Graduate Program Enhancement (GPE)
Grant Application and Guidelines
Purpose:
The second strategic direction of Rutgers University-Camden’s Strategic Plan is enhancing high-quality
and interdisciplinary graduate and professional programs. To build upon our significant assets, the
Graduate School aim to maintain the nationally recognized level of quality in professional programs
while launching innovative approaches to curriculum, organization, and delivery of programs (strategic
plan 2.2). To support this end, the Associate Dean for Research has established the Graduate Program
Enhancement Grants that enables graduate departments or programs to pilot innovative initiatives which
include, but are not limited to supporting collaborations with other national or international universities,
creative efforts in graduate student recruitment, workforce consultations, and donor outreach. Up to three
grants of $5,000 each will be awarded each academic a year.
Application and Submission:
 Any graduate department and/or program from Rutgers University – Camden may apply.
 Applications should include the GPE coversheet, 1-2 page project description, and detailed
budget and 1-page budget narrative.
A final written report summarizing the results of the initiative will be due by the end of the 2015-2016
academic year. At that time a budget report will be due also.
Deadline:
Applications are due to the Associate Dean for Research. There will be two deadlines during the 20152016 academic year: 14 September, 2015 and 22 January, 2016. Awards will be announced at the end of
September 2015 and the end of January 2016. Electronic submissions (Adobe PDF) are required and
should be sent to grad.school@camden.rutgers.edu. Save your final name as
Department_ProgramEnhancementGrant (i.e. PublicAffairs_ProgramEnhancementGrant). Please indicate
“Grad Program Enhancement Grant” in the subject line of your email.
Evaluation Criteria:
The Research Funding Committee will evaluate and rank all proposals. In selecting proposals to be
funded, priority will be given to applications that closely align with Rutgers – Camden’s Strategic Plan.
Inquiries:
Questions about the program may be directed to Dr. Howard Marchitello, Associate Dean for Research
and the Graduate School, at marchitello@camden.rutgers.edu (856) 225-6149.
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Guidelines for Preparing GPE Funding Proposal Budgets
Please adhere to the following guidelines and explanations when preparing your proposal budget:
General Information
1. Please submit an itemized budget. In addition, please attach a 1-page narrative statement explaining the
items within your budget. If you will be receiving support from your school/department or any external
funding source, please provide specific details as to the type of support in the budget narrative and include
the total dollar amount of this support/cost share in the Excel budget form.
2. Oversight and budgetary control will reside with your collegiate department or appropriate Dean’s
Office. Please consult with these offices when developing your budget. Expenses and costs must comply
with all relevant university policies, and state and federal regulations.
3. Budgeted categories must include only one‐time costs. GPE funds are temporary, and may not be used
for permanent on‐going costs.
4. When costing out your award, watch for unanticipated or “hidden” costs. For instance, if conferences,
workshops presentations, and other recruitment efforts are planned, consider the costs of mailings, etc. If
you are bringing outside consultants to the university (a valid consultant’s agreement and purchase order
are needed from Purchasing), consider the travel and lodging expenses to be incurred. When developing
curriculum, consider the costs of films, videos, webinars, videoconferencing, and other curricular
materials. These costs should be well justified. No additional support will be available from these
resources for any such unanticipated expenses.
5. Recurring costs, such as telephone, rent, or lease costs, should not be charged to the grant. Costs
related to repair and maintenance of grounds and buildings, custodial and vehicular supplies, and selected
other non‐academic expenses are not allowable under the grant.
6. Hourly payment of a student worker is NOT allowed under the grant. Faculty, post‐doctoral fellow,
part‐time/temporary, and TA/GA salaries, including summer salaries, may NOT be charged to the
grant. Neither are student aid or student tuition and fee costs allowable. Costs associated with the
purchase of equipment or software, or facilities renovations may not be charged to the grant. No
permanent hiring may be done with these funds.
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Graduate Program Enhancement Coversheet
Proposal Title:
Department Chair or Program Director:
Name:
Affiliation:
Email:
Phone:
Campus Address:
Faculty PI:
Name:
Affiliation:
Email:
Phone:
Campus Address:
Other Participants:
Name:
Affiliation:
Email:
Phone:
Campus Address:
Name:
Affiliation:
Email:
Phone:
Campus Address:
Associate Dean of Research
Name:
Signature:
Signature:
Signature:
Signature:
Signature:
Total Project Request:
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Graduate Program Enhancement Project Description
Project description (1 – 2 pages double spaced):
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Graduate Program Enhancement Budget Narrative
Budget Narrative (1 page maximum):
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