will be reviewed by the Research Board and the Dean of Research. The application deadline is 12:00 PM on February 6, 2023. Decisions will be announced after the committee has finished its review in April.
Detailed information and the application form for the Faculty Development Fund are available at the OSPR webpage: Faculty Development Funds.