Faculty Research Grants
Purpose
The Faculty Research Grant aims to advance the intellectual and creative achievement of SMC faculty and promotes individuals toward tenure, promotion, and/or further scholarly engagement. We especially seek to support research that centers social justice and concern for historically marginalized communities related to yet not limited to aspects of gender, race, sexuality, and class. The Grant is supported by existing endowment funds identified for promoting academic excellence.
Getting Started
1. Tenure-track faculty on the R&T roster from all disciplines.
2. Administrators at the rank of full professor are not eligible.
3. Faculty members who are on sabbatical during the whole academic year of the award (i.e., the grant academic year).
4. Faculty members must be in compliance with college-wide diversity training requirements. Grant recipients who are not up to date will need to complete Guide training in spring 2025.
5. Faculty members who have not received a Faculty Research Grant in the last three review cycles. Use the following information to determine when you can apply.
Visiting faculty and adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply.
| Year X | Year Y | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
| Apply for Grant | Use grant | Not eligible to apply | Not eligible to apply | Eligible to apply | Use grant |
Eligible faculty members may apply for Faculty Research Grants of up to $10,000. Faculty collaborating on a joint project may apply for one Grant not to exceed $10,000.
These grants can cover expenses such as faculty summer salary, travel for research purposes, student research assistance, transcription services, miscellaneous supplies, workload units in the research category, and specialized equipment. (Equipment purchased with Grant funds remains the property of the College after the grant period). If the grant is used to cover workload units, it will be applied at a rate of 3WU of scholarship.
Funds will be available for use during the following fiscal year only, starting July 1 and through the following June 30.
Please submit proposals to your school Dean, who will then submit them as a set to Academic Affairs. Incomplete applications cannot be reviewed.
A complete proposal will include the following:
1. Project Description:
2. CV emphasizing your qualifications to pursue this specific project.
3. IRB (if needed): Please include a copy of your planned submission to the IRB. Formal IRB approval will be required by the end of May, if grant is awarded.
Review Process
Please submit proposals to your school Dean, who will then submit them as a set to Academic Affairs. The Committee on Faculty Development and Scholarship (CFDS) will review the Faculty Research Grant proposals. Upon the committee's recommendation, and consultation with the school Deans, the Office of the Provost will award the Faculty Research Grants.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the explanation of the project with respect to the following areas:
1. The research question(s) and aim of the project;
2. The methods or creative practice methodologies that will be used;
3. The expected outcomes and/or significance of research;
4. How the project will contribute to the applicant’s specific discipline;
5. How the project supports the Lasallian mission, promotes social justice, or supports historically marginalized communities within the applicant’s discipline;
7. The applicant’s qualifications to pursue this project;
8. Feasibility of work plan; and
9. Demonstration of the need and budget narrative.
Grant recipients will provide with a report of grant activity within sixty days of the conclusion of the grant period. More information about the requirements of the grant activity report will be shared with grantees.
Failure to submit the final report will result in a loss of eligibility for future faculty research grants.
Grant recipients may be invited to share the results of their efforts with the broader SMC community in the form of a public presentation and support future applicants through information and/or training sessions.