Rev. 4/2015
PUBLIC SERVICE ENDOWMENT GRANT
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Public Service Endowment Grants (PSEG) are intended to enhance the mission of UMass Amherst
as a Carnegie-classified "Engaged Research University." Proposals should focus on collaborative
partnerships and interactions with the off-campus community (or communities) and related
scholarship for the mutual exchange, exploration, and application of knowledge and resources.
Projects that will lead to competitive proposals for sponsored research will be given the highest
priority. The use of this non-renewable "seed" money should leverage campus and community
resources to solve a problem or build capacity. Projects should create opportunity for sustained effort
after PSEG funding is expended.
Simultaneous applications will not be accepted, i.e., investigators can participate on only one
proposal in a given year.
Budget and Uses:
Awards will not exceed $15,000 and typically average $10,000 per project. Projects which request
funds for ongoing activities will likely be denied. Funds may be spent in all categories except faculty
release time or salary (although staff salary is not disallowed). Financial or "in-kind" contributions
from partners or other external sources are desirable, but not required. (Proposals will not be denied
for lack of co-funding.)
The Form of the Application:
The application package should include the following items:
1. Coversheet (provided below).
2. Narrative (maximum 4 pages) to include these topics:
a. Background and justification of the problem/need to be addressed
b. A clear statement regarding the community partner(s) engaged with the project: their
name(s), role, expertise, and the benefits the partners will gain from the project.
c. A description of the project’s objectives and methods for carrying them out (suitable for a
non-specialist). If relevant, tell how your project is distinct from and/or related to existing
projects at UMass with similar goals.
d. Means of evaluating success of the project for both the faculty member and the community
partner.
e. Specific plans for proposals and sources of sponsorship after the funds are
expended. Indicate how the project will be sustained after the PSEG funding.
3. Budget and justification of budget categories
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4. Curriculum vitae, short version (2 pages maximum)
5. Letter of collaboration from the community partner(s), or someone in the community regarding
the project. The letter should state specifically the partner's willingness to participate and should
tell what makes the project viable from the community's point of view. (See example in FAQs.)
Proposals written by non-faculty employees must be accompanied by a letter of support from their
unit (institute, center, etc) supervisor or department head at the time of submission.
Review Mechanism:
A review committee will be appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement for
recommendations on the evaluation of the applications. The members of the review committee will
have a demonstrable record of research and engagement at the University of Massachusetts and
represent the major areas from where applications have been submitted. The criteria which will be
used to judge the applications, in no particular order, are as follows:
1. The utility of the project. Is the project devised from a community-identified need? Does the
project bring university expertise to an identified community need, problem, or opportunity. How
important is its impact?
2. The feasibility of the project. How likely are the participants to achieve the project's stated goals?
Are the applicants equipped to accomplish what they propose?
3. The benefit to the campus of the collaborative relationship with the community to be engaged in
the project, both short and long term.
4. Budget justifications. Is the budget appropriate given the objectives of the project? Have all
items been justified? Is there alternative funding for this project?
5. (optionally) Leveraging of campus funding.
Submission Instructions:
--Combine all five components of the application in one pdf file.
--Name the file with <your last name _PSEG2015> (for example, Pearson_PSEG2015.pdf).
--Send it via email to bpearson@research.umass.edu by 5pm on the day of the deadline.
Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
To send the signed coversheet, please use one of these two alternatives:
1. scan the signed document and insert it into the pdf; or
2. include an unsigned coversheet in the pdf, with a note saying that the hard copy is being sent
separately. Send the hard copy to The Office of Research Development, 101 University Drive
suite B-5 to arrive before the judging, which will take place in the week following the deadline.
Applications without signed coversheets will not be reviewed.
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Rev. 4/2015
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
PUBLIC SERVICE ENDOWMENT GRANT
COVER SHEET
I.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
(LAST)
(FIRST)
II. TITLE
III. DEPARTMENT:
IV. BUILDING:
V. EMAIL:
PHONE:
VI. TITLE OF PROPOSED PROJECT:
VII. COMMUNITY PARTNER (organization and contact):
VIII.
START DATE:
END DATE:
IX. ENCLOSE BUDGET AS A SEPARATE SHEET TOTAL REQUESTED $
SIGNATURES:*
Principal Investigator: _________________________________ Date: ___________________
Head/Chair: __________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Dean: ________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
* After completing the application form electronically please get the appropriate signatures and choose
one of two alternatives for sending the signed copy to the committee. 1) Scan the signed document and
insert it into the pdf, or 2) include the unsigned coversheet in the pdf, with a note saying that the hard
copy is being sent separately. Then, send the signed hard copy to Michelle Wonsey, Office of Research
Development, 101 University Drive Suite B-5 as soon as possible (before the judging).
Submit the electronic version of your proposal: Coversheet, Project Description, Budget, Budget
Justification, CVs, and letters of collaboration—in one document to Barbara Pearson at
bpearson@research.umass.edu.
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