Creative Activities and Research Initiation Program

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Introduction

The Office for Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) solicits proposal for participation in its annual Creative Activities and Research Initiation Program. This is a small grants program designed to afford new faculty members in all disciplines an opportunity to initiate an activity that can be expanded in scope and ultimately funded through an external-sponsoring agency, or further enhance the scholarly development of individuals in the humanities and creative arts that are not well supported through external funding mechanisms. As noted below (Eligibility section), all tenure-track faculty are eligible to apply; however, priority for funding is for tenure-track faculty in the first three years of their appointment. CARIP takes into account both the quantitative and the qualitative scope of research and creative activities that can be found across a variety of scientific disciplines, social sciences, cultural studies, arts, and humanities. Preliminary efforts are often essential for developing future opportunities and for successful negotiations for external funding or for other forms of future project support, such as scholarly recognition of creativity. The purpose of the CARIP is to provide financial assistance to smallprojects that show promise of leading to high quality research programs or creative endeavors. All projects must indicate either: (1) an organization to which a proposal, or creative project, will be submitted, or (2) a well-defined opportunity for future scholarly or creative development.

Eligibility

To be eligible for participation in this program, an individual must have been appointed to the permanent tenure-track faculty of Southeastern Louisiana University. Priority for funding will be for those tenure-track faculty who are in the first three years of their appointment; however, all tenure-track faculty are eligible. A faculty member is not eligible for more than one research initiation project. PreviousCARIP recipients are not eligible. Questions regarding eligibility should be addressed to the Dean for Research and Graduate Studies.

Program Schedule

Proposals may be submitted to the applicant’s academic dean/director, if the college/unit wishes to review proposals and suggest revisions. The suggested date for submission to the college/unit is determined by the unit. However, applicants should contact their respective deans/directors to determine the appropriate schedule for the unit. It isstrongly recommended that proposal budgets be reviewed by the unit budget office prior to submission to the Office of Research.

Proposals must be submitted to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies no later than 4:30 pm onWednesday, October6, 2010. A peer review panel will submit evaluations of proposals to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies by mid-November. Awards will be announced by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies by late November or early December.

Project Period

Projects should begin on or after January 1st of the year after the award has been made. These projects must be completed by December 31st of the year funding is initiated (12 month calendar year funding). For example, an award made in December 2010 must be initiated and completed in calendar year 2011. A budget will be established in the budget unit of the faculty member.

Budget

Total direct costs of the project should not exceed $10,000 and must be appropriate for the creative activity or research being proposed. These funds are to be used solely in support of the principal investigator’s creative activity or research. Funds cannot be used for memberships, subscriptions, general software, general office supplies/equipment, etc. While travel is recognized as having value to research or creative endeavors of junior faculty, appropriate justification for proposed domestic and international travel should be provided. Faculty salaries are not an allowable cost. Fringe benefits, including graduate student tuition, should be included in Employee Benefits. There is no matching requirement; however, in cases when a proposal cannot be funded in its entirety the faculty member's home department may be contacted to consider providing partialfunding. Funding can be used for small equipment items that are necessary to conduct the research or creative activity. Equipment deemed to be essential for a research project or creative activity must be well-justified and should not be available in thePrincipal Investigator's department or college for sharing or borrowing. Funding from the CARIP is not intended as 'start-up'dollars but for conducting research and/or carrying out creative activities with the potential of leading to further opportunities. The following is a partial list of activities that may be considered for funding:

- Research materials, supplies, or equipment specific to the proposed project (not

general office supplies);

- Materials for traveling exhibitions;

- Rental for studios;

- Travel (state clearly how the areas traveled are unique and why interlibrary loans

or other means of acquiring materials/information are impractical);

- Access to databases and archives to facilitate research or creative activity.

Proposal Submission

Two paper copies of all proposals are required by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. An electronic copy must also be submitted to Judy Calmes ( judy.calmes@southeastern.edu ). Both copies are to be signed by the Principal Investigator, the Department Head, the Assistant Dean or the Dean, usingthe attached Cover Page. Failure to follow guidelines will result in an otherwise worthy proposal being eliminated from competition.

Proposers should check the appropriate box on the cover page indicating whether the proposal should be evaluated as a creative activity or research project. The Research and Creative Activity Council will make final recommendations as to which category a proposal should be evaluated.

Proposal Format

Proposals should be limited to a total of ten (10), double-spaced pages, 12-point font such as Times New Roman, including a brief description of the qualifications of the investigator. Margins must be a minimum of one inch. The Cover Page and Budget Form are not counted as part of the 10 page proposal. Proposals should be written in language such that most faculty, who are not experts in the proposed area of study in a field removed from your own, will be able to understand and evaluate the proposal.

Each proposal should contain the following elements:

Cover Page(form attached) - Not included in 10 pages
Budget(form attached)- Not included in 10 pages
Response to reviews - Not included in 10 pages. For CARIP proposals being resubmitted, a response to reviews must be included and must not exceed one page. This page is not required for first time CARIP submissions.

The combined page count for section #4 should not exceed 10 pages. Reviewers will not consider information included beyond 10 pages for this section.

4. Project Description

Research ProposalsCreative Activities

Significance / Introduction

-State the problem, hypothesis,

and/or question to be

addressed. Investigations that

are not based on a hypothesis

or an established question that

are intended to collect sample

data to establish a research

hypothesis or question will be

considered for funding.

The PI must clearly specify the

nature and reasoning behind

the collection of the data.

-Precisely list the project spe-

cific aims or objectives

considering time, funds and

available project personnel.

-Clearly state the need for the

project

-Describe the contribution

toward the field.

Significance / Introduction

-State the problem or issue to be

addressed or the creative

activity to be undertaken.

-Clearly describe the creative,

critical, or methodological

approach to be implemented.

-Precisely list the project

specific aims or objectives

considering time, funds, and

available project personnel.

-Clearly state the need for the

project.

-Describe the contribution

toward the field.

Background-provide pertinent

information

-Briefly summarize the current

and significant work in the area

of this proposal. Please be

selective rather than exhaustive.

Background-provide pertinent

information

-Briefly summarize the current and

significant work in the area of this

proposal. Please be selective

rather than exhaustive.

Project Plan

-Describe the experiments, the

method of analysis and for other

investigative approaches, state

how, where, and when it is to

be done and who will do it.

Creative Activity Plan

-Describe the process and method

for evaluating the creative

activity. For creative activities

of an investigative nature, state

how, where, and when it is to be

done.

Expected Results

-Indicate the anticipated

contribution to your (the

applicant's) field of specialization

and impact on society.

-Explain how this research

project shows promise of

leading to high quality

externally funded research

opportunities. Identify

external sponsoring agencies

for submittal of a proposal

upon completion of the

proposed research.

-Indicate why the activity

should be considered

innovative and/or novel.

Expected Results

-Indicate the anticipated

contribution to your (the

applicant's) field of specialization.

-Explain how this creative activity

shows promise of leading to

opportunities for high quality

social or cultural inquiry,

performances, exhibitions/

publications, or collaborations

with other disciplines.

-Indicate why the activity is

innovative and/or creatively

distinct.

Qualifications of the Principal

Investigator

-Briefly describe your research or

investigations that are

pertinent to the proposed

project. Provide evidence of

your ability to complete the

proposed research.

Qualifications of the Principal

Investigator

-Briefly describe your creative

activities that are pertinent to the

proposed activity. Provide

evidence of your ability to

complete the proposed creative

activity.

5. Vita - Not included in 10 pages

Include a one page vita that list places and dates of educational degrees, employment record, faculty ranks, professional accomplishments, publications, current/previous funding.

Evaluation

All proposals will be peer reviewed. The Creative Activities and Research Councilwill serve as the primary body to review proposals. However, as necessary, discipline or area experts not on the Council will review proposals to ensure thorough and appropriate evaluations. TheOffice for Research and Graduate Studies will select a panel composed of members whose expertise reflects the creative activities, discipline and/or research areas of the submitted proposals. Each proposal will be reviewed by three panel members who will provide an independent review discussing the strengths and concerns of the proposedactivity or project and will rate the proposal as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair or Poor. The panel will convene to discuss individual reviews and, as a panel, make one of the following recommendations for funding: High (Fund at Highest Priority), Medium (Fund if money is available), and Low (Not recommending for funding). Reviews and recommendations will be forwarded to the Office for Research and Graduate Studies. Summary reviews will be provided to PIs.

Evaluation Criteria

Research Proposals Creative Activities

Merit

-Novelty, originality and inno-

vation

-Conceptual adequacy of the

proposed work

-Understanding of the problem

or issue to be investigated

-Clarity and delineation of the

objectives

-Adequacy of the research,

investigative or experimental

plan and methodology

Merit

-Novelty, originality and inno-

vation

-Clarity of what is to be

achieved

-Adequacy of the methodology

or activity

-Impact on cultures and societies

-Potential for regional, national,

or international recognition

Personnel, Facilities, and

Project Mgt

-Qualifications of the applicant

to conduct the research

-Availability of facility space

and equipment

-Soundnessof the project

management plan

Personnel, Facilities and

Project Mgt

-Qualifications of the applicant

to engage in the creative

activity

-Availability of facility space and

equipment

-Soundness of the creative

activity management plan

Project Relevance

-Documented evidence that the

work aligns with the University

mission for research and

teaching

Project Relevance

-Documented evidence that the

work aligns with the University

mission for creative activity

and teaching

Leverage

-Potential for leveraging the

project to gain external

funding.

-Identification of potential

funding sources.

Leverage/Recognition

-Potential for developing external

funding opportunities or other

external resources (e.g. forums

for artistic recognition)

applicable to a specific

disciplinary area.

The Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in consultation with the Creative Activities and Research Council will make the final selection of projects to be awarded.

Reporting Requirements

A final report must be submitted to the Dean for Research and Graduate Studies by January 31st following the project year. It should include the following elements:

a. Description of results of a project or activity.

b. Plans for further work including a timeline for submitting proposals to external-

sponsoring agencies (list specific agencies) or obtaining external (e.g third-party)

support for research or extending the work of a creative activity.

c. Listing of publications and presentations resulting from a research project or

creative endeavor, such as a listing of shows, competitions or the like for creative

works. Publications do not have to be published for reporting purposes;

information on publications in preparation or submitted should be provided.

d. Financial report correlating project or creative activity expenditures with the

proposed budget.

2. There is no page limit; however, reports should be concise when summarizing

results and activities.

General Timeline

Proposal Announcement	August 2010
Optional Submission to Colleges/Units (if college/Unit wishes to provide assistance with revisions)	Determined by college/unit
Proposal Submitted to Deanfor Research and Graduate Studies	October 6, 2010
Review Proposals by Panel Completed	Mid November
Awards Announced	Late November/ Early December

Common Mistakes

The following is a list of common mistakes found in grant proposals, in general, and specifically in CARIP proposals.

The proposal has typographical errors, misspelled words, and/or grammatical errors.

Using etc, after listings which is too open ended, vague and not specific.

A proposal is too broad for the funds requested and/or time allowed.

A hypothesis, research question, or scholarly purpose of an activity, is not clearly stated; therefore, the reviewers do not grasp the significance of the problem to be investigated or the creative endeavor to be pursued.

The goal or anticipated outcome of the project or activity is not defined, or is vague.

The project or activity description is too technical, not allowing for adequate understanding by non-discipline reviewers.

The project or activity description, design and plan is poorly organized.

For research projects, the experimental design and statistical analysis is flawed.

Budget calculations are incorrect or appear inflated.

"Southeastern" should be spelled out in all instances, the abbreviations SLU or SELU should not be used.

The single most important activity that improves the competitiveness of a proposal is to have the proposal reviewed (by someone other than the PI).

Have someone in the discipline review the proposal.

Have someone unfamiliar with discipline or proposed work review the proposal.

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