Internal Grants for Faculty at ONU

2009-10 Online Instructional Grants

Ohio Northern University is making available grants to support the development of online instruction. Five grants, up to $10,000 each, will be available to faculty members.

1. The result of each grant must be an online course, significant course supplement or a continuing education course. The online course must offer the equivalent academic standards compared to traditional teaching. Grants will be selected based upon proposals showing creative and engaging applications of online instruction. This could include professional continuing-education courses, refresher courses, learning units for cross-disciplinary teaching, a traditional course or a course module. 
2. Projects using faculty collaboration in cross-departmental or cross-college projects that build on known strengths of the University or relate directly to its strategic plan are encouraged. 
3. Grant funds can be used for: 
   • summer
   • stipends for faculty
   • student work study support
   • purchasing
   • course materials and supplies
4. Grant proposals must include: 
   • a brief description of the planned product and its relevance to the curriculum
   • the expected outcomes
   • the plan for assessment
   • a proposed budget
   • a projected timeline for completion.
5. Upon completion, faculty members will be requested to present their project to department and college colleagues and will provide a report and assessment of the effectiveness of the project.
6. The online course will be joint property of Ohio Northern University and the
   faculty member.
7. Grant proposals must be submitted to Dr. Anne Lippert, vice president for academic affairs, by Friday, April 10, 2009.  A committee will select proposals for funding. 

Teaching with Technology Grants

ONU will award 10 grants, up to $5,000 each, to encourage faculty use of technology in teaching. Application for this grant occurs once a year during fall quarter. Below are the guidelines for 2007-08:

1. The result of each grant must be a demonstrable product using technology to supplement classroom teaching or the development of a stand-alone course. The product must offer equivalent academic standards compared to traditional teaching.
2. Grants will be selected based upon proposals showing creative and engaging approaches to teaching and learning using new technologies.
3. Projects using faculty collaboration in cross-departmental or cross-college projects that build on known strengths of the University or relate directly to its strategic plan are encouraged.
4. Grant funds may be used to:
   • purchase hardware and software
   • purchase course materials and supplies
   • provide summer stipends for faculty
   • provide student work-study support
   • fund travel for specific technology training
5. Grant proposals must include a brief description of the product, plan of implementation into the specified curriculum, expected outcomes, plan for assessment, budgetary allocations and a projected time line for the completion of the product.
6. Upon completion, faculty will be requested to present their project to department and college colleagues and will provide a report and assessment of the effectiveness of the project.
7. Grant proposals must be submitted to Dr. Anne Lippert, vice president for academic affairs by Friday, Nov. 2, 2007. A committee will select proposals for funding.

Undergraduate Faculty Development Grants for Curriculum Development or Research Projects

Faculty development grants are given for projects undertaken during the academic year or during the summer months. Faculty stipends are granted for projects undertaken during the summer months, but support costs of projects undertaken during the regular academic year may be supported with these grant funds. The grant supports either a research project or curriculum development. The expected result of the research project is a publication or report of the project's status and completion. The expected result of curriculum development is the completion of the proposed project demonstrating course revisions, completion of a workshop or the development of a new course.

The grant awards a $1,000 stipend to a faculty member and up to $500 in support costs. Project support costs may include such items as programming, research and instructional equipment, expendable supplies, audiovisual supplies, library acquisitions, travel or honoraria for speakers, copy charges, travel, and workshop fees that are not otherwise included in department or college budgets.

Dates of application

Applications are due in the Office of Academic Affairs by the following dates:

1. Oct. 1 for grants starting winter term or later
2. Feb. 1 for grants starting spring term or later
3. April 1 for grants starting summer term or later
4. July 1 for grants starting fall term or later

* Note: Review at the college level should precede submission to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Procedures for application

1. The applicant submits his or her project to dean with the dates under which work is to be undertaken and expected outcomes. Attached to the application is an updated CV and information on other University grants received (sabbaticals, stipends, etc.)
2. The dean reviews the application with the college committee (if so determined by that college) and forwards the application with the dean's recommendation to the Office of Academic Affairs by the due date.
3. The University Office of Academic Affairs reviews the project applications and recommendations, and the vice president for academic affairs acts on the recommendation. Applicants are notified of the decision within two weeks of the application due dates.

Payment of stipend and costs

1. Costs are paid or reimbursed as actual bills are presented for copies, supplies, workshop fees, etc.
2. For those receiving summer stipends, the stipend is paid at the end of the first month of the period in which the project will be conducted as named in the application.

Reports

Reports are due two weeks from the close of the grant period named in the application.

Improvement of Teaching Grant

Small Improvement of Teaching Grants are available through the office of the vice president for academic affairs. Procedures and application materials for projects undertaken during the academic year differ slightly from those projects undertaken during the summer as Faculty Development Grants. Faculty stipends are available only through summer Faculty Development Grants. Faculty members who need some financial assistance to cover small costs related to developing and updating courses are encouraged to apply to the office of the vice president for academic affairs for an Improvement of Teaching Grant. Kinds of items that might be funded in the teaching-improvement projects are work-study funds for student assistants, small travel to collection costs, research materials, assistance with workshop costs and other similar items.

Application deadlines

1. Oct. 1 for grants starting winter term or later
2. Feb. 1 for grants starting spring term or later
3. April 1 for grants starting summer term or later
4. July 1 for grants starting fall term or later

Procedures for application

1. As soon as the faculty member decides to apply for an Improvement of Teaching Grant, and not later than two weeks before the appropriate application deadline, the applicant should notify in writing the appropriate department chair (if there is any) and dean.
2. The applicant sends the proposal to the office of the vice president for academic affairs and a copy to the appropriate dean and department chair.
3. The applicant will be notified of the decision of the vice president for academic affairs within two weeks. if additional material is required, the office of the vice president for academic affairs will ask the applicant for the material requested.

Applications should include:

1. A cover sheet with the applicant's name, college, department, date of application and title for the project or activity
2. A brief summary of the activity for which funds are requested, which will include how the activity will improve instruction in the department or college, the period of time when activity will take place and a timetable, the rationale for funds requested, and the amount of funds requested.
3. A recommendation from the Department Chair (if any) and Dean.

Report from Applicant

Following completion of the project, the applicant should submit a one-page report of the project to the appropriate department chair (if any),dean, and the office of the vice president for academic affairs.

External Grants:

Other Places to look for grants:

1. OLN Northwest Regional Center grant for faculty learning communities
2. Community of Science - Create a profile, and they will e-mail grant possibilities that fit your interests.
3. St. Ambrose University O'Keefe Library - a Web page with links to sites that talk about grants