UNIVERSITY GRANTS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
Department of Sociology and Social Work
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601
DESCRIPTION OF THIS GRANTS TRAINING
Fort Hays State University offers a two-month grant proposal writing course that involves
no travel. Students 1) study a 100 page training manual, 2) watch a video of the teacher
discussing the most important points in the manual, 3) answer study questions, 4) prepare
parts of fictitious proposals, 5) interact with other students through the computer, 6)
receive messages from the teacher through the computer, 7) ask the teacher questions by
phone before taking a certification test, and 8) take the certification test through the
computer. This course will be completed in students’ homes and/or offices. The cost is
$150 per person.
HELLO FROM FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY
Fort Hays State University (located in Hays, Kansas) has existed for over 100 years, with
a current enrollment of approximately 8,000 students. (For detailed information about our
university, please log onto our web site at www.fhsu.edu.) The grant proposal writing
training is housed within the Department of Sociology and Social Work, where grant
writing courses have been taught since 1986.
WHY THIS TRAINING WAS CREATED
This project was specifically created to serve busy people who don’t have time to attend
grant writing seminars or classes. There are many people who work one or more jobs and
have many other responsibilities, such as families. These people do not have the luxury to
physically attend seminars or classes. Yet, some of these busy people want to improve
themselves professionally and make additional contributions to their communities. This
training was created for busy, motivated people.
THERE IS NO “FLUFF” IN THIS TRAINING
This course involves comprehensive basic training in grant proposal writing. This course
represents the core principles for writing small and large proposals to both public and
private funding sources.
WHY YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THIS TRAINING
With the increasing need for grant funding by many organizations, grant proposal writing
is an increasingly important skill. By receiving systematic training in grant proposal
writing, you can improve yourself professionally and possibly make yourself an
extremely valuable member of your organization. In addition, when your proposals are
funded, you will be helping your community and the people served by your organization.
(Examples of organizations for which this training is designed are hospitals, schools,
grass-roots community agencies, law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical
services, religious organizations, and Native American Tribes.)
HOW OUR TRAINING IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TRAINING
The training you are considering through Fort Hays State University is different from
most other grant proposal writing training in the following ways. 1) Most of the grant
writing training in the U.S. is not through a university, for most training is by individuals
or small companies. A 100 year old university brings documented academic integrity. 2)
Most grant writing training is for one or two days. Our university training lasts two
months, which allows the time for students to more fully integrate information within
themselves. 3) Most people who conduct grant writing training seminars hand out
certificates at the end of the one or two day seminars. These certificates are usually given
for simply being present, and there is no check on information learned. In our university
training, students must score 70% or higher on a test to receive a certificate. Our
certification is performance-based, and people who receive our certificate have
demonstrated their grant proposal writing ability. 4) Some professions require receipt of
Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and our university provides 10 CEUs for this
training. CEUs are awarded even if a student scores below 70% on the test. 5) Most grant
writing training is not taught by a Ph.D. Dr. Campbell has his Ph.D. in sociology, which
is the study of society and groups of people. This academic training combines with his
success as a grant proposal writer, grant proposal writing consultant, grant proposal
reviewer at the national level, and his 20 years of teaching proposal writing at a
university.
THE TYPE OF STUDENTS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS TRAINING
The training process in this course works very well for motivated people. If you try to
just float through this training, this learning structure may not work for you. This learning
module is based on self-study and requires commitment and some drive. You will be
deciding when and for how long you study, and so if you are not good at making yourself
study, this course may not be appropriate for you. One idea that helps students be diligent
in their study is to have a study partner. Some students find that enrolling with a friend or
acquaintance is helpful.
WHAT STUDENTS RECEIVE
Students will receive 1) a training manual, 2) a video of Dr. Campbell discussing
important points in the manual, 3) a series of study questions students should answer to
test their understanding before the certification test, 4) the opportunity to interact with
other students through email, 5) the opportunity to ask Dr. Campbell questions before
taking the certification test, 6) the opportunity to test twice through the computer to score
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70% or higher and receive a certificate, and 7) the opportunity to receive 10 CEUs
regardless of what score one receives on the certification test.
OUTLINE OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Weeks 1 and 2: 1) Read/skim the training manual (100 pages), 2) check messages from
Dr. Campbell through Blackboard, and 3) interact with other students through
Blackboard.
Week 3: 1) Carefully reread Sections I and II in the manual, 2) write your answers to the
49 questions at the end of Section II, 3) check for messages from Dr. Campbell through
Blackboard, and 4) interact with other students through Blackboard.
Week 4: 1) Carefully reread Section III in the manual, 2) write your answers to the 17
questions at the end of Section III, 3) check for messages from Dr. Campbell through
Blackboard, and 4) interact with other students through Blackboard.
Week 5: 1) Read Sections IV and V in the manual, 2) as a self-test of your skills, select a
proposal topic of your choice and write the main parts of a proposal for that topic, 3)
check for messages from Dr. Campbell through Blackboard, and 4) interact with other
students through Blackboard.
Week 6: 1) Review everything, 2) especially study the areas with which you feel least
comfortable, 3) interact with other students through Blackboard, and 4) speak with Dr.
Campbell by phone to ask questions in preparation for the test.
Week 7: Take the certification test through the computer at a time convenient for you.
Week 8: Receive notification of your performance on the certification test. (Note:
Students who score lower than 70% on the certification test will have one more
opportunity to take and pass the test at no additional charge.)
Within three weeks from the end of week 8: Receive 1) your University Grants
Training Certificate if you scored 70% or higher on the certification test, and 2) a
certificate documenting your Continuing Education Units if you requested them at the
beginning of the course.
A FINAL COMMENT
The world of grant proposal writing to help people in need is an exhilarating world.
Whether you already write proposals but want to improve your skills or are just getting
started, you are heartily invited to join us.
HOW TO ENROLL
To enroll, please 1) email the Sociology and Social Work secretary, Ms. Colette Gnad, at
cgnad@fhsu.edu to confirm that there is still an opening in an upcoming course.
Following her positive response, please 2) complete and send the following form with a
check for $150. If you have any questions, please email or call Ms. Gnad at 785-6285840. Thank you.
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Next course starts:
February 22, 2006
Next course ends:
April 19, 2006
UNIVERSITY GRANTS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION ENROLLMENT
(Please type or print the following.)
1. Name ____________________________________________
2. Primary email address _______________________________
3. Work phone ____________________________________
4. Work address ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
5. Home phone ___________________________
6. Home address _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
7. Date this form is completed ______________________________
To enroll, please mail this completed form along with a $150 check to:
Ms. Colette Gnad
Department of Sociology and Social Work
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601
Please call Ms. Gnad at 785-628-5840 if you have any questions. Thank you.
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