FACULTY AND STUDENT SUPPORT: AN OVERVIEW
In his groundbreaking and influential study Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate (Jossey-Bass, 1990), Ernest L. Boyer, former President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, discussed four interrelated areas of scholarly endeavor: the scholarship of teaching, the scholarship of discovery, the scholarship of integration, and the scholarship of service. In keeping with Boyer’s vision, Radford University strives to provide a stimulating environment for learning, teaching, research, scholarship, creative expression, and public service—an environment in which all members of the community have the opportunity to become fully engaged. Essential to the life of the University is a faculty, professional staff and student body actively participating in research, scholarship, creative exploration, and continued professional development, for these are activities that increase knowledge in one’s field, broaden one’s understanding of the world, and inspire and enrich teaching and learning. In that regard, the University supports research, scholarship, creative projects, and development through a number of programs.
Specific details and application information is available through each of the links below. While designed primarily to support the scholarship of teaching and the scholarship of discovery, many of the programs have the clear potential to support the scholarship of integration and the scholarship of service as well.
If the applicant feels that a proposal may be appropriately funded in multiple categories, he/she should so note on the application and submit it to the office deemed the best fit. The recipient will re-route proposals as necessary. There is the possibility that applicants may receive funding in multiple categories, but some effort will be made to distribute funds among as many worthy applicants as possible.
Quality Enhancement Plan Implementation Grants (Deadline: December 5, 2008)
As part of the accreditation review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Radford University created a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Based on findings from the self-study and program review, the QEP focused on student engagement and RU’s plan to strengthen this aspect of the learning community. Faculty and professional staff development as related to student engagement is one of the key components of the plan. Grants of $1,000 will be available to academic departments in the assessment phase of program review (i.e., those who submitted program reviews during 2007-2008) to determine the impact of program changes upon student engagement.
Teaching Enhancement Grants (Deadline: October 17, 2008 & February 16, 2009)
Grants up to $1,500 to enable faculty members to develop and implement ideas and strategies that can improve teaching and learning, that can result in curricular and pedagogical improvement, and/or that can help faculty members reach the next level of excellence. Full-time teaching and research faculty can submit proposals for these grants. Teams of faculty are also encouraged to submit proposals, but support for any single project is limited to $1,500.
International Travel Grants (Deadline: November 3, 2008)
With the support of the McGlothlin Family Endowment, as many as three $1,000 international travel grants will be awarded to RU faculty to supplement the costs of international travel related to planning projects designed to internationalize the RU curriculum. Projects include, but are not limited to, the development of new study abroad programs, student and/or faculty exchanges, and the development of comparative courses in one’s discipline.
Travel to China with the Kirk Scholars in May 2010 (Deadline: March 21, 2009)
Each year, the Zylphia Shu-En Kirk Scholars program subsidizes the travel of a select group of Radford University students to China after they have completed two semesters of study of Mandarin Chinese. Faculty interested in accompanying the 2009-2010 Kirk Scholars to China in May 2010 are invited to indicate their interest. Two teaching faculty and one administrative/professional faculty member will be selected before the end of the 2008-2009 academic year. Those faculty will be encouraged (providing their teaching schedules can be accommodated) to join the students in their study of Mandarin during the 2009-2010 academic year.
Grants Supporting Reassigned Time for Wireless or Interdisciplinary Course Development (Deadline: October 20, 2008)
Funds are available for up to four awards for the development of "wireless" or interdisciplinary sections of general education courses. (Note that “interdisciplinary” means two courses in which students enroll simultaneously that are linked with a common theme.) Preference will be given to faculty who are planning to teach Honors sections, but proposals for non-Honors general education courses will also be considered. Funds will go to the faculty member's department to allow for one course of reassigned time in Spring 2009. If the faculty member is developing a wireless course, he/she may use this reassigned time either to actually teach a wireless course in Spring 2009 or to develop a course to be taught in Fall 2009 or Spring 2010. Faculty teaching wireless courses are able to require that each student in the class bring a laptop computer (owned by the student) to each class meeting. (The Honors Academy has five tablets that can be checked out in case of computer failure.) It will be expected that faculty developing interdisciplinary courses will receive reassigned time in Spring 2009 and the courses will be taught in Fall 2009 or Spring 2010.
Grants Supporting the Visiting International Scholar Program (Deadline: October 16, 2008)
RU hopes to make funds available to support three-to-six week visits of international scholars to RU, where they will interact with faculty, staff, and students, both within and outside of the classroom. If funded, the Visiting International Scholar program will also provide financial support for the RU faculty “host” to visit the scholar’s home institution for a reciprocal short-term scholarly visit in a different semester. Ideally, the “exchange” will be completed within a three-year period.
GRANTS SUPPORTING THE SCHOLARSHIP OF DISCOVERY
Faculty Programs
Faculty Professional Development Leave Program (DOC) (PDF) (Deadlines: October 15, 2008 & February 16, 2009)
The Radford University Faculty Professional Development Leave Program is established to provide tenured faculty an opportunity to engage in advanced study, research, and/or other scholarly and creative activities that will enhance their competencies as teachers/scholars and better prepare them to fulfill their teaching and other professional obligations to the university. Faculty may apply either for support for scholarly development or for an applied opportunity. Leave may be requested at full pay for one semester or at one-half for two semesters, according to terms specified in the Faculty Handbook. Applications are for leave taken in 2009-2010. [Note: Faculty applying for Leave can use the same cover sheet and proposal to request up to $1500 in related Scholarly and Creative Grants funding.]
Grants Supporting Scholarly and Creative Activity (DOC) (PDF) (Deadlines: October 15, 2008 & February 16, 2009)
Grants up to $1,500 to underwrite expenses related to research, scholarship, or creative activities. Open to full-time teaching and research faculty with preference given to 1) untenured faculty, 2) tenured faculty with established records of scholarly or creative activity, 3) tenured faculty who need to reestablish or re-energize their scholarly or creative activities. Grants under this program must be spent according to state deadlines. [Note: Faculty can use the same cover sheet and proposal to apply for Scholarly and Creative Activity funding and/or Reassigned Time.]
Grants Supporting Reassigned Time (DOC) (PDF) (Deadlines: October 15, 2008 & February 16, 2009)
The purpose of this program is to provide a reduced teaching load while a faculty member engages in scholarly or creative activities. Open to full-time teaching and research faculty with preference given to 1) untenured faculty, 2) tenured faculty with established records of scholarly or creative activity, 3) tenured faculty who need to reestablish or re-energize their scholarly or creative activities. [Note: Faculty can use the same cover sheet and proposal to apply for Scholarly /Creative Activity funding and/or Reassigned Time.]
Faculty Lecture Series (Deadline: November 17, 2008)
The purpose of the RU Faculty Lecture Series is to recognize Radford University faculty members who are currently involved in scholarly or creative activity. This activity contributes to the faculty member’s academic discipline, and enriches the University community. The lecture series provides the opportunity for the faculty member to present current and original scholarly work to the University community. Scholarly work is inclusive of all academic disciplines and may take the form of scientific research, research projects, artistic, musical, literary, or other creations.
Seed Grant Program (Deadlines: October 1, February 1, April 1)
Seed Grants are one-year grants to fund pilot or preliminary work leading to external funding of large research/creative projects by members of the faculty and staff. Awards are generally under $20,000.
Proposal Development Awards (Deadlines: October 1, February 1, April 1)
PDAs are used to purchase time for a principal author to dedicate himself or herself to writing a competitive award for significant funds or to hire assistance to do so. Awards are generally under $5,000.
Quick Response Grants (Deadline: submit at any time)
Quick Response Grants assist members of the faculty and staff to be able to secure externally funded grants and contracts when there is not enough time to go through the normal Proposal Development Award process. These short-term awards are primarily to purchase time for a principal author and/or assistant to write a competitive award for a specific Request for Proposal (RFP) without much lead time.
Traveling to Potential Sponsors (Deadline: submit at any time)
Mentoring Assistance Program (Deadlines: October 1, February 1, April 1)
MAP funding will support one-year projects in which a member of the RU faculty and a more experienced individual work together on preliminary work leading to a proposal for externally-funded research. Grants are expected to be under $15,000.
Departmental Research Support Accounts FAQ
Faculty-Student Collaborative Program
Faculty-Student Collaborative Grants (Deadline: October 17, 2008)
The purpose of the collaborative grant is for the faculty member to significantly engage one or more students in the scholarly research or creative activity. This activity engages students in creative research that will lead to publication, exhibition or some other form of public dissemination.
Student Programs
Graduate Student Research and Creative Activity Grants (Deadline: on-going)
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies has established a program to help subsidize (by reimbursement) graduate student research and creative activity (awards up to $50). Enrolled graduate students conducting thesis research, presenting recitals or exhibitions, or engaging in a similar research or creative activity are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted throughout the academic year and awards are contingent on availability of funds.
Presentation Travel Grants (applications due four weeks prior to scheduled presentation)
Students (graduate or undergraduate) whose research or creative projects have been accepted for presentation at national or regional conferences may apply for travel grants through the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Up to 50% of the total travel costs, not to exceed $150, may be awarded. Only enrolled students presenting papers, posters, or other research or creative work are eligible for travel grants. This program is contingent on availability of funds.