Grants Proposal

SPD GRANT PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

In the interest of making the most effective use of SPD resources, the following guidelines are established for preparing and evaluating proposals for SPD grants. These guidelines apply to project-oriented activities. Funding requests for travel to conferences should be directed to the appropriate Dean using established procedures. Requests to present workshops to colleagues may be submitted to the Professional Development Committee using the Request to Offer Workshop form, which can be downloaded from the TLC web pages.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

1. The training session, research project, materials, or other project/activity specified in an SPD proposal must clearly lead to professional development and serve the best interests of Edison College and its students. 
2. Preference will be given to proposals that have the potential for long-range, broad-based impact on faculty effectiveness or student learning.
3. The proposal must cover a distinct time period, with an identified completion date.
4. The proposal must have the signature/s of the appropriate Dean or Deans.
5. The proposal cannot entail an indefinite financial commitment on the part of the College.
6. The proposal must clearly define how knowledge gained will be shared among colleagues and incorporated into professional practice.
7. Funds may not be requested for purposes that are part of the normal operations of a department/division/campus.
8. Grant recipients must prepare a summary report for the Professional Development Committee at the culmination of the research, project, etc.  Grant recipients are encouraged to share the results of their professional development with their department members at a faculty meeting.
9. The Professional Development Committee will endeavor to distribute funds equitably to faculty members from all Edison College campuses and centers.

Parameters for Proposals

1. Funding requested in a proposal from an individual faculty member should not exceed $2,000.  Funding requested in a proposal from a team of faculty members should not exceed $6,000.  Exceptions to these limits may be granted under special circumstances.
2. Full-time and adjunct faculty members may submit proposals.  Adjuncts must submit jointly with at least one full-time faculty member.
3. Proposals must be submitted far enough in advance to allow sufficient time for review by the Professional Development Committee, transfer of budget funds, and processing of purchase requests.  
4. Proposals will be considered in the order in which they are received.  If a balance remains uncommitted as of February 15th, the Professional Development Committee may specify a use for remaining funds to accomplish a particular professional development goal.
5. The Professional Development Committee may ask the requestor(s) to meet with the Committee to provide a more detailed description of any proposal.

Proposal Submission Process

A typed proposal will be prepared by the requestor (or in the case of a team project, a primary contact person) that will contain the following information:

1. Name, discipline, campus/center/division of each participant.
2. Identification of primary contact person, including Edison phone extension and e-mail address.  (Primary contact must be a full-time faculty member.)
3. Nature of the request, to include the following for each type of request:
1. Research project, pilot project, or development of instructional materials:
1. Description, purpose, and scope of project
2. Projected start and end dates
3. Total amount of request
4. Description of how requested funds will be used, including stipends for faculty involved
5. Specification of any release time requested, with indication/s of specific individuals requesting the release time, the number of credit hours of release time requested, and the number of semesters for which the release time is requested
2. Hosting a conference, workshop, seminar, or training:
1. Title and description
2. Start and end dates
3. Targeted audience, estimated attendance, and description of how the event will be promoted
4. Designation whether registration fees will be charged, to what entity they will be paid, how they will be collected, etc.
5. Location
6. Total amount of request
3. Other Projects:
1. All pertinent details, including description, time frame, participant/s, amount and nature of costs, etc.
4. Impact/Benefits to Edison State College:
1. Identify how the project fosters professional development, how the educational benefit from the project will be diffused, and how it will ultimately affect teaching and learning at Edison College.
2. Identify the scope of the project – whom the project will impact, and whether the scope is short-term or long-term.
3. Identify whether the project will involve changes to College processes or will affect other departments and, if so, whether all concerned parties have been consulted and are in support of the project.
5. Signatures
1. Obtain signatures and dates for all project participants and the appropriate Dean/s (for team projects, obtain the signature of the Dean for the division or campus of the primary contact).
6. Summary report
1. Identify the projected date that a summary report will be submitted to the Professional Development Committee.

The summary report should include a description of the project’s outcomes, including the means by which: 1) knowledge was shared with colleagues; 2) new instructional practices were implemented (and by whom); 3) new instructional materials were utilized and in which courses; or 4) other relevant goals were achieved. 

Summary reports will be important evaluative tools for the Professional Development Committee.  They will help identify the most effective types of projects with the most far-reaching impacts, and may indicate areas for further development through pursuit of grants or other resources.