Money available for faculty research and creative activity

Western Today staff

September 25, 2012

Proposals are now being solicited for the 2013 WWU Summer Research/Creative Activity Grants.

Successful applicants receive $6,000 paid as summer salary.

Grants are awarded for research or scholarly work in the sciences and humanities or for artistic/creative endeavors, but not for the development of curricular materials. The Research Advisory Committee will study each proposal and the recommendations accompanying it and make their evaluations based on the following criteria:

  • Applicant eligibility; adherence to stated guidelines;
  • Value of the proposed activity;
  • Probability of publication of the results or, in the case of the arts, potential for performance or display;
  • Possibility of future external funding of the proposed research or creative work;
  • Opportunity for expanding professional scholarship of the faculty member; and
  • Clarity and coherence of the proposal submitted.

Eligibility requirements are as follows: A faculty member may not receive the award two years consecutively. Recipients of 2012 awards are not eligible for 2013. Applicants must be employed full-time by WWU for the 2012-2013 academic year on a tenured or tenure track position, and must have a contract or formal agreement of full employment for the year following the grant period. If the award would immediately follow or precede a sabbatical, it should be clarified in the proposal what will be accomplished during the summer, as distinct from the project undertaken or to be undertaken during the sabbatical leave. In addition, faculty receiving summer grants can earn no other income from WWU during the summer except payment for a five-credit course or its equivalent, as the purpose of the grant is to provide free time for research. Faculty members may not receive a summer teaching grant and a summer research grant concurrently. Priority will be given to applicants who have not received a Summer Research Grant in the past five years.

Timeline:

  • Oct. 4 Deadline to department chairs
  • Oct. 11 Deadline to deans
  • Oct. 18 Deadline to Vice Provost for Research
  • Nov. 15 Notification of Awards

When colleges forward proposals to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, they must include recommendations and rankings by the department chairs and deans.

Application instructions are available on the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs website.