The CHP Dean’s Innovation Grant offers faculty maximum awards based on the size of the external funding for the project:

1. Maximum of $10,000 for projects with external submissions exceeding $1,000,000 (Three projects).
2. Maximum of $5,000 for projects with external submissions exceeding $100,000 (Four projects).
3. Applications requesting under $100,000 from external sources are still welcome and will be reviewed.

The purpose of the CHP Deans Innovation Grant is to increase sponsored research, interdisciplinary programming, and/or creative activities. The source of this one-time funding is through the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), and the acquisition of funds for the CHP Dean’s Innovation Grant from CSCE/OSP is dependent on success measures of funded projects which will be evaluated in two years. The recipient of the funding will be required to seek external funding within the timeline of their application.

The Dean’s Innovation Grant is designed to support faculty in developing innovative projects with the potential to secure external funding. This Policy outlines the eligibility criteria, application process, and evaluation procedures for using the grant to pursue external funding opportunities.

Eligibility

• Faculty members (tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track)
• Collaborations between faculty (internal and external to the College) and students are highly encouraged

Grant Use

• Funding may be utilized for activities directly related to the development of a competitive proposal for external funding. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:
  • Provide a course release (example year: 2024-25 academic year) for faculty to write a proposal for an identified grant opportunity: faculty would indicate funding for an adjunct faculty to cover a course (i.e. $3,000)
  • Hire a grant writer/editor to assist with proposals for an identified grant
  • Attend grant writing courses/seminars to assist with an identified grant opportunity
  • Seed money necessary for an identified external grant proposal
  • Other ideas will be reviewed

Grant Exclusions

Funding cannot be used for standard operational expenses such as salaries, equipment purchases that are not directly related to the proposal development, or travel that is not specifically for proposal development.

Application

The application process requires that applicants submit a proposal that includes the following elements:

• Project title and a brief description
• Funding agency along with the specific external funding opportunity being targeted (provide URL)
• Alignment of the project with the Department/Unit/College/University strategic priorities (if applicable)
• Research questions and research methods (one page)
• A detailed budget outlining the use of the Dean’s Innovative Grant fund: course release, grant editor, etc.
• Timeline for completing the external funding proposal and timeline of the project if funded

Application Deadlines

The Dean’s Innovation Grant application submissions will be on a rolling basis until the funds are depleted or May 2026, whichever occurs first. Faculty awardees will be required to apply for an external grant by May 2026. In addition, the spending of an accepted grant must be completed by August 2027. Application process:

1. Apply for the Dean’s Innovation Grant to support the development of strong proposals for external funding
2. Utilize the Dean’s Innovation Grant funding to conduct pilot studies, gather data, or complete other proposal development activities
3. Submit proposals to CSCE to secure additional funding if necessary
    

By aligning the funding sources, faculty can leverage the Dean’s Innovation Grant as a stepping stone to compete for additional CSCE funding opportunities or vice versa.

Application Review

Proposals will be reviewed by a committee composed of faculty with expertise in research and grant development: a subcommittee of the CHP Faculty Scholarship Committee. The committee will provide a recommendation for all applications to the CHP Dean’s office in a timely manner (preferably within 2 weeks of receiving the application).

CHP Dean Review of Recommendation

Recommendations will be reviewed by the CHP Dean and applicants will be informed of the funding decision within a specified timeframe, typically two weeks, following the recommendation by the CHP Faculty Scholarship Subcommittee.

OSP Review of Recommendation

Recommended applications for funding will be sent to OSP for review to ensure that the request meets the goals of the Dean’s Innovation Grant.

Evaluation Criteria for the CHP Faculty Scholarship Subcommittee

1. Potential for securing external funding
2. Rigorous research methods and study protocol
3. Innovation and originality of the project and contribution to the field or community
4. Alignment of the project with the strategic goals of the university, college, and/or department/unit
5. Clarity and feasibility of the project timeline and budget

Securing External Funding

1. The Dean’s Innovation Grant is intended to be a seed funding mechanism to jumpstart proposals for external funding.
2. The OSP can aid with grant identification and submission processes for external funding opportunities.
3. The funded projects will be evaluated by the CHP Dean’s Office and OSP for funding progress.