 
New Programs Support Research |
"These initiatives will position the University as a more effective competitor among research universities and assist in our recruitment and retention of excellent faculty," said University President Lawrence Biondi, SJ. "They should provide our faculty with significant support for success in research."
Requests for proposals were sent out in late January for both projects.
Applications for faculty research leaves, which will supplement the current sabbatical program, are due by Monday, March 6. Applications for funding from the new designated research fund are due by Monday, March 20.
In future years, applications for both of these programs will be due in October.
The faculty leave program provides leaves on a competitive basis to full-time, non-temporary faculty who have previously demonstrated a commitment to research and have an established record of research achievement.
"The leave offers an opportunity for research uninterrupted by other academic responsibilities," said Provost Sandra Johnson.
Applicants must present a sound plan describing how a research leave will be used, the specific short-term outcomes the applicants expect to accomplish during the leave, as well as long-term outcomes that may follow later.
Faculty research leaves may be requested for any length, but will normally be awarded for a period not to exceed one academic semester.
"The major considerations in awarding these leaves will be the qualifications of the applicants, the quality of the projects proposed and the potential they have to raise the scholarly reputation of the University," Johnson said.
The designated research fund initiative will provide a new source of funding for seed grants, bridge funds and start-up funds distinct from those currently available at the University. The method for establishing a designated research fund must include a strategic/competitive peer review process for making awards and a measurable outcomes assessment.
The primary purposes of the fund initiative are to establish a research start-up program that provides funding to assist newly hired faculty in achieving their objectives; an interim support fund to provide temporary support to principal investigators who have lost external research funding; an incentive fund that provides seed money grants for new research initiatives; booster funds to assist in raising the level and productivity of the current research programs; and funds to assist faculty in redirecting their research emphases.
The approved request may be budgeted over a one-to-three-year period depending on the size of the request, the nature of the research and the availability of funding under this initiative. Applications for the incentive fund, however, must be transmitted through the department chairperson and dean to the appropriate associate provost for research. A review committee will evaluate the proposals. These requests then will be submitted to the provost for a funding decision. Due to the nature of the start-up fund and the interim support fund, there will not be a competitive application process for these two funds.
"These programs do not replace any programs that already are in place," Johnson said. "The University's sabbatical program will continue as before, and funds that have been provided to support research, such as the Mellon and Beaumont programs, also will be available."
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