Mizzou Alumni Association Richard Wallace Research Incentive Grant Award

Since its initiation in 1994, the Mizzou Alumni Association Faculty Incentive Grants has provided start-up funds to over 500 junior faculty for the initiation of research or professional development projects.

In recognition of the creativity and productivity of junior faculty, the Alumni Association will offer $20,000 for the 2009-2010 academic year. Individual award levels are $4,000.

In order to provide flexibility to the diverse needs and schedules of faculty, this year's award program will be comprised of two grant periods. Up to $15,000 will be awarded during each grant cycle.

The guidelines and application procedures and are outlined below. The deadlines for submission of proposals are:

Cycle 1: October 26, 2009
Cycle 2: February 15, 2010

Guidelines

Applications should clearly indicate whether the applicant is seeking a Professional Development, Scholarship of Teaching, or Research Enhancement grant.

Professional Development

This category includes a focus on teaching (pedagogy) as an enterprise and instructional development projects that can serve as models for other faculty. The focus may be on the development of innovative teaching methods such as developing alternatives to lecture. Projects in this category may also include travel if it is essential for project development or for the attainment or refinement of a new pedagogical skill. Travel grants can cover transportation, registration and lodging costs. Evidence of department support for these activities is strongly recommended. Awardees are expected to share the outcomes of their projects with other faculty in formal and informal settings.

Research on Teaching

This category is for support of research and/or dissemination of research results on the impact of one's teaching. Funds can be used to:

1. Design and conduct an investigation of the impact of one's teaching on student learning, satisfaction and retention, or on faculty productivity and effectiveness.
2. Travel to a professional conference to report results of a pedagogical innovation. Projects that involve collaboration between disciplines or include undergraduate and/or graduate researchers are encouraged. Grant money for research can be used for direct costs necessary to design and conduct an investigation on one's teaching (e.g., equipment, supplies, student assistance, and testing instruments). Support for dissemination of research can include registration, transportation and lodging costs for the grant recipient and collaborators, including undergraduate students.

Research Enhancement

Funding in this category is for:

1. Pilot research either as a first step or next step in ongoing work. It is expected that the applicant will identify future funding sources and demonstrate how this project will assist in the attainment of these funds.
2. Projects that demonstrate collaboration with colleagues on or off campus.
3. Projects that include undergraduate students in research.

Procedures

All applications should address six issues:

1. The importance of the topic. (Why it is important to do this?)
2. The nature of the project. (What will be done, How, When, Where, by Whom?)
3. The expected outcomes of the project.
4. The applicant's qualifications for pursuing the project.
5. An itemized budget, project timeline and justification for the requested funds.
6. Other sources of support for the project.

Eligibility

Tenure-track and tenured faculty are eligible to apply for funding. Preference will be given to junior tenure-track faculty who include undergraduate researchers in their project. Awardees may submit another grant proposal one year after the completion of a funded proposal. Those who did not receive funding may ask for a review and then resubmit at the next funding cycle.

Proposal Format

The proposal should include the application form (Word document) complete with signatures, a cover page, resume, and a proposal body.

The proposal body should begin with a 50-word abstract and not exceed 5 single-spaced pages in length. The cover page, resume, and any appendices are excluded from the 5-page limit.

Cover page should include identifying information (Name, Rank/Title, Project Title, Department, College/School, Date), applicant's and department chair's signatures (both with names typed under signature), and the type of grant sought (Professional Development, Research on Teaching, or Research Enhancement).

A brief resume (not to exceed 2 pages) of each person involved in the research (including undergraduate researchers) should be submitted with the application.

Applicants should submit an electronic version as an email attachment to umcprovostawards@missouri.edu naming each document starting with the applicant's last name and then a document reference (ie: Jones-RWRIGA application). Send only the original copy of the entire proposal packet to:

Mizzou Alumni Association Richard Wallace Research Incentive Grants
c/o Kenneth Dean
Office of the Deputy Provost
116 Jesse Hall

Funding Period

Reporting Obligations

After an award is granted, the recipient is required to submit a written report of activities and accomplishments of the project. The report must be submitted to the Deputy Provost within two months of the completion date listed on the project application. The report can either be submitted electronically to umcprovostawards@missouri.edu or a hard copy can be sent to 116 Jesse Hall, c/o Deputy Provost Kenneth Dean. Awardees may be invited to make a presentation describing their projects at an Alumni Association meeting.

Questions concerning this program may be addressed to:

Office of the Deputy Provost
116 Jesse Hall
Phone: 882-6597
Fax: 882-0080
E-Mail: umcprovostawards@missouri.edu