FDSC Summer Grant Evaluation Criteria
In evaluating grant proposals, members of the Faculty Development and Scholarship Committee
(FDSC) place the highest priority on the merit and quality of the proposals submitted, including the
expected outcome of the project. Grant proposals that are well-written and clearly understandable
to a non-specialist reader are generally ranked most highly by the committee. Incomplete grants
and those submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Other factors which may play a role
in FDSC’s recommendation are the applicant’s record with previous college funding, the dates of
previous awards, and current prospects for the project being completed during the time of the grant.
Grant Proposal Application

I.
II.
This proposal consists of a cover sheet and abstract, a project statement of three to five
double-spaced pages, supporting information, and a copy of your current c.v. If additional
information seems appropriate, please provide it. If a particular item below does not apply
to your project, please include the section but indicate that it is not applicable.
Cover Sheet with Abstract (LESS THAN 100 words).

The abstract should be about three or four short sentences. Describe the project in one or two
short sentences and explain the project outcome(s) in a short sentence. The abstract is not
the same thing as a project description. It does not need to be comprehensive. It is not
optional. Abstracts of successful applications may be used in other documents that highlight
faculty scholarship and will be used in correspondence related to your proposal. Please
make sure it is written in lay terms. A blank copy of the cover sheet is the last page of this
document.

Please send an electronic version (PDF or Word Document) of your entire application
(cover sheet and abstract, 3-5 page project statement, supporting information, and current
c.v.) to the current chair of FDSC, Erika Iyengar (iyengar@muhlenberg.edu) and to Barbara
Spangler (bspangle@muhlenberg.edu) by 12:00 noon Friday, January 23, 2015.
Applications will not be reviewed without receipt of all three parts of the proposal. No
paper copies need be delivered to the Provost’s Office.

Project Statement
Provide a clear and succinct description of the project or professional development
activities, its expected outcome, and the scholarly and/or professional value of the
project/activities. This statement should be 3-5 double-spaced pages and must be written in
language that is comprehensible to faculty of other disciplines.

If you are involving students in your project, please be sure to clarify your role in the
research conducted. Merely supervising student work is not seen as faculty development or
scholarship, although it can complement the work of the faculty mentor.

Describe in detail the tangible product that you expect will result from this project.

Explain how this project fits within the context of your prior research, publication, and/or
professional record. Indicate how this project is distinct from prior scholarship.

Provide details about the expected publication, presentation, exhibition, or performance that
will result from this project. Note whether any advance commitments have been made for
these activities.

For professional development proposals, describe how you plan to apply the results of this
project to your overall scholarship.

For direct expense proposals, describe in detail how funds for books, travel or equipment
will aid in the progress of your scholarship. You may apply for a direct expense grant in
conjunction with a research or professional growth grant (as a single application) but are
required to include an estimation of costs and provide receipts for spending.
III.
Project Requirements
 What Muhlenberg College resources, if any, will be needed to complete this project?
(Library, laboratory, or studio facilities; information technology resources; secretarial
services, copying, etc.)
 What off-campus facilities, if any, will be used to complete this project?
arrangements have been made to secure the use of these facilities?
What
 What material resources, if any, are necessary for the completion of the project? What
arrangements have been made to secure these resources?
 What travel is necessary for the completion of the project?
IV.
Project Schedule and Expenses
 Provide a tentative schedule for completion of the project.
 Provide a tentative budget for completion of the project (if applicable.)
 Describe any financial considerations that may exceed the amount of the grant for which
you are applying.
 If you are applying for a direct expense grant in conjunction with a research or professional
growth grant be certain to indicate clearly on the cover sheet that you are applying for
additional funding.
 Describe any other funding for which you have applied which covers the same time period,
including the granting agencies, the amount requested, and the timetable for notification of
the award.
 Describe any other professional commitments (i.e., teaching, consulting) you may have
during the time covered by the grant, and explain, if necessary, how you plan to devote
adequate time to the grant project.
 If the project is not to be completed within this granting period, state the projected dates for
completion of the project.
V.
Outcomes from Prior Muhlenberg Funding
 Provide a list, separate from the c.v., of prior funding in the last 5 years for your scholarly,
professional, and course development projects and the outcome or progress toward
completion of the project. This list should include the date of award, the amount of award,
and the outcome or progress toward completion of the project, including details of
publications, presentations, etc.
VI.
Additional information

Attach a current c.v. to the grant proposal.
The Crossette Family Faculty Fellowship for International Research
Through this fund, the Crossette family wishes to support faculty development research grants with
a preference for international research, so that Muhlenberg may expand its horizons through
increased global experience.
Recipients of this fellowship will receive $2200 for work to be done over the summer of 2015.
Full-time faculty interested in applying for this fellowship should follow the procedures set out in
the Faculty Summer Grants memo.
In selecting recipients of this fellowship, preference will be given to support faculty development in
the area of international research. If no applications suggest significant international study, FDSC
may recommend that no faculty member receive the award.
Funding may provide for a stipend, funds for travel, administrative assistance and other related
expenses.
Below is a brief FAQ regarding this fellowship:
1. Can I apply for both the Crossette Fellowship and a Faculty Summer Fellowship?
Yes, although a faculty member cannot be awarded both an 8 week summer stipend and a
Crossette Fellowship during the same summer. However, a faculty member can be awarded
a 4 week summer stipend and the Crossette Fellowship in the same summer.
2. Can I apply for both the Crossette Fellowship and direct expenses?
Part of the purpose of the Crossette Fellowship is to defray cost of travel when participating
in international research. Thus, awardees of the Crossette Fellowship who make an
additional request for direct expense reimbursement for travel will have their direct expense
request denied.
3. If I am granted the Crossette Fellowship, do I need to submit receipts to the college to get
the money promised by the fellowship?
No. Awardees of the Crossette Fellowship will receive a check from the college in the
amount of $2200 without the awardee submitting receipts. Awardees may wish to keep
receipts for travel to submit with their own personal income tax returns.
4. Will there be more than one Crossette Fellowship awarded?
If the caliber of applications is high enough, then more than one Crossette Fellowship may
be awarded.
2015 Cover Sheet
Faculty Summer Grant Proposals
This page will be the first page of the application and should be sent as an electronic file to
iyengar@muhlenberg.edu and bspangle@muhlenberg.edu
Name _____________________________________
Date __________________
Department ________________________________
Type of grant (place an ‘X’ next to all that apply):
___
Research or study leading to publication, exhibition, or performance (4 or 8 wk)
___
Professional growth, such as self- directed or formal skill development (4 or 8 wk)
___
Crossette Family Faculty Fellowship for International Research
___
Direct expenses, such as books, travel, equipment (not to exceed $1500, requires
receipts)
Duration of summer study:
___
eight weeks ($4000)
___
four weeks ($2000)
Will you be teaching a summer course during the proposed research? ____
If Yes, then you are not eligible for a 2014 Summer Research Stipend
Note: If you are awarded the Crossette fellowship, then you will not be awarded an eight week
stipend (although you may be awarded a four week stipend).
Provide an abstract of the proposed project and outcomes (FEWER THAN 100 words):