How to answer faculty who say, “Why should I apply for a grant when no one here cares?” Tuesday, May 13 9:00-10:15 Kimberly Gray Director, Grants Administration and Sponsored Programs Augusta State University

Augusta State University Augusta, GA 6,588 students 250 faculty One Grants Office, 2 employees ( office opened 8/5/05)

Mission: The Office of Grant Administration and Sponsored Programs is committed to encouraging, supporting, and facilitating faculty and staff in seeking external financial support to help the University fulfill its mission and values. Goal 1: Assist faculty and staff in obtaining grants and contracts for their respective departments. Goal 2: Increase the amount of facilities and administrative costs (indirect) that the University receives through awarded grants and contracts. Goal 3: Maintain appropriate management controls and standards in the administration of grants, contracts and sponsored programs from the time of award to the time of completion. Goal 4: Be responsive to the needs of the community through grant-funded programs. Purpose: To raise external dollars to help the University carry out its mission by supporting faculty and staff research and proposal writing as well as administration needs.

Why apply for grants? –To fund additional and summer pay –To support research, curriculum development, including travel, equipment and materials purchase –To develop and support collaborative projects –To fund release time, hire student assistants, graduate assistants, or program assistants –To pursue innovative and creative scholarship

Why apply for grants? –For the money, but more importantly for the positive changes you help to make in the lives of both students and teachers. –To fund the research or creative activities you expect to complete for your thesis or dissertation. –Enable you to accomplish goals that otherwise might be out of reach.

Why apply for grants? –To bring recognition to you and to your department as well as your university –To give you the opportunity to carryout a specific project that might not be fundable using general fund money. This procedure also frees up general fund monies for other purposes.

What to do? FOCUS ON NEW FACULTY -GET TO THEM BEFORE THE VETERAN FACULTY GET TO THEM. -GET TO THEM BEFORE THE VETERAN FACULTY GET TO THEM. KNOW YOUR FACULTY - VISIT, READ THEIR BIOS, SIT IN ON DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS, ATTEND THEIR PRESENTATIONS, BE INTERESTED - VISIT, READ THEIR BIOS, SIT IN ON DEPARTMENTAL MEETINGS, ATTEND THEIR PRESENTATIONS, BE INTERESTED IDENTIFY YOUR CORE GROUP OF FACULTY - INFUSE THEM WITH INFORMATION

What to do? KEEP YOUR OFFICE ON THE RADAR -IT KEEPS THEM THINKING GIVE THEM SOMETHING -PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN HAND, NEWSLETTER, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, NOTEPADS, PENS, CUPS -PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN HAND, NEWSLETTER, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, NOTEPADS, PENS, CUPS

What to do? PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE -FILL OUT FORMS, SUPPORT LETTERS, CLEARINGHOUSE REQUESTS, ETC. -FILL OUT FORMS, SUPPORT LETTERS, CLEARINGHOUSE REQUESTS, ETC. GO ABOVE AND BEYOND -HELP WITH ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS THAT MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS -ATTEND CAMPUS FUNCTIONS

What to do? PROVIDE WORKSHOPS -FINDING FUNDING, BUDGET WRITING, SPECIFIC GRANT WORKSHOPS -FINDING FUNDING, BUDGET WRITING, SPECIFIC GRANT WORKSHOPS BRING IN SPEAKERS -SUCCESSFUL GRANT SEEKERS OR FUNDERS END OF YEAR LUNCHEON - ANNUAL RESEARCH APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

Other Suggestions: – alerts – listservs –Contracted Grant Writer or external consultant –Peer review committee or University Advisory committee on grants –Retreat – grant writing retreat of select group along with seasoned investigators –Mentoring

Results? ’05-’06 20 submittals $299,730 award ’06-’0726 submittals $393,757 award ’07-’08 29 submittals $1,369,784 award

Obstacles Yes, there are obstacles. Every campus has a culture – changing that culture for the better is difficult and takes time. And there are always excuses: -Not enough time, I teach a full load -We aren’t big enough to apply for an NSF grant, only the big schools get them. -We don’t have cash match, and it’s necessary if you are going to get funded. The list goes on….

So the answer to the question “Why should I apply for a grant when no one here cares?” is: __________________________________ Tuesday, May 13 9:00-10:15 Kimberly Gray Director, Grants Administration and Sponsored Programs Augusta State University

Comments? Suggestions?