Engaged Scholarship Faculty Research Grant

Purpose

In the Fall of 2021, the co-chairs of the Engaged Scholarship Network surveyed faculty to see how the network could best support faculty who conduct research in their local communities. Overwhelmingly, faculty responded that they wanted internal grant support to conduct engaged research with community partners. We are pleased to announce that, through support from the Provost’s Office and the Division of Research and Innovation, we have funding to support 3-5 engaged scholarship faculty research grants. It is our aim that these internally-funded seed grants can be used to help faculty work towards securing larger external funding in order to continue their local research and community engagement. We are especially committed to supporting junior faculty, or those faculty hired during or after 2019.

Award Description and Eligibility

All full time faculty at the University of Memphis are eligible to apply. Eligible projects will involve at least one faculty member and one community partner, working collaboratively to address community needs or build community capacity. Special consideration will be given to projects that engage courses or students.

Two levels of funding are available. Individual faculty applicants can apply for up to $10,000. Faculty teams of 2 or more can apply for up to $15,000. Participating faculty may also be eligible for a course release, with approval of their chair and depending on funding. Special consideration will be given to faculty who are collaborating across disciplines.

Special consideration will also be given to research teams that are composed of one junior faculty member and one senior faculty member.

Funds can be used for travel, equipment, supplies, faculty summer salary, course release buyouts, research participant incentives, support for community partner organizations, and other expenses. Funding may also be used for student assistant stipends; however, requests for tuition and fees are not permitted.

Selection Process

The Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism will create a grant proposal review committee composed of 5 faculty from across the University of Memphis with experience conducting
engaged scholarship.

Review of grant proposals will begin in early May, and faculty will be notified of the committee’s decision by May 15th.

Proposal Process and Submission Deadline

The deadline to submit a proposal is May 1, 2022.

Submit proposals electronically to Kelsey Ryan in the Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism, ckryan@memphis.edu

Questions about the grants should be sent to the Engaged Scholarship Network co-chair, Alison Happel-Parkins, at aahappel@memphis.edu

Duration of Grant

The grant cycle is 1 year, starting in August, 2022.

Requirements of Awardees

Funding recipients will be required to:

• Meet with the appropriate pre-award coordinator to identify future funding opportunities;
• Give a presentation about their research project to the Engaged Scholarship Network after the completion of the grant cycle.

Proposal Format

The proposal should include the following:

1. Cover Page, including:
   a. Applicant Name
   b. Applicant Title
   c. Department
   d. Email address
2.  Letter of support from applicant’s department chair
3. Community partner information
   a. Organization name
   b. Primary contact
   c. Mission
   d. Staff size
   e. Service area
   f. Is the organization a 501(c)(3)?
   g. Letter of commitment from community partner
4. Research proposal narrative (2,000 words or less)
   a. Brief description of your research interests.
   b. Describe your relationship with the community partner.
   c. Describe the community issue that will be addressed, or how the project will build
   community capacity.
   d. Describe the defined geographic community that will be impacted by the project. A defined community can be either (1) a specific geography (e.g., neighborhood, street, housing complex, etc.), or (2) a group of people who share a common
   interest and represent a significantly underserved population.
   e. Describe the collaborative approach for the proposed project, including how the organization, faculty, and residents of the defined community (or stakeholders who are a part of the defined community) were substantively involved in project planning and/or will be actively involved in project execution.
   f. Describe the timeframe of the project and how the work will be carried out, including any connections to classes and student involvement.
   g. Briefly describe any research question(s), the relevant literature, and the scholarly products you expect to result from the project. (300 words or less)
   h. Proposed budget.
   i. Describe how this grant might help you secure additional funding in the future.
   j. Does this proposal require any of the following? (If awarded a grant, faculty will need to submit IRB materials if applicable to the proposal.)
            i.Use of potentially hazardous materials
            ii. Equipment, facilities, human resources, or services not currently available or budgeted herein
            iii. Use of human subjects, approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
            iv. Use of Lab Animals, approved by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC)