TO:                  All Faculty

FROM:            Laura Behling, Dean of the College

RE:                  Proposals for Academic Year Research and Travel Funds Due JANUARY 31, 2014

This memo describes the process for applying for (a) funds for research and creative projects (ending by 30 June 2014), (b) funds for travel to scholarly conferences scheduled prior to 30 June 2014.

Research and Creative Project Funds for Academic Year 2013-2014 Projects

Support for academic year research projects is available through the College’s operating budget.  Most projects should be completed by 30 June 2014 (if your proposed project will continue after that date, you can explain in your application).

Academic Year 2013 research and creative project awards will range from $200 to $2000.  Please review the Research/Study Fund Guidelines (Appendix A.I of the Faculty Handbook).  Automobile travel is 50 cents/mile; student assistants earn $8.25 per hour.  Please take care in planning travel arrangements. Reasonable airfare and overnight accommodations will be considered.  COFR currently recommends that faculty use a standard $100 guideline for travel to Chicago.  If your research plans involve Chicago, but you believe expenses will exceed the standard guideline, please explain the additional expenses in your request.

The proposal review process created under the aegis of the former Mellon Foundation grant will continue.  Faculty representatives of the four general areas of the curriculum (Diana Beck, John Dooley, Todd Heidt, and Barbara Tannert-Smith) plus both Associate Deans will constitute an advisory group, COFR (Committee on Faculty Research). Michael Schneider, Associate Dean for Faculty Development will chair the committee for the remainder of the academic year.  The committee will read and evaluate all faculty research proposals submitted for funding; their evaluations and recommendations will be reported to the Dean of the College, upon whose approval they become effective.  Members of COFR are available to any faculty with questions about a proposal they would like to submit.    

The Research/Creative Project Application(.doc) form can be found here.   

Applications should be submitted electronically (as .doc or .pdf format) to facultydevelopment@knox.edu no later than 31 January 2014.  (Applications for funding of late developing projects will be considered as remaining resources allow.)

Conference Travel Funds for Academic Year 2013-2014

Funds are available from the College’s operating budget to support participation in conferences scheduled from 1 September 2013 through 30 June 2014 (proposals for summer 2014 travel post-July 1 to scholarly conferences will be solicited in early Spring 2014).  College policy allows funding for travel; if you are a formal participant in the conference, you are eligible for up to $500 in additional receipted expenses (Appendix A.II of the Faculty Handbook).  Please take care in planning travel arrangements. Reasonable airfare will be considered. Private automobile travel can only be funded when cheaper than public transportation or under other special circumstances.  COFR currently recommends that faculty use a standard $100 guideline for conferences in Chicago.  If your conference is not in the Loop area Chicago, and you believe expenses will exceed the standard guideline, please explain the additional expenses in your request.

Requests should be submitted through the online form (‘my.knox.edu’ login is required first) at Conference Travel Request no later than 31 January 2014.  (Applications for funding of late developing conference plans will be considered as remaining resources allow.)