President Allocates $400,000 to Support Research and Scholarship

By Lori Wright, Media Relations

As part of the university’s commitment to faculty research and scholarship, President Ann Weaver Hart has announced she will dedicate $400,000 from her President’s Fund for Excellence to a competitive and strategic program to initiate and sustain research and scholarship at UNH.

The goal of the President’s Excellence Awards program is to stimulate new or augmented research and scholarship that has the potential to sustain the highest and most rewarding level of inquiry among interdisciplinary teams including faculty, staff and students. It is a competitive, peer-reviewed program to build research teams and develop areas of inquiry leading to applications for additional support off campus or high-impact publications, events or performances that will sustain a high level of activity. The program draws on funds provided by private donors specifically and directly for use at the president’s discretion.

“The overall goal is to stimulate innovative and interdisciplinary research that will have the potential for continued external support, or that will establish a new area of expertise on campus. An emphasis will be placed on supporting new and untenured faculty. Proposals that include more than one faculty member, and that pair newer faculty in a mentoring relationship with senior faculty, will be especially responsive to the goals of this program. The review process will be carried out by a senior faculty team, and coordinated through this office,” said John Aber, vice president for research and public service.

The Academic Plan, finalized in 2003, is the university’s blueprint for advancing the quality and impact of its academic, cultural, civic and financial activities. The research and scholarship program addresses two primary themes in the “Discovery” section of that plan that seek to strengthen interdisciplinary research and scholarship, while sustaining excellence in teaching, by building on existing areas of strength.

Proposals from individuals may request up to $20,000. Multifaculty teams proposing integrated or multidisciplinary projects will be eligible for $50,000 or more. All faculty are eligible to be lead investigators on these proposals, and may build teams that include staff and students. Support may be requested for course release time, summer salary, travel, equipment, student stipends, etc. All proposals must include written support from the appropriate deans or directors.

In reviewing proposals, highest priority will be given to those that:

• Have the potential to leverage additional forms of support.
• Create new collaborations or define new areas of interdisciplinary inquiry.
• Create opportunities for new and/or untenured faculty.
• Include mentoring relationships with senior faculty.
• Take advantage of unique opportunities, facilities or strengths of the university.

The proposal is limited to five pages of single-space text, with additional pages allowed for references or bibliography, budgets, CVs and additional supporting material. It should be constructed so as to convey the potential for sustained intellectual growth and interdisciplinary work to a panel of fellow faculty members from a diverse array of fields.

Successful proposals will define the outcomes of the proposed work. This could include submission of proposal(s) to national funding agencies or foundations, completion of high-impact publications or performances, or convening of a national or international conference. Evaluation of the impact of the funded work must be included as part of the proposal.

Proposals are due by Jan. 15, 2006, with awards announced by March 15, 2006. The relatively long lead time for this opportunity is intended to give faculty the opportunity to build new partnerships and research teams prior to submission.

Questions about this opportunity and proposals, may be directed to John Aber, vice president for research and public service, 107 Thompson Hall, 2-1948 or john.aber@unh.edu.