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 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].
Research Board particularly encourages faculty who have never applied for Faculty Development Funds and junior faculty to submit applications.
Guidelines for Faculty Development Fund Proposals
Awards will be determined based on the quality of the proposal and the funds available. The maximum budget allowed is $5,000 for an individual and $7,500 for a collaborative proposal. Funds have been made available from the Dean of Research’s Matching Research Fund and the Larry Fechter and Thomas Macke Stansbury gift.
Application guidelines
Applications should be brief (limit: 3 typed pages) and should include:
A description of the proposed activity that explains its significance for:
- How this project fits into your professional development to date, and how it moves you toward the next stage of your career at Clark.
- Capacity of the activity to generate additional resources through subsequent external funding and/or to complete a major scholarly or creative project.
- 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.
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.
A paragraph explaining the outcome of previous FDF grants (only for faculty who have received an award from this fund in the past).
Applications from faculty who have never applied (or not recently applied) and junior faculty will be prioritized.
An itemized budget and justification. If you still have a start-up fund balance or an external grant, 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
Late submissions will not be considered.
Evaluation criteria
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 (9.7%) is only added in summer). Title to equipment purchased with Faculty Development funds rests with the University.
Submission instructions
How to Apply
The application must be accompanied by a properly endorsed Notice of Submission Form (see link below).
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: yourlastnameFDF.pdf. All applications will be reviewed by the Research Board and the Dean of Research.
The application deadline is close of business on Monday, February 23, 2026. Award decisions will be announced at the end of March or early April.
