March 25, 2014
Engagement Incentive Grant applications due April 1
The provost's office and the Center for Engagement and Community Development announce the Engagement Incentive Grant program. The Engagement Incentive Grants are seed grants designed to assist faculty, Kansas State Research and Extension specialists and agents to become more fully engaged in teaching, research and outreach.
By engagement, we mean:
"A form of research, teaching or service in which collaborative efforts between university and community stakeholders result in scholarly activity and community benefit around a public issue."
Funding
The Engagement Incentive Grants are funded jointly out of the provost's office and the Center for Engagement and Community Development. It is expected that grant funds will be available on a continuing basis. Grants will be awarded on an annual, one-time basis.
Total funding is $50,000 with maximum awards of $10,000. Use of funds are guided by state policies.
Timeline
Application are accepted Feb. 1 through April 1. The awards will be announced around May 1. If awarded funding will be available July 1. A progress report is due after year one and a final report is due at conclusion of year two.
Purpose/scope
The Center for Engagement and Community Development solicits proposals from tenured and tenure-track faculty, full-time instructors and Kansas State Research and Extension specialists and agents for projects that will lead to enhanced engagement in teaching, research, and/or outreach. These grants are intended to provide seed funding to incorporate engagement into instructional, research and/or outreach programs. Activities supported by this program should project both short-term and long-term impacts. This funding should lead to a larger project concept and the submission of a proposal for external funding.
Examples of funded engagement activities include but are not limited to:
- Engaged instructional programs that incorporate service learning
- Design and piloting of multidisciplinary, engaged curricula across departments and colleges
- Community-based participatory research
- Applied interdisciplinary research aimed at addressing important public issues
- Technical assistance on issues such as environment, public health, education, housing, transportation and small business development
- Leadership development
- Training and educational programs that will strengthen the economic and/or social well-being of people
- Programs aimed at bettering the lives of underserved populations
- Community asset identification and mapping, strategic planning, and resource development
For examples of previous grant awardees, please visit the Center for Engagement and Community Development's Engagement Grant Honor Roll.
Review criteria and process
This program will be managed by the center, which reports to the provost. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel appointed by the center's director. Final funding decisions will be made by the director in consultation with the review panel. Review criteria:
- Project addresses significant public need
- Project identifies multidisciplinary team representing some combination of campus, research and extension, and stakeholder partners
- Evidence exists that all partners have been involved in the proposal
- Important outcomes are projected for all collaborative partners
- Clarity of planned engagement activities
- Reasonable and specific project timeline
- Potential for sustainability of project beyond grant
- Accomplishment benchmarks
- Special consideration will be given to those engagement grant proposals that demonstrate matching funds from their department and/or college.
Application process
All proposals must be submitted electronically in one PDF file to cecd@ksu.edu, including the following application materials.
- Cover letter
- Project narrative — three page maximum — including:
- Project title
- Brief project description including need being addressed, engaged activities, timeline of project and accomplishment benchmarks
- Collaborative partners both on and off-campus and their role
- Potential impact for all collaborative parties
- Amount of funding requested and any matching funds
- Budget and budget justification — two page maximum
- One letter of support from dean, department head or director
- Short vita — two page maximum — for all principle investigators
For questions about the Engagement Incentive Grant program, please contact David E. Procter at the Center for Engagement and Community Development, 202 Ahearn Field House, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, 785-532-6868, cecd@k-state.edu.