PROGRAM
 

GRANT

 
 

      RISC

(Research, Innovation, Scholarship, Creativity)
 

 

_____________________________________________

 

Annually the RISC Program at the University of Southern Indiana makes funds available to support undergraduates in independent faculty guided efforts in all disciplines.  These are competitive student awards based on merit as determined by the committee.  The RISC Grant Committee, through the auspices of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE), will administer grants.  RISC proposals must be written by the student(s).  The following guidelines serve to administer RISC Grant funds.

 

Background

 

The RISC Grant Program supports and encourages a variety of undergraduate efforts in Research, Innovation, Scholarship, and Creativity.  Projects providing evidence of innovative endeavors in any academic discipline will be considered.  Proposals from students to initiate, continue, or complete projects are eligible for funding.  Potential for student development, learning impact, achievement toward educational goals, project quality, and proposal clarity will be essential factors in award decisions.  At this time, the RISC Grant Program is unable to fund salaries, meeting registration fees or travel to professional meetings. A separate program (the RISC Travel Grant Program) is available for professional meeting travel funds.  Funding for travel to research site(s) will be eligible for funding except when the research site is located within Vanderburgh county, IN or within a 20 mile radius of the USI campus.

 

Procedures

 

RISC Grant Committee.  The RISC Grant Committee will be chaired by a committee member selected by the Director or Associate director of the CTLE.  Voting members of the committee will consist of one representative from each School, the Director of Sponsored Research, an at-large member, and a Chair (8 members total).   The Dean from each School will choose a member to serve on this committee and one alternate.  The Provost will select the at-large member.  The committee will be responsible for reviewing proposals submitted for funding and recommending to the Provost which proposals should be funded.  Members of the committee from each school and the at-large member will serve two-year terms.  The Chair (as selected by the CTLE Director or Associate Director) and Director of Sponsored Research serve continuous terms.

 

Faculty Sponsor.  The faculty sponsor recommends the project for funding and signs the cover sheet validating that the project and the proposal are the student’s original work.  It is highly recommended that faculty sponsors review proposals and provide feedback before student submission.  The faculty sponsor will be expected to attend the Annual RISC Showcase.

 

Proposals.  Copies of the policy guidelines, proposal outline, and final report form will be available from the CTLE Website:  http://www.usi.edu/ctle.  When preparing a proposal, applicants must follow the Proposal Outline.  If awarded, projects involving human subjects must receive IRB approval before monies may be awarded (http://www.usi.edu/sro/form.asp).

 

Deadlines and Decisions.  There will be 3 calls for proposals; the first during the Fall and the second and third during the Spring semester.  One original proposal (with original signatures) and eight (8) copies should be submitted to the Office of Grants and Sponsored Research (WA 104K) on or before 4:30 pm on Friday of the Fourth week of classes during Fall and Spring semesters. Grant proposals for research efforts to take place during summer terms are to be submitted on the first Friday in April. The RISC Grant Committee will evaluate proposals and notify applicants of decisions by letter, usually within two weeks following the proposal deadline each semester.  Proposals may be funded for the full amount or some other appropriate level.  The RISC Grant Committee is not obligated to award all available funds.

 

Start-up. RISC Grant recipients must work with the RISC Program Chair and the Accounting Office to establish the necessary grant account and budget categories before the start of the funding period.  The RISC Program Chair will act as fiscal agent.

 

Duration and Award Limitations.  Proposals must include anticipated starting and ending dates.  In general, proposed projects should start before the next proposal submission deadline and be completed within one calendar year after the proposed starting date.  When circumstances beyond the control of the award recipient(s) make it impossible for a project to be completed within the allotted time, an extension may be requested by submitting to the RISC Committee Chair a progress report and an explanation of the basis for the proposed extension.  If the extension is not approved, the balance of the award will be forfeited.  The committee anticipates making awards up to a maximum of $750 per project.

 

Final Reports.  Within one month after the proposed ending date for a project, award recipients will submit a completed Final Report Form to the RISC Grant Program Chair.  Also, award recipients will agree to present project results at the Annual RISC Showcase.  New proposals from a past recipient will not be considered until a completed Final Report including information on outcomes has been submitted for all projects in which the applicant has been involved.

 

Publicity and Acknowledgments. The RISC Grant Committee may publicize awards and results of projects. Recipients will acknowledge the RISC Grant Program when a funded proposal leads to presentation or publication of a paper, performance or exhibition of creative work.

 

Annual Review.   Annually the Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs, with assistance from the Chair of the RISC Grant Committee, will review the disbursement and products of the RISC Awards.

 

Other Considerations

 

Conflicts of Interest.   No committee member will be allowed to vote on a proposal of which he or she is a sponsor.

 

Alternate Funding Sources.  If applicants have an alternate or related funding source, it should be identified and the proposal should indicate whether the proposed project is contingent upon the availability of funds from other sources. The RISC Grant Committee may advise the applicant to seek alternate funding.

 

Financial Gains. Recipients must comply with University policy regarding intellectual-property management.

 

Calls for Proposals.   At the beginning of the Fall term (end of the 4th week) , the beginning of the Spring term (end of the 4th week) and the first Friday in April for the summer term, the CTLE will announce the funds available, and call for proposals.  Unless otherwise specified, proposal deadlines will be 4:30pm on the specified dates.

Budgetary restrictions. The following are budgetary restrictions

  • Budget funds cannot be used to upgrade computer hardware, including RAM, CD/DVD devices, Monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers, soundcards, etc. Funds can be used to purchase NON-System application software, if the software is essential toward the successful completion of the reserach project.
  • Raw mateials (precious metals, paints, stone, ceramic materials) for artistic creations like sculptures, paintings, or jewlery are to be donated to the host department upon completion of the project. In addition, the completed project is to reside in the host department for a period of no less than 5 years. After that period, the artist may petition the host department and for the release of the artistic creation.
  • All materials and equipment purchased by the research grant revert to the host department or College at the end of the project time allotted.

 

 

NOTE:  Information on the RISC Grant Program, RISC Showcase, and RISC Committee can be viewed at http://www.usi.edu/ctle/

 

 

 

Proposal Outline

RISC Program Grants

 

Student applicants submitting a proposal for a RISC Grant will follow the outline below. The proposal must be written by the student applicant(s).  Proposals will consist of a title page, project description, budget page, budget narrative and student résumé.  It is required that the original and eight (8) copies of each proposal must be submitted on or before 4:30pm on the date of the deadline.  Proposals should be submitted to Office of Grants and Sponsored Research.

 

A.     Title Page

1.      Proposal Title

2.      Student Name(s) and Department(s)

3.      Date Proposal Submitted

4.      Project Starting and Ending Dates

5.      Funding Amount Requested

6.      Faculty Sponsor Name(s) and Signature(s)

7.      Signatures of Department Chair and School Dean

 

B.     Proposal  (limited to 4 pages) (see this page for helpful hints)

1.      Project Statement

a)     State the project question

b)     Discuss the significance and importance of the project to your field of study

c)      Provide a brief project background (what has been done before)

 

2.      Project Description

a)     Describe your project in detail and include measurable objectives

b)     Describe how objectives will be met

c)      Include a short literature review (if applicable)

d)     Describe plan for data analysis (if applicable)

 

3.      Benefits and Dissemination of Project

a)     What effect will this project have on each student applicant’s development and learning

b)     How will this project add to achievement of each student applicant’s educational goals

c)      Describe plans for dissemination of results to the appropriate communities

 

C.  Budget (1 page) (see this page for Budget Hints)

1.       Supplies and materials

2.       Travel to research site(s)

3.       Minor Equipment

4.       Professional Services

5.       Publication costs

 

List sources, amounts, and dates if applicants are receiving or applying for funds

from other sources

 

D.    Budget Narrative (1 page)

Please describe and explain how you arrived at your budget figures

 

E.     Student Résumé (1 page)

Each student applicant will submit his/her résumé (1 page). Include any previous RISC Awards.

 

NOTE:  Information on the RISC Grant Program, RISC Showcase, and RISC Committee can be viewed at http://www.usi.edu/ctle/