Summer Faculty Fellowships

Award Information, Guidelines, and Application Format

I. Purpose

Summer Faculty Fellowships are intended to provide support to tenured or tenure-track faculty so they can devote themselves full-time in the summer months to research and creative projects or other professional development activities.

II. Funding Level

Summer fellowships awarded to faculty in the amount of $8500.

III. Review and Evaluation Criteria and Priorities

It is the policy of the Office of the EVCAA that all tenure-track faculty are afforded an equal opportunity to compete for available resources. All applications for Summer Faculty Fellowships therefore will be weighed, first and foremost, on the basis of merit. The following criteria will guide FDGC evaluation of the merit:

1. Clarity and Completeness. Applications must describe and explain proposed projects in simple, direct language that includes sufficient detail that the substance of the project can be properly understood and objectively considered by individuals who may or may not possess expertise in the area or discipline of the applicant. Applications also must provide all required information in the style and format described below.
2. Relevance. Descriptions of proposed projects must include discussion of the questions, theories, hypotheses, etc., from with the proposed activity grows, the importance of the project to general or specific questions in the field, and the benefits to be realized by the discipline, university or the individual as a result of the project.
3. Design. Applications must include descriptions of the manner in which the project will be completed, which, if a research project is proposed, may include but is not limited to: the paradigm which will guide inquiry, the methods and materials used to collect and analyze data, and the manner in which data will be reported. A sequence of project activities that will be followed, and an approximate timeline of project activities, phases, etc. also must be included.
4. Applicant Qualifications. FDGC review of applicant qualifications will chiefly address the issue of competence, that is, whether the applicant appears to possess the background and skills necessary to complete the proposed project. Applications therefore must include descriptions of previous work or experience in the area proposed.  The application also must include the applicant’s vita, which includes a listing of publications, presentations, creative work and/or work in progress. Additional evidence of competence may include but is not limited to: training and experience with the methods and materials needed to conduct a project, prior success at securing funding, successful completion of similar or related projects, publications, or the opinion of knowledgeable associates. Applicants who propose projects and activities which appear to fall outside of their disciplines, or which appear to depend upon skills which they do not routinely employ, may need to include clarifying information and explanation to ensure fair and thorough consideration of their proposal.
5. Letters of Support.  Applications must be accompanied by at least two letters of support, from individuals knowledgeable about the proposed project, activity, etc.  One letter should be contributed by an associate within the applicant’s academic unit. The letter does not need to be from the chair or dean, but it must be from an individual who possesses some expertise in the area of the proposed activity who is able to address its relevance, feasibility, merit, etc., as well as providing comment on the applicant’s background, skills, competence, or record of scholarly success. A second letter should be contributed by an individual outside the applicant’s department.  This need not be an individual outside the IU Kokomo academic community. However, the individual should have the expertise necessary to comment on the merit of the proposed project.

IV. Funding Priorities

In the event there are more meritorious applications for summer fellowships than available award funds, the FDGC will consider the following secondary criteria:

1. Projects for which some funding has been secured, but which are in need of additional, supplemental support. This might include, for example, funding for a research project that will be conducted during a sabbatical.
2. Partly completed projects which have previously received support from this or another source, and which are in need of additional funds for continuation or completion.
3. Projects which primarily involve the continued specialized training or education of the applicant.
4. Applications from junior faculty (i.e., within their first two years at IU Kokomo), or from senior faculty seeking new direction.
5. Applications from faculty who have demonstrated positive outcomes of previous funding.
6. Meritorious projects which could not be funded the previous year.

V. Award Conditions

Summer Faculty Fellowships are available to IU Kokomo tenure-track faculty only, and are limited to one award per year per recipient.

Applicants seeking Summer Faculty Fellowships in two consecutive years must provide documentation of efforts to obtain additional external funding to be eligible for an award the second year. Awards may not be received for three consecutive years, however. Applicants seeking a third summer fellowship must wait at least one year after receipt of the second fellowship before applying for a third award, and all applicants for a third or subsequent fellowship must document continuing efforts to secure funding from alternative, external sources.

Summer Faculty Fellowships may not be used to support dissertation research.

Summer Faculty Fellowship recipients must agree to devote at least two months of full-time effort to the fellowship-supported project, however, recipients can teach a maximum load of three credit hours in the summer.

Summer Faculty Fellowship recipients must agree to continue at IU Kokomo through the academic year following the summer of the award.

Footnote recognition of the source of support should be included in any publication resulting from a project supported by Summer Faculty Fellowship funds.

Summer Faculty Fellowship recipients must submit a final report to the Office of the EVCAA which includes a summary of the research, creative or other activity completed with award support. Copies of any publications, papers, etc. arising from supported projects should also be forwarded to the VCAA. Either a final or interim report should be submitted by October 1 following the summer of the fellowship.

VI. Application Format

Summer Faculty Fellowship applications should follow the format below, and must include a signed “Award Conditions” section. Complete applications must be submitted via email to the AVCAA (Julie Saam, jsaam@iuk.edu) by October 15 of each year.

Indiana University Kokomo Summer Faculty Fellowship Application

Name of Applicant:

Applicant Rank and Academic Unit:

Project Title:

Abstract:

Provide a brief summary of the proposed project, including a statement of purpose, overview of design and methods if a research project is proposed, and other information which describes the nature of the project and the proposed use of funds.

Background:

Provide information related to the context in which the project is proposed.  If a research project is proposed, include a discussion of how the project differs or grows from previous research in the area, a rationale that explains why the proposed project is a relevant or promising direction for inquiry, the project’s potential contribution to knowledge, and/or the application of possible findings to general or specific problems in the field. If the proposed project primarily involves specialized training or education, describe how that training relates to present responsibilities, and how it might affect performance of duties in the future.

Design:

If research is proposed, provide specific descriptions and discussion of the paradigm which will guide inquiry, the methods and materials used to collect and analyze data, the manner in which data will be reported, a sequence of project activities that will be followed, and an approximate timeline of project activities, phases, etc. If a project primarily involving specialized training or education is proposed, provide specific information about how, what, when, and where training will occur.

Applicant Qualifications:

Provide specific information related to the applicant’s competence, training or ability to complete the proposed project. Include any relevant information (e.g., publications, similar studies completed in the past, background and experiences, etc.). A current, complete curriculum vita or resume must be included. Include a listing of all previous grants-in-aid or summer fellowship support, including the title and status of those projects, award date, and any papers, publications, etc. directly resulting from each project. Provide any additional relevant information which may help the FDGC evaluate the proposal. Applicants who propose projects involving human subjects must include documentation of completion of the IU IRB Protection of Human Research Participants Certification Test.

References:

List the name, title, and contact information for least two individuals who will provide letters of support.  (See guidelines for a discussion of eligible contributors.)

Award Conditions:

In signing this application, the applicant signifies that he/she has read and agrees with these conditions:

1. A written, detailed summary of the completed project supported with Summer Faculty Fellowship funds must be submitted to the Office of the EVCAA at the completion of the project. An interim or final report must be submitted by October 1 following the summer of the fellowship.
2. Should a project supported with Summer Faculty Fellowship funds yield royalties or other income to the applicant, the award recipient agrees to repay the university when the amount of such income exceeds $100 in any calendar year. Each year such income exceeds $100 the award recipient is obligated to repay the university one-half of the income until the award is repaid.

Signature of Applicant:

___________________________________________

Date:_____________________