Skip to Main Content

Scholarship and Teaching Grants

Purpose: The CCA Faculty Grants support faculty research, creativity, and teaching. This fund encompasses all departments, centers, institutes, and programs within the College. Within this fund, different categories are intended to serve either as a source for one-time needs or as seed money for projects that will be supported by external funding sources.

 

Primary Goals

The primary goals of the fund are to:

  1. support research, exhibitions, performances and other types of scholarship by faculty and staff
  2. support innovative classroom teaching
  3. serve as an initial source of funding prior to application for external support
  4. foster collaboration and creativity among disciplines
  5. support projects that are innovative and have potential for publication, citation, or other external recognition.

General Guidelines for All Grants

  • Proposers must be full-time visiting, tenure-track, or tenured faculty, or full-time TCPL, within the College of Creative Arts.
  • Collaborative projects submitted by two or more faculty are encouraged.
  • A CCA faculty or staff member may submit only one proposal per year, either alone or as a member of a collaborative group, for up to a maximum sum of $3,000 (seed grants) and $1000 (support grants).
  • Preference is given to projects with partial financial support from other sources.
  • Preference is given to projects that align with divisional priorities.
  • The review committee will consider the number and frequency of past awards for any given applicant when making its recommendations to the dean on how grants could be allocated. Multiple-year requests for the same or very similar projects will not be viewed favorably. It is expected that proposers will seek external funding for ongoing projects.
  • The amount budgeted must be expended within 12 months of the date when notification of the award is made (for Seed Grants, they must be spent within the next fiscal year). Funds are to be spent on the designated project, and any unspent funds are to be returned to the Dean's office. Exceptions to the above are only as pre-approved by the Dean's office.
  • A public presentation of your activities at the biannual research showcase, as well as a final report detailing the results of the proposal, is required. This is a prerequisite for any subsequent awards.

Types of Funding

Seed Grants

Seed grants support ongoing projects that intend to seek external funding in the near future. These grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Proposals may receive full or partial funding based on merit and the availability of funds. Requests are to be in support of a single project, not multiple projects bundled together.

The fund may be utilized for scholarly research and creative work. If travel is included in the budget, it must be clearly critical to the project. Seed grants are not intended for conference travel, and it is assumed that more routine faculty travel will be covered by departmental travel budgets.

In addition to the required abstract, project description, plan, expected outcomes, timeline and budget, Seed Grants also require a description of the broader project (including statement of research goals and methodology) as well as at least one source of external funding you plan to apply for. Proof of submission of at least one external grant is required at the time of the final report (one year after funds received).

Research Support Fund

Research Support funds are intended to supplement and enhance existing internal funds for smaller research needs not directly leading to external funding opportunities, including materials, minor travel (such as to conferences), or supplemental funds in support of performances or exhibitions. These funds have a limit of $1000.

Funding can be awarded for projects, conferences, programs, etc., where the applicant's participation is subject to peer review, jury, or other process that has not been finalized at the time of application. However, if the applicant is not ultimately invited or chosen, then funding reverts to the granting pool.

It is expected that CCA Research Support funds supplement other sources of funding for the project or fulfill a need that is not met by other internal sources of funding. This could be departmental travel funds, Professional Development Funds, or small grants from other funding opportunities across the university (see below). Please explain in your budget which other funding sources you are using.

* University internal funding opportunities include, but are not limited to, those found in the following locations:

Teaching Projects and Training Support Fund

Faculty may also apply for funds for projects related to teaching, especially to support faculty training for coursework and other pedagogical initiatives to increase workforce training. These awards also have a limit of $1000. Please note that these funds are intended for faculty development pertaining to teaching. For events that are focused on student experiences, please apply to the Reeder Fund.

As with the Research Support Fund, these funds are not intended to replace but rather to supplement existing internal funding sources at the university. It is required that you look into opportunities, especially at the Center for Teaching Excellence, prior to developing your application. Please cite and include these other opportunities in your budget and proposal.

Submission of Proposals

  • The annual priority deadline for CCA Faculty Grants is April 1. There will be an additional Sept. 15 deadline for applications for Research Support, Teaching Projects, and Training Support only if funding is available.
  • Proposals must be submitted through the CCA Grant Application Form; approval of your chair/director is required.
  • Proposers should indicate the date and project title of any other recent proposals to any university or external sources related to their CCA proposal.

Proposal Overview

The proposal narrative is limited to five double-spaced pages. It must address the following areas:

Abstract

An abstract of the proposal narrative, not to exceed one paragraph.

Project Description

An outline the nature and goals of the project and explain how the project addresses the description of the particular fund you are applying for.

Plan

Describe the methods, techniques, and activities you will utilize to accomplish the project.

Expected Outcomes

Delineate the expected benefits and results, including anticipated publications, exhibitions, or performances. Support letters, contracts, invitations, and other materials documenting potential external communication of results are encouraged.

Timeline

Provide a brief outline of the time plan for completing the project.

Budget

Provide a detailed budget with documentation of projected expenditures. Proposers must justify budget requests. Requests for travel money should include the status of the proposer’s department/unit travel expenditures (i.e., have departmental/unit travel funds been exhausted?) as well as how you are incorporating other sources of funding. Quotes for travel and hotel must include current documentation. Per diem cost is not supported.

Additional Items

  • The proposer should indicate the viability of the project if partially funded.
  • Include a brief description of other proposals under consideration for this project or cite the results of an unsuccessful search for other funds. If applying for a Seed Grant, list at least one external funding source and their deadline that you plan to apply for.

Evaluation Criteria

The CCA Research and Grants Committee will review the proposals and recommend projects to the Dean for funding. The committee is guided by the following principles:

  • Members of the committee are not excluded from applying. However, a substitute should be selected to represent the member's home unit.
  • Proposals that do not adhere to the above guidelines will not be reviewed.
  • Proposals are judged on the degree to which the project meets the stated fund goals.
  • Projects will be evaluated by their potential to result in an important and significant contribution. Projects that bridge disciplinary lines, integrate artistic activities, or advance artistic or scholarly experimentation and risk will be viewed favorably.
  • The proposed outcome and scope of the potential benefit will be carefully considered.
  • Travel will be considered in the context of the full project and should be necessary for the completion of the project. Cost sharing from hosting institutions or other funding sources is encouraged.
  • Greater consideration will be given to proposers not funded recently or to projects without external funding possibilities.
  • All proposals are evaluated in the context of requests submitted. Consequently, worthwhile projects may not be approved because of limited funding and the mix of proposals in any given round.

Additionally, please cite the support of the College of Creative Arts in publications, CDs, exhibitions, and the like, for which funding was granted. Inclusion of a copy of any resulting publications, etc., when appropriate, is appreciated along with the final report.

If you have additional questions, please contact Julia Guichard, Professor and Acting Associate Dean, CPA 123, 513 529-1283 or guichajm@MiamiOH.edu

College of Creative Arts

The arts at Miami University didn't evolve on a whim—they were challenged, inspired, modernized, and made more relevant by each new generation of artists. Welcome to the College of Creative Arts, with degree programs that range from the classical to the contemporary.

Center for Performing Arts building exterior with large arched windows