Funding Initiative Announcement from the Office of Research Servicesfor the Upcoming Year

(taking effect: June 1, 2015)

Principles: The Office of Research Services (ORS) on the Denver Campus has funding to encourage and support creative activities on the downtown campus (creative activities are defined broadly to encompass traditional research, scholarly/intellectual activities that lead to published work, artistic endeavors, etc. – these activities are those that define a research university, namely ones that lead to products that are widely disseminated to the external world). In broad terms ORS is committed to balancing support for (1) faculty engaged in traditional research activities that require significant external funding for their success and (2) faculty engaged in creative activities that are not dependent on large sources of funding and for which external funding is limited. Balancing these concerns, while difficult, will help define the success of ORS and CU Denver. ORS is committed to awarding funds in a way that will lead to increased faculty productivity and an enhanced reputation for CU Denver.

It needs to be clear that ORS receives internal funding from the CU Denver Downtown budget and only supports scholarly activities carried out as part of the Downtown mission.

ORS has targeted:

(a) $200,000 to be spent on our ORS Grant Program

plus

(b) $150,000 to be spenton Additional ORS funding

The ORSGrant Program allocation of $200,000 will fund projects that meet wide-ranging goals and various guidelines in two categories:

  • Small grant projects up to $3,000.Small grants can be submitted at any time, but will be reviewed bimonthly. Deadlines for submission will be the last day of January, March, May, July, September, November, and December. Three outcomes for grants in this category are possible. Some projects will be funded immediately. Others will be declined. Certain requests will not be immediately awarded -- the Standing Review Committee will ask that these be resubmitted guided by questions from the Committee. Matching funds from primary units, schools/colleges, or other sources of at least 20% are required. That means that a $3,000 request would require aminimum of a $600 match.
  • Largegrant projects between $3,001 and $25,000. Large grants will be considered in early July and January with deadlines of June 30 and December 31. Matching funds from primary units, schools/colleges, or other sources of at least 20% are required. That means that a $25,000 request would require a minimum of a $5,000 match.

TheAdditional ORS allocationof $150,000 will fund the following activities:

  • Various special requests that may arise that might be critical to creative activities development at CU Denver will be considered by Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Bob Damrauer. Contact him to discuss your needs at 303-315-2131 or
  • Several Interdisciplinary opportunities are being sponsored by theCreative Research Collaborative (CRC). The CRC is a campus-wide initiative to foster innovative and interdisciplinary research activities that strengthen collaboration across academic units on the downtown campus. Go to the CRC website: or contact Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Michael Jenson directly at for more information.
  • A New Faculty Grant Programto support the research/creative work of new,tenure track faculty within their first two years at CU Denver. Any amount up to $25,000 may be requested. A 20% funding match from either the department or school/college is required. That means that a $25,000 request would require aminimum of a$5,000 match. Use of startup funds to match will not be allowed.Applications will be accepted once per year with a deadline of February 28.
  • ATravel/Travel-Related Grant Program: Such requests will require explanation of the importance of the travel in terms of your creative development. A one-to-one match from primary units, schools/colleges, or other sources is required. That means that a minimum of a $1,000 request would require a $1,000 match.Travel Grant requests can be submitted anytime.
  • A Publication/Page Charge Grant Program: Requests require an explanation of the importance of the published work in terms of your creative development. A one-to-one match from primary units, schools/colleges, or other sources is required. That means that a $1,000 request would require a minimum of a $1,000 match. These requests can be submitted anytime.

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Various considerations will apply in awarding all proposals:

  • The impact of funding on the applicant’s career.
  • Grants determined to have significant potential for future external funding may be given special consideration by the Standing Review Committee.
  • The clarity of writing, which must be aimed so an intelligent layperson can understand the important aspects of the project. Failure to do so will greatlyreduce chances of funding. THIS CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH.
  • How carefully you have justified the budget request. If you request a research assistant, we want to know what that person will be doing and what your role will be in their work. If you request travel expenses, we want to know exactly what research questions are being addressed and how those will advance your career.
  • The degree to which funding would enhance CU Denver’s reputation in research and creative activities.

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All proposals will require the following elements, which will be part of the formatted Word submission application that can be found at:

  • a cover sheet with a matching fund commitment (see cover sheet for more on matching requirement and size limitations for the following sections)
  • a project abstract
  • a project description indicating the significance of the creative activity
  • a description of the methodology to be used in approaching the project
  • statements relating tothe expected outcomes of ORS funding to include (where relevant) (i) how funding will advance the applicant’s career, (ii) what future funding activities are anticipated with agency, program name, program officer, and deadlines identified and/or (iii) what specific outlets for the work accomplished in the project are likely (exhibits, journal articles, etc., and/or (iv) what other support might arise upon successful completion of the project
  • information about pending and current funding (where applicable)
  • a detailed budget andbudget justification
  • a short CV for each submitting investigator (two page limit)
  • a signed pledge to report to ORS the project’s outcomes at its conclusion and to update ORS on future developments related to initial funding (see forms) (see project time limits below)
  • evidence of matching commitment documentation

OTHER INFORMATION

Single- and multi-investigator submissions will be considered, although funding for participants not on the downtown campus must be provided by their home institution/campus.

Funding may include, but is not limited to:

  • Research assistants
  • Travel supporting research
  • Crucial equipment
  • Software/database expenses
  • Limited summer support
  • Limited course buyouts

The project period for all fund expenditures is one year from the time the award is made unless otherwise agreed upon.

Formatting Restrictions: Page/word limitations are indicted in the formatted Word submission documents. Note that line spacing must be no less than 1.5, font size must be no less than 12, and the font must be Times New Roman.

Flexibility: We recognize that certain formatting submission requirements may restrict some potential submitters. If you want to discuss alternatives for submission, please contact either or

Eligibility: Eligible faculty include tenured, tenure track, clinical teaching track, research professors, and instructors, who by contract are required to engage in creative activities, except in cases where more specific eligibility is in place. Those instructors having creative activities contract requirements should include their contract as part of the submission—no page penalty. The only exception to the eligibility requirements indicated above is that only tenure track faculty can apply for the New Faculty Grant program. Only CU Denver downtown faculty can be principal investigators (PIs). We encourage interdisciplinary submissions, but funding for participants not on the downtown campus must be provided by their home institution/campus.

Proposal Reviewing: Small, Large, and New Faculty proposals will be reviewed by a Standing Review Committee of ORS staff and faculty. Proposals will be evaluated for their clarity, the perceived importance/impact of the work proposed,and an appraisal about whether significant progress can be made on the project in a year. Note well: THE COMMITTEE IS A BROAD ONE THAT CANNOT KNOW EVERY FIELD. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS WRITTEN FOR AN INTELLIGENT GROUP OF LAY PEOPLE.

ORS Training/Workshop Activities Related to Proposals: Our Office of Research Development and Education (ORDE) offers many activities to assist in submitting a good ORS grant. Consult the ORDE website below or contact

or

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In reflecting on submitting a proposal, please consider questions like these: (1) what is the central question you are seeking to answer and how can it be easily understood by lay reviewers, (2) if your submission is not one of those ‘easily understood’ traditional proposals, how do you tell your story so that a critical evaluation of it can be made, and (3) given limited ORS resources, why should an investment be made in you?

Applications should be forwarded to:

Formatted Word submission documentsare posted under ORS Internal Grant Opportunities at:

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