Funding Initiative Announcement from the Office of Research Services for the
Upcoming Year
(taking effect: June 1, 2015)
Principles: The Office of Research Services (ORS) on the Denver Campus has funding
to encourage and support creative activities on the downtown campus (creative activities
are defined broadly to encompass traditional research, scholarly/intellectual activities
that lead to published work, artistic endeavors, etc. – these activities are those that define
a research university, namely ones that lead to products that are widely disseminated to
the external world). In broad terms ORS is committed to balancing support for (1) faculty
engaged in traditional research activities that require significant external funding for their
success and (2) faculty engaged in creative activities that are not dependent on large
sources of funding and for which external funding is limited. Balancing these concerns,
while difficult, will help define the success of ORS and CU Denver. ORS is committed to
awarding funds in a way that will lead to increased faculty productivity and an enhanced
reputation for CU Denver.
It needs to be clear that ORS receives internal funding from the CU Denver Downtown
budget and only supports scholarly activities carried out as part of the Downtown
mission.
ORS has targeted:
(a) $200,000 to be spent on our ORS Grant Program
plus
(b) $150,000 to be spent on Additional ORS funding
 The ORS Grant Program allocation of $200,000 will fund projects that meet
wide-ranging goals and various guidelines in two categories:

Small grant projects up to $3,000. Small grants can be submitted at any
time, but will be reviewed bimonthly. Deadlines for submission will be the
last day of January, March, May, July, September, November, and December.
Three outcomes for grants in this category are possible. Some projects will be
funded immediately. Others will be declined. Certain requests will not be
immediately awarded -- the Standing Review Committee will ask that these be
resubmitted guided by questions from the Committee. Matching funds from
primary units, schools/colleges, or other sources of at least 20% are required.
That means that a $3,000 request would require a minimum of a $600 match.

Large grant projects between $3,001 and $25,000. Large grants will be
considered in early July and January with deadlines of June 30 and December
31. Matching funds from primary units, schools/colleges, or other sources of
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at least 20% are required. That means that a $25,000 request would require a
minimum of a $5,000 match.
 The Additional ORS allocation of $150,000 will fund the following activities:

Various special requests that may arise that might be critical to creative
activities development at CU Denver will be considered by Associate Vice
Chancellor for Research Bob Damrauer. Contact him to discuss your needs at
303-315-2131 or robert.damrauer@ucdenver.edu

Several Interdisciplinary opportunities are being sponsored by the Creative
Research Collaborative (CRC). The CRC is a campus-wide initiative to
foster innovative and interdisciplinary research activities that strengthen
collaboration across academic units on the downtown campus. Go to the CRC
website: https://crcdenver.wordpress.com or contact Assistant Vice
Chancellor for Research Michael Jenson directly at
michael.jenson@ucdenver.edu for more information.

A New Faculty Grant Program to support the research/creative work of
new, tenure track faculty within their first two years at CU Denver. Any
amount up to $25,000 may be requested. A 20% funding match from either
the department or school/college is required. That means that a $25,000
request would require a minimum of a $5,000 match. Use of startup funds to
match will not be allowed. Applications will be accepted once per year with a
deadline of February 28.

A Travel/Travel-Related Grant Program: Such requests will require
explanation of the importance of the travel in terms of your creative
development. A one-to-one match from primary units, schools/colleges, or
other sources is required. That means that a minimum of a $1,000 request
would require a $1,000 match. Travel Grant requests can be submitted
anytime.

A Publication/Page Charge Grant Program: Requests require an
explanation of the importance of the published work in terms of your creative
development. A one-to-one match from primary units, schools/colleges, or
other sources is required. That means that a $1,000 request would require a
minimum of a $1,000 match. These requests can be submitted anytime.

=======================================
Various considerations will apply in awarding all proposals:

The impact of funding on the applicant’s career.
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
Grants determined to have significant potential for future external funding
may be given special consideration by the Standing Review Committee.

The clarity of writing, which must be aimed so an intelligent layperson can
understand the important aspects of the project. Failure to do so will greatly
reduce chances of funding. THIS CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH.

How carefully you have justified the budget request. If you request a research
assistant, we want to know what that person will be doing and what your role
will be in their work. If you request travel expenses, we want to know exactly
what research questions are being addressed and how those will advance your
career.

The degree to which funding would enhance CU Denver’s reputation in
research and creative activities.
=======================================
All proposals will require the following elements, which will be part of the formatted
Word submission application that can be found at:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/WhoWeAre/Chancellor/ViceChancellors/Research/OAV
CRCA/Pages/Research%20Services.aspx
o a cover sheet with a matching fund commitment (see cover sheet for more on
matching requirement and size limitations for the following sections)
o a project abstract
o a project description indicating the significance of the creative activity
o a description of the methodology to be used in approaching the project
o statements relating to the expected outcomes of ORS funding to include
(where relevant) (i) how funding will advance the applicant’s career, (ii) what
future funding activities are anticipated with agency, program name, program
officer, and deadlines identified and/or (iii) what specific outlets for the work
accomplished in the project are likely (exhibits, journal articles, etc., and/or
(iv) what other support might arise upon successful completion of the project
o information about pending and current funding (where applicable)
o a detailed budget and budget justification
o a short CV for each submitting investigator (two page limit)
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o a signed pledge to report to ORS the project’s outcomes at its conclusion and
to update ORS on future developments related to initial funding (see forms)
(see project time limits below)
o evidence of matching commitment documentation
OTHER INFORMATION
Single- and multi-investigator submissions will be considered, although funding for
participants not on the downtown campus must be provided by their home
institution/campus.
Funding may include, but is not limited to:
o Research assistants
o Travel supporting research
o Crucial equipment
o Software/database expenses
o Limited summer support
o Limited course buyouts
The project period for all fund expenditures is one year from the time the award is
made unless otherwise agreed upon.
Formatting Restrictions: Page/word limitations are indicted in the formatted Word
submission documents. Note that line spacing must be no less than 1.5, font size must be
no less than 12, and the font must be Times New Roman.
Flexibility: We recognize that certain formatting submission requirements may
restrict some potential submitters. If you want to discuss alternatives for submission,
please contact either robert.damrauer@ucdenver.edu or michael.jenson@ucdenver.edu
Eligibility: Eligible faculty include tenured, tenure track, clinical teaching track,
research professors, and instructors, who by contract are required to engage in creative
activities, except in cases where more specific eligibility is in place. Those instructors
having creative activities contract requirements should include their contract as part of
the submission—no page penalty. Only CU Denver downtown faculty can be principal
investigators (PIs). We encourage interdisciplinary submissions, but funding for
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participants not on the downtown campus must be provided by their home
institution/campus.
Proposal Reviewing: Small, Large, and New Faculty proposals will be reviewed by
a Standing Review Committee of ORS staff and faculty. Proposals will be evaluated for
their clarity, the perceived importance/impact of the work proposed, and an appraisal
about whether significant progress can be made on the project in a year. Note well: THE
COMMITTEE IS A BROAD ONE THAT CANNOT KNOW EVERY FIELD. IT IS
CRITICAL THAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS WRITTEN FOR AN INTELLIGENT
GROUP OF LAY PEOPLE.
ORS Training/Workshop Activities Related to Proposals: Our Office of Research
Development and Education (ORDE) offers many activities to assist in submitting a good
ORS grant. Consult the ORDE website below or contact
lynette.michael@ucdenver.edu or naomi.nishi@ucdenver.edu
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/research/AboutUs/ORDE/Pages/or de.aspx
In reflecting on submitting a proposal, please consider questions like these: (1)
what is the central question you are seeking to answer and how can it be easily
understood by lay reviewers, (2) if your submission is not one of those ‘easily
understood’ traditional proposals, how do you tell your story so that a critical evaluation
of it can be made, and (3) given limited ORS resources, why should an investment be
made in you?
Applications should be forwarded to:
carie.carroll@ucdenver.edu
Formatted Word submission documents are posted under ORS Internal Grant
Opportunities at:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/WhoWeAre/Chancellor/ViceChancellors/Research/OAV
CRCA/Pages/Research%20Services.aspx
(a shortcut to this site is www.ucdenver.edu/ors)
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