Internal Funding Opportunities
Educational Development Program (EDP)
The UMM Educational Development Program (EDP) is designed to stimulate and support curricular development on the Morris campus by allocating small grants for specific projects.
Each year the Curriculum Committee sets funding priorities in response to perceived curricular needs for projects going beyond routine improvement of the curriculum. Well-developed proposals that address a significant need within the curriculum or that will benefit large numbers of students will also be considered.
Grant awards are expected to range up to $3,000. It is expected that salary will be the dominant budget item in EDP proposals.
In the past, the Curriculum Committee has made multiple-applicant awards.
Eligibility: Faculty and P&A staff.
Application coming soon
Deadline: Due annually in October/November
Current year Dean's Office deadlines
Faculty Research Enhancement Funds (FREF)
FREF funds help UMM faculty members support their research-related activities. The funds are an effort to offset some of the challenges of isolation that can be associated with our rural location. They are specifically meant to support faculty scholarly activity.
These funds will be awarded in four categories:
- Large Scale Research and Creative Projects;
- Project-Based Faculty Research Support;
- Travel Differential Support;
- International Travel Support.
Category I will provide up to $5,000 for large-scale research and creative projects that will provide major contributions to the field of study.
Category II will provide up to $1,000 for small/medium-sized research and creative projects (an article, production, installation) or portions of a larger project (e.g. a chapter of a book). Category II wil also fund up to $1,500 for collaborative projects involving two or more UMM faculty.
Category III will provide up to $400 to offset the cost of research/scholarly-related domestic travel. The intent is to help cover the added travel cost associated with UMM's geographic location. This fund will support travel to research conferences as well as travel to conduct research. (The fund will not cover conference registration costs.) Part-time faculty with an appointment of 25–74% can apply for travel differential support with the approval of their division chair. Please use the Category IIIA application, which includes a signature space for division chairs.
Category IIIi will provide up to $1,200 to offset the cost of research/scholarly-related international travel. The intent is to help cover the costs associated with international travel. This fund will support travel to research conferences as well as travel to conduct research.
Completed application forms should be submitted to Adele Lawler in the Dean's Office.
Eligibility: Tenure, tenure-track, and full-time faculty may apply under any category. Faculty with less than full time appointments may apply for Category III funds only using the Category IIIA application form. Members of the campus community with combination faculty and staff appointments may apply for funding based on the percentage of their appointment that is considered "faculty."
Application: Download from Faculty Research Enhancement Funds
Deadlines: Category I proposals will be reviewed during the April grant round. Category II proposals are reviewed three times a year, September, January, and April. Category III, IIIA, and IIIi proposals are reviewed on an ongoing basis and but must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the travel departure date listed in the application.
Current year Dean's Office deadlines
Out-of-State Travel Subsidies
UMM provides financial assistance to faculty members attending professional meetings beyond the borders of the state of Minnesota in the belief that such travel is an important aspect of faculty development. Attendance at national or international meetings being held within the state of Minnesota (i.e., otherwise considered "in-state" travel) will be reimbursed in accordance with the out-of-state travel policy as well. Note that the classification of the in-state meeting as "national or international" is ultimately the decision of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean.
All faculty will receive an annual allocation of $600.
Accrual: Each faculty member will be allowed to accrue up to $2,000 for out of state travel. Once $2,000 has been accrued, no further allocation will be made, until the total accrual drops below $2,000. The subsequent allocation will still be subject to the $2,000 maximum accrual. Upon the retirement, resignation, or termination of the faculty member, the unexpended balance will remain with UMM and cannot be paid out as a cash benefit.
Eligibility: Full-time teaching faculty.
Application: Download from the Dean's Office website and submit to the faculty member's Division Chair.
Deadline: Applications are considered on a continuing basis.
Faculty Sabbatical Leaves
Sabbatical leaves provide eligible faculty with the opportunity to devote up to one academic year to research and creative activity and receive at least one-half of their normal compensation.
Eligibility: A faculty member is entitled to a sabbatical leave after six years of academic service, with review and scheduling at the department/collegiate levels and approval of the dean.
Contact: Robyn VanEps in the Dean's Office at 320-589-6015
Faculty Sabbatical Supplement Program
The Faculty Sabbatical Supplement Program provides supplemental funds to academic units to support sabbaticals and development leaves for recommended tenured faculty. A portion of this central fund is allocated to each college and campus based on its proportion of the University's tenured faculty. This program provides funds to supplement up to the lesser of 30% or $30,000 of the A- or B-base salary (not including fringe) for faculty who are recommended to receive this benefit. (In recent years, however, depending on the number of sabbaticants, the supplement has averaged significantly below that amount.)
Eligibility: Tenured faculty eligible for a sabbatical leave.
Contact: Faculty seeking this supplemental award should contact their division chair or the Dean's Office.
Faculty Time Release Funds
Faculty Time Release Funds are aimed at recognizing the quality research that is being done at UMM and to provide support for tenure-line faculty to dedicate more time to their research. Up to five awards will be made available to faculty through a competitive proposal process overseen by the Faculty Development Committee. Each applicant may choose to apply for either an award providing a four-credit course release during the academic year or a $5,000 summer release time grant (including faculty salary and fringe benefits). Funds for successful course release requests will be provided to the appropriate hiring unit to hire temporary staff to teach one four-credit course, labs, etc.
Eligibility: Tenured or tenure-track faculty.
Application: Coming Soon
Deadline: TBD in November/December
Contact: Faculty Development Committee Chair, or Grants Development Office Director, 320-589-6462.
Single Semester Leaves
Single Semester Leaves provide eligible faculty members with the opportunity to devote one full semester to research and creative activity at full pay. The campus is allowed to award a limited number of single semester leaves, normally four, and competition has become quite stiff. In keeping with University policies, it is assumed that the faculty member will devote all of the leave to research and creative activity. The campus receives no additional funding for this program and so in making plans faculty members should be aware that their discipline will be unable to hire any replacement faculty.
Eligibility: Faculty are eligible for a single semester leave after two academic years of service (probationary faculty) or after four academic years of service (tenured faculty).
Contact: Robyn VanEps in the Dean's Office at 320-589-6015.
IPC International Curriculum Development Grants
The International Programs Committee (IPC) offers two international curriculum development grants, one to internationalize courses on-campus and one to develop international off-campus courses.
On-campus courses: The IPC may award multiple grants of up to $1,500 each.
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria: the project's potential to internationalize the curriculum, the number of students who will benefit from it and its timeline. Proposals that will have a long-term impact on the campus will be given priority. Preference will be given to applications that seek to develop new courses rather than those that merely request subsidies for ongoing courses. The committee encourages proposals from across the UMM campus. Only one proposal per candidate will be considered.
Off-campus courses: The purpose of this grant program is to encourage and enable UMM faculty and other instructional staff to develop international study experiences emerging from our on-campus curricular offerings. The IPC may award grants of up to $3,000 each.
Highest priority will be given to proposals that clearly relate the international enhancement experience to on-campus courses. Priority will be given to proposals that in the judgment of the committee are likely to have long-term impact on the campus' internationalizing efforts. For example, proposals that have broad student appeal are more likely to be offered more than once. Each faculty or other instructional staff member is eligible to submit one individual proposal and one joint proposal.
Application process for 2019-2020 will be announced soon.
Eligibility: Faculty and instructional P&A
Application: Coming Soon
Deadline: TBD in November
Current year Dean's Office deadlines
Morris Academic Partners (MAP)
In recognition of the value of academic employment to the intellectual development of students and of the opportunities thus provided to assist faculty in their work, the University of Minnesota, Morris, will award non-renewable stipends of up to $3,000 per academic year to academically talented third-year students, naming them as Morris Academic Partners (MAPs).
UMM also offers a limited number of MAPs that begin in the summer and continue through the student's junior academic year. The stipends offered for these MAPs will be $2,000 for summer and $1,500 for up to two additional semesters.
MAP students are to undertake assignments that enhance their intellectual competence and increase their interest in graduate or professional study. Projects that qualify for consideration should involve greater complexity than typical work-study assignments and should provide assistance to, rather than add to the workload of, a busy and productive faculty member.
A faculty member must apply on behalf of a student.
Eligibility: Third-year students (with a faculty sponsor)
Deadline: End of February
Contact: Dean's Office at 315 Behmler Hall, 320-589-6007, or burksld@morris.umn.edu.
Morris Student Administrative Fellows Program (MSAF)
In recognition of the value of academic employment to the intellectual development of students and of the opportunities thus provided to assist campus offices in their work, the University of Minnesota, Morris, will award non-renewable stipends of up to $2,200 per academic year to students who will serve as interns in offices and programs on campus.
MSAFs are awarded for substantive, academically enriching projects involving students in responsible managerial positions working with faculty and staff mentors. The stipends for the MSAF Program will be based upon the number of hours the unit expects the student to work each week, ranging from three to four hours a week ($550 per semester, $1,100 per academic year) to six to eight hours per week ($1,100 per semester or $2,200 per academic year).
MSAF students are to undertake assignments that enhance their intellectual competence, enrich their academic program, and increase their interest in graduate or professional study. Projects that qualify for consideration should involve greater complexity than typical work-study assignments and should provide assistance to, rather than add to the workload of, a busy and productive faculty member and administrative office.
Faculty and staff members must apply on behalf of a student.
Eligibility: Students (with a faculty or staff sponsor)
Deadline: Mid March
Contact: Dean's Office at 315 Behmler Hall, 320-589-6007, or burksld@morris.umn.edu.
Current year Dean's Office deadlines
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
This program offers financial awards to undergraduates for research, scholarly, or creative projects undertaken in partnership with a faculty member. While providing students with a unique educational experience, faculty advance their own professional work with the able assistance of a qualified undergraduate.
UROP is particularly helpful to faculty who lack funding for research assistance from other sources. All faculty of the University of Minnesota, whatever their college, rank, or nature of appointment, may sponsor UROP students. Although faculty occasionally sponsor more than one student at a time, especially on team projects, it may be necessary during some award periods to limit the number of UROP students per individual faculty member in the interest of distributing research assistance to as many faculty as possible.
Applications are judged on the quality of the proposed project and the educational benefit to the student. Awards include a student stipend of up to $1,500 payable through financial aid for time spent working on a project as well as up to $300 for supplies and expenses required by the project.
Contact: Sylke Boyd at 320-589-6315.