Approved by the Faculty (revisions: June-2021, Apr-2015, Apr-1999, Nov-1999, Nov-1991)

Purpose of Faculty Grants

The basic goal of the faculty grant program is to provide financial support for faculty members in pursuing scholarly activities. For various reasons, a grant cannot be guaranteed: e.g., eligibility, balance of funds remaining, insufficient proposal materials.

A grant application should be goal-oriented and lead to an identifiable outcome. Examples of appropriate grant proposals include:

• funding travel required for completing research projects or to conferences, workshops, symposia etc.
• supporting sabbatical and spring term leave projects
• producing a formal research project intended for publication, exhibition, or performance
• learning a new area of interest or retraining oneself in an area of special interest

Use of Funds

The maximum amounts that may be requested are $ 850.00 for a Minor Grant and $ 3,500.00 for a Major Grant. Faculty Grant funds can be used for:

1. expandable supplies (i.e. materials consumed in the course of the project)
2. research participants (animal or human)
3. production costs incurred in publishing, performing, displaying or otherwise disseminating the final project
4. assisting personnel (e.g. research/clerical assistants and consultants)
5. expenses such as postage, duplicating costs, and library acquisitions that go beyond institutional budgets
6. travel expenses necessitated by the scholarly activity
7. rental or purchase of essential equipment or apparatus

Faculty grants my not be requested for:

1. thesis or dissertation work
2. formal class studies related to degree work
3. support of student research leading to Hanover College credit (e.g. directed studies, senior thesis)
4. compensation for faculty time spent on a project

Eligibility 

Minor Grants are available on a competitive basis to any member of the teaching faculty, including part-time and visiting faculty, to retired faculty with emeritus status, and to full-time administrators in Academic Affairs.

Major grants are available on a competitive basis to full-time, continuing faculty members whose contractual responsibilities are instructional. Part-time and shared position members are eligible for a prorated amount based on their teaching load for the academic year. The Provost and librarians are eligible for up to 50% of a major grant amount.

Grant Proposal Timeline

Major and minor grants are awarded in two cycles. Proposal deadlines are as follows:

• October 15 - First cycle
• February 1 - Second cycle

If funds are remaining, the third cycle of minor grant proposals will be considered:

• May 1 - Third cycle

Guideline for Grant Awards

1. Only one Minor or Major Grant proposal from an applicant will be considered during each cycle.
2. Only one Major Grant will be awarded to an individual in any academic year.
3. Recipients may apply for additional funding for a project through additional grant cycles.

The decision of the Committee can normally be expected within five weeks of the application deadline.

Role of Faculty Development Committee

The FDC is tasked with reviewing grant proposals and assisting applications with proposal revisions. The FDC and/or an appointed representative of the committee many communicate with the applicant to solicit additional material(s), addendums, and/or amendment(s) to improve the overall quality of the proposal.

When received, the FDC will review the application, paying special attention to the following aspects:

1. Adherence to proposal guidelines.
2. Quality of the project. The project will be carefully examined for the clarity of its objectives, the soundness of its methodology, and its significance as a contribution to knowledge.
3. Feasibility. The application should describe an activity and a set of goals that can be realized within the allotted time and with the resources available. Consideration will also be given to the background and expertise of the applicant.
4. Ethical permissibility. The proposal will be carefully examined to ensure that there are no violations of the Hanover College "Statement of Professional Ethics" and the ethical standards of the applicant's discipline.
5. Advantages to the College. The application should indicate how the grant will enhance the educational goals of the department or the mission of the College.

Application for Grants

1. The application shall be submitted in electronic format to the Faculty Development Committee Chair on or before the deadlines listed above.
2. Groups of two or more faculty who wish to submit a joint proposal may do so. The total grant awarded will not exceed the sum of the amounts for which the individual faculty are eligible. If the proposal is for a major grant, the participants are not eligible for another major grants during the academic year.
3. The grant proposal should contain the following items in sequential order:
   1. A statement identifying which of the following grant categories the proposal falls within:
      1. Research Grants support scholarly activities leading to the production for a professional audience - whether by publication, presentation, or performance - of an original contribution to knowledge or culture. Some possible activities include research projects, artistic or creative endeavors, design or or modification to apparati, and development of a computer application.
      2. Individual Development Grants support scholarly activities in areas outside of faculty member's expertise that will produce intellectual and pedagogical benefits.
      3. Mini-Course/Workshop Grants support the active participation of the faculty member in specialized, irregularly occurring events such as meeting or conference.
      4. New Course Development Grants support the development of new courses. To qualify, the course needs to be either new to the College or an existing course new to the instructor.
      5. National/International Conference Grants support active participation at a national or international conference. Examples of active participation include giving a keynote address, presenting an original paper, organizing a session, serving as a panelist, and fulfilling duties as a society officer.
      6. Special Event Grants support opportunities for professional and/or personal development that do not fit any of the above descriptions.
   2. A short intellectual history of the applicant, demonstrating their preparedness for undertaking the proposed project.
   3. A description of the purpose of the grant.
   4. A detailed timeline for the project. Applicants are encouraged to include sub-goals in this timeline to assist the Committee in assessing the feasibility of the porject.
   5. A detailed, line-by-line budget, identifying sources and allocations of all monies applied to the project.
   6. A description of the anticipated results of the project such as a publication, performance, exhibition, etc.
   7. A description of the benefits the project will provide, when applicable, to:
      1. the applicant.
      2. the applicant's discipline or related fields.
      3. Hanover College.
      4. the broader community.
4. Additional information to be submitted, if applicable, includes:
   1. Letter(s) from collaborators mentioned in your proposal.
   2. Documentation of special qualifications, (e.g. certifications, training, approval to access resources/facilities, IRB approval, etc).

Arrangement and Terms

An approved Faculty Grant is an explicit agreement between the College and the awardee. Approved Grant proposals will be published on the FDC website unless the author requests otherwise. The awardee is cautioned to adhere to the letter of the approval proposal and to keep the Committee informed of all deviations from the proposal. Significant changes in the proposal not approved beforehand by the Committee, will render the agreement null and void, and the awardee will relinquish all claims to grant monies, whether received or not. The awardee who proceeds unilaterally with a significantly different project than the approved does so at the risk of being asked to return monies already spent. In the event of urgent and unanticipated expenses in connection with an approved project, an awardee may request - but is not guaranteed - reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. Awardees always invest personal funds at their own risk, though.

Once a Faculty Grant is awarded, the recipient will process all claims for monies through the Business Office. All approved funds must be claimed (though not necessarily spent) by the last day of June to avoid forfeiture. 

Any materials, equipment, supplies, and the like remaining after completion of the project become the property of the College. Any resultant scholarly product should include acknowledgment of the Committee and Hanover College.

The proposed project to be funded by a grant must be completed within one year following notification of  acceptance of the proposal by the Committee. Upon completion of the project, grant recipients are required to file a financial report with the Business Office and, in the case of Major grants, a narrative report with the Committee. Reports - addressed to the Faculty Development Committee and its Chair - will be turned in to the Provost's Office for its distribution to all members of the Committee. 

Travel Reimbursement Expense Report is available from the Business Office. 

Reports

Reports are not required for Minor Grant Projects. 

A written report for a Major Grant project will be submitted to the Faculty Development Committee Chair. Due dates for reports are:   

If awarded from the fall grant cycle – report is due by December 1 of the following year;

If awarded from the winter grant cycle – report is due by March 15 of the following year.

The report must include the following in sequential order: 

1. A short summary of the original leave proposal. 
2. A short summary, not to exceed 500 words, of the results of the leave.  
3. A report, not to exceed 5 pages, which includes details of the awardee’s activities, research accomplished, works of art completed, manuscripts drafted/completed, writing begun or completed, courses taken, seminars attended, etc.

Approved Major Grant Reports will be published on the FDC website, unless otherwise requested by the author. 

Revisions

Any substantial deviation at any time from a project for a grant project that has been approved by the Faculty Development Committee should be immediately reported to the Committee for approval.