Effective Strategies for Crafting Proposals for for the Workload Release program for Nontenure Line Faculty

Workshop Objectives Learn about the application process Identify what distinguishes a reasonable project idea Know the audience for this proposal Develop specific, practical strategies to make your proposal more compelling to reviewers.

Application Process Process

Process

Eligibility Eligible nontenure line faculty will hold a full-time teaching appointment at the time of application and during the workload release period, and will hold one of the following titles: Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, and Clinical Professor. Nontenure line faculty applying for the first time must have had at least 8 long semesters of Texas State service at 50% or more FTE and a 100% FTE appointment at the time of application and during the semester(s) release is granted. Faculty who have been granted previous Nontenure Line Faculty Workload Release(s) must have had an academic appointment of at least 8 long semesters at Texas State at 50% or more FTE since their last Nontenure Line Faculty Workload Release and hold a current full-time teaching appointment. Process

INELIGIBILITY: Process Emeriti, Research, and Visiting faculty are not eligible. Nontenure Line Faculty Committee members are not eligible to apply for release time through this program during their committee terms because they serve as the reviewing body for Workload Release applications. Process

Application Process Process Discuss proposal and the timing of release request with their chair/director. Get advice from Nontenure Line Faculty Committee (NLFC) college representatives. Submit a completed online application no later than Monday, October 9 at 5:00 pm. Application reviewed by applicant’s chair/director. Chair/director the chair/director will electronically forward the application to the college dean by 5 pm Oct. 16 . Application reviewed by dean. The dean will route the application to the Faculty Senate for review by the NLFC by 5 pm Oct. 23. The NLFC will review the applications in early November and forward recommendation to the Faculty Senate. Process

Application Process Process To submit an application, visit the Faculty Requests portal between September 1 and October 9 at 5:00 pm. The online application will consist of: 1. the requested application information 2. a brief abstract (approximately 100 words) enumerating the specific goals of the workload release project; 3. an 4000 character (approximately two double-space pages) statement providing a brief explanation of a) the project b) the merits of that project c) the project methodology d) how the project will benefit applicant’s teaching and/or scholarly/creative work e) how the project supports the goals of the department/school, college, and/or the university; 4. a current curriculum vita using the Texas State vita format that evinces the applicant’s ability to carry out the project; and, 5. a copy of the most recent written final report (and optionally, a one page update to this report) if applicant has previously received Nontenure Line Faculty Workload Release. The online application will enforce character limits, will not allow additional documents to be submitted, and will not accept applications after 5:00 pm on Oct. 9. Additional information may be found in PPS 04.02.03 (8.13) Process

Review by NLFC Process

What makes a Distinguishable Proposal

What makes a Distinguishable Proposal Good Idea Benefit to mission and goals of Professional Development Department College University Time Available to complete the project Is the proposal a beginning or ongoing After the Workload Release Program is completed. Distinguishable Proposal

Art Project Distinguishable Proposal

Share your idea for your proposal. Group Discussion Share your idea for your proposal. Big Idea Benefits Timeline Distinguishable Proposal

100 Word Abstract Most important… often hardest, most time- consuming to craft Need to “grab” reviewers, create enthusiasm! Distinguishable Proposal NLFC Reviewers

Brief Explanation of Project (4000 Characters) Succinct, compelling descriptions Problem/need your project addresses and why it is important – situate in the current university climate If citing literature, don’t over-cite it is a proposal-not a dissertation How you will conduct the project –goals, design methods, innovation, interpretation and implementation Significance & impact (so what?) – inform the literature, benefit participants, broader impact by changing policy and practice Distinguishable Proposal

Know your Audience Colleagues from departments across campus. This is not scholarly writing. Be deliberate in your context, syntax and avoid jargon that may confuse the reader. Talk with your NLF Rep to ensure they understand the proposal and can be your advocate. Audience

Writing Strategies

Do. Or do not. There is no try.* Strategies

Do. Or do not. There is no try.* Don’t use language that raises doubts about your ability to complete the project Be confident, positive, and definitive about what you will do, how you will do it, what you will accomplish will examine…vs We plan to examine…. Project findings will…vs…It is expected that Project findings will… Avoid conditional words – but, if, however Use active voice – no forms of “be” (am, is, was, were, are, been) passive: The project team is planning to… active: The project team will… *Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back Strategies

Make Reviewers Job Easier Follow the Instructions-Follow the layout. Even if you do not like it. Not the time to be creative. Use heading to direct the reader. Don’t make them look for it. Strategies

Bad/inconsistent grammar, spelling, and punctuation will distract reader from substance of proposal Have a mentor proof final draft-the author can no longer see any errors at this point Strategies

Questions?