SUPPORT AND SERVICES:
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Eligibility. All full-time faculty members Wittenberg University with the rank of instructor or above, as well as adjunct faculty with the rank of adjunct assistant professor or above, are eligible to participate in the Faculty Development programs, subject to the specific rules of each program. Part-time faculty members of Wittenberg University with rank of adjunct instructor become eligible in their third year of employment by the University.
Governance and Management. The program is overseen by the Faculty Development Board (FDB), as defined in the faculty bylaws. The Faculty Development Administrator is a tenured member of the faculty nominated by the Faculty Development Board and appointed by the Provost for a three-year renewable term. The Administrator reports to the Faculty Development Board and is evaluated by this board on a yearly basis.
The Faculty Development Program is responsible for the following tasks:
**Members of Faculty Development Board, except in the case of the Matthies Award, may apply for funding represented in the above areas.
The Faculty Development Administrator
The Faculty Development Administrator must be a tenured member of the faculty who is committed to faculty development. The Administrator will be nominated to the Provost by the Faculty Development Board, will be appointed by the Provost, and will report to and be evaluated by the Faculty Development Board. The Administrator serves as an ex-officio member of the Faculty Development Board with voice but not vote. The administrator will receive a l/3-time course release that will be divided equally between the semesters, but will retain full-time status in the faculty.
The Faculty Development Administrator will work with the Faculty Development Board:
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Fall - October
Professional Enrichment Grants ($700)
Faculty Project ($1500) Grants
New Course and Course Revision Proposals (for spring courses)
Spring – January
Faculty Aide Program
Spring -- February
Faculty Research ($3000) Grants
Faculty Growth ($3000) Grant
Spring/Summer -- March
Professional Enrichment ($700) Grants
Faculty Project ($1500) Grants
New Course and Course Revision Proposals (for fall courses)
Spring – April
Matthies Award
No fixed deadline
Redirection Grants
NOTE: EIGHT COPIES OF EACH PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO AND RECEIVED BY THE FDB OFFICE BY NOON ON THE DAY OF A STATED DEADLINE.
DESCRIPTION OF FDB PROGRAMS
NEW COURSE AND COURSE REVISION PROPOSALS
New Course Proposals
The FDB encourages faculty in the preparation of new courses that can be counted toward a Wittenberg degree. Maximum grant per new course is $500; no more than $1000 for new course or course revision grants can be received by the same faculty member in a single year. A new course is defined as a course that has never been taught at Wittenberg, or has not been taught for three years, and has not been taught by the applicant. Proposals may include requests of materials, books, registration fees and travel expenses for seminars, workshops, college or university courses in which the faculty member is enrolled. Books, software, and similar materials purchased with the grant are to be retained in the University if the faculty member leaves within 2 years of receiving the FDB Grant. The FDB in conjunction with the department faculty member and the appropriate departmental chairperson will determine the most appropriate place to house the materials. Because new faculty are assumed to bring expertise in the areas in which they were hired to teach, they are not eligible for new course grants for courses to be taught in their first year.
COURSE REVISIONS
The Faculty Development program encourages faculty in the revision of courses. When a faculty member revises a Wittenberg course and money for professional materials is needed FDB will review requests for grants of funds up to $200. No more than $1,000 for new course or course revision grants can be received by the same faculty member in a single year. The proposal to the Board must demonstrate that a significant revision is taking place. Faculty in their first year many not apply for course revision grants unless they are revising a course they have already taught at Wittenberg.
Proposals may not include replacement costs or release time. Funds may not be used to purchase materials whose primary intended use is in the classroom by students. Purchase of capital equipment will not be funded. The funds must be spent and expense report filed with the FDB Office by the end of the first semester after the course is taught.
A new course or course revision proposal must include:
NOTE: A request for a Professional Enrichment Grant, New Course/Course Revision Grant for the same project can be funded if the request satisfies the guidelines as stated in the Faculty Manual. However, the applicant should divide the project into two different requests.
PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT GRANTS
The funds in this category are designated to encourage faculty members to deepen and broaden competence in their chosen fields and relate this competence more effectively in the classroom. The money available is to be spent primarily to improve the professional development of individuals as well as the teaching-learning process at Wittenberg. The Board will accept proposals for new methods for reaching students with special needs; attendance at institutes, seminars or workshops; and active participation in professional conferences (delivering papers, serving as chairperson, discussant, or officer in an international, national, regional, or state organization, etc.).
FDB EXCLUDES FROM THE PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT CATEGORIES MERE ATTENDANCE AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES.
Individual faculty members may apply for support as often as they wish toward an annual maximum of $700. After an individual’s grants have reached a total of $700, subsequent grants in that year, if approved, can be funded if funds remain at year’s end.
Each proposal should include the following:
Proposal may not include funding requests for audio/visual hardware, research equipment, research toward terminal degree, tuition for graduate school, or funds to subsidize the publication of the results of the research.
When applying for involvement in a program, one should also apply for the intended FDB grant (i.e., even before knowing of acceptance on the program). Applications to FDB that are submitted after the FDB deadline with such knowledge of a program are late and will not be considered.
Unless otherwise noted, the Board will withhold ten percent of the money awarded for each proposal until after it receives the final expense report/receipts for which the award was granted. A final expense report with receipts is due the semester the project has been completed. Reports should include a completed University travel expense form and all receipts for expenditures. Please forward this report to the FDB Office and it will be sent to the Business Office. It is not necessary to file a written descriptive report to the FDB Office.
NOTE: A request for a Professional Enrichment Grant, New Course/Course Revision Grant for the same project can be funded if the request satisfies the guidelines as stated in the Faculty Manual. However, the applicant should divide the project into different requests.
FACULTY RESEARCH FUND GRANTS
The Faculty Research Fund supports and encourages faculty members to maintain active professional lives. The fund provides monies for research leading to publication or public presentation, creative endeavors (exhibitions, performances, etc.), and for purchase of necessary items for research.
Awards shall be made with the approval of a majority of the Board, and board members shall not vote on their own funding requests. Each request must include a description of the proposed research project, together with an itemized statement of the intended use of the requested grant funds. Those requesting funds should use the forms below when submitting proposals. Titles and texts of previously funded proposals are on file and may be reviewed by contacting the Faculty Development Administrator.
ELIGIBILITY AND USE OF FUNDS
Grants may be made only to full-time faculty members (including both faculty in a shared position) at Wittenberg University and adjunct faculty members holding rank of Adjunct Assistant Professor or above. Adjunct Faculty shall be eligible for the same level of funding as full-time faculty. Dissertation research or other research designed to meet requirements toward a degree will not be considered eligible. The Board will give special consideration to faculty who have never received an faculty research fund grant. For faculty who have previously received grants, preference will be given to those who have filed reports in a timely fashion.
Requests for grants from the Board should be made in the amount of actual expenses, taking into account additional sources of funding for which the applicant is applying. All equipment and materials of continuing value to the University that are purchased with the grant funds shall become the property of Wittenberg University.
The grant period is for twelve months, starting from the date the grant is awarded; reports are due one month after the end of the grant period. Any funds not spent by the end of the grant period revert immediately to the Board. A faculty grantee may request (in writing no later than the report deadline) a continuation of funds not expended. Requests for extension should include a report on the project thus far, the reason an extension is being requested, and a plan for the completion of the project. The Board will review the request and make its recommendation to continue or discontinue support. Only one extension will be granted.
At the termination of the grant period, the faculty member shall submit a written report to the Board, which includes a financial statement covering the funds expended and an account of the results of the research to date. Those who are delinquent in reporting will receive lesser consideration for later funding requests. At least one copy of any publication or exhibition/performance programs resulting from projects supported by these grants shall also be filed with the Board for subsequent deposit in the Library.
Examples of appropriate funding requests include equipment costs; travel for research purposes; fees for manuscript preparation; journal publication per page fees; specialized, unique or currently unavailable software (if essential to research); or exhibition, recording and performance costs.
Fund requests will NOT be considered for subsidizing book publication through direct payments to publisher; dissertation publication or research; attendance or presentation at professional meetings; projects that focus on teaching preparation; journal subscriptions or offprint charges; or basic computer hardware equipment, monitors, and/or printers.
Faculty may apply for:
GUIDELINES for Faculty Project and Research Grants
The Board will consider only proposals that conform to the guidelines listed below:
Section One: Project Outline
Section Two: Project Description
REDIRECTION OF FACULTY
The funds available in this category are designated to retrain faculty members moving to another department or out of academe (only tenured faculty members will be considered for moving out of academe). In a broader sense, redirection is designed to meet the needs of departments of the University at large which result from changing departmental student enrollment, retirement, or the high percentage of tenured faculty.
The Board will seriously consider all proposals for redirection, but it will give priority to those which meet both a departmental or University need, as well as an individual’s personal interest. It is for that reason that the guidelines include a statement to the effect that a proposal for redirection must include the recommendations of the department chairperson(s), and the appropriate chief academic officer.
GUIDELINES FOR REDIRECTION PROPOSALS
Each proposal should include some method of reporting the progress and success of the plan. Plans spanning more than one year must report at least once a year. Any expenses directly related to redirection, such as room, tuition, materials, faculty replacement costs, stipends, etc., will be considered. However, the relation of such expenses to redirection must be clearly spelled out in the proposals.
The redirection effort should be designed so as to have the least negative impact upon the faculty member’s full-time obligation to Wittenberg. Participation in a redirection effort while a full-time faculty member should not exceed one course per term or its equivalent in time.
In cases of external redirection, a negotiated target for the resignation of the faculty member shall be included in the proposal. Sufficient lead time is required to permit a department to screen candidates, and to recommend a replacement when the latter is needed.
If funds are granted, the recipient must submit at the conclusion of the grant period a written report that includes the evaluation noted above and an accounting of the funds spent.
FACULTY GROWTH PROJECTS
A grant for a Faculty Growth Project enables tenured faculty members to significantly expand or update their educational training. The grant funds clearly identified projects associated with an organized program of study, completion of terminal degrees, post-doctoral studies, internships, fellowships, and self-directed programs of study and field work. The project may occur during a leave of absence, sabbatical leave, or summer. The project should be consistent with the goals of the individual’s department and the University.
Please note that not all Faculty Growth grants will be accepted for funding. They will be judged on professional merit to the University.
Applications are due in the spring semester of the academic year prior to the projected beginning date of the project. The Board allocates funds for 1 grant to be awarded up to $3,000. Grant expenditures must occur in the fiscal year of the project (1 July - 30 June).
GUIDELINES FOR FACULTY GROWTH PROJECTS PROPOSALS
Any expenses related to professional growth of a faculty member will be considered. However, the relation of the expenses to the growth project must be clearly stated in the proposal.
The growth project should include a written evaluation from the Chairperson of the applicant’s department, and from the Provost. Faculty members may not accept full-time compensated positions during the leave period. Grants, fellowships, or assistantships are not considered compensation for this criterion.
If funds are granted, the recipient must submit at the conclusion of the grant period a written report that includes a description of progress and success of the project, plus an account of how funds were spent.
NOTE: Recipients of the Faculty Growth Grant are required to present the outcomes of their Faculty Growth Projects to the faculty.
FACULTY AIDE PROGRAM
This program selects students of any rank (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) who are on work grant programs to aid faculty in their teaching, personal research, or creative activity.
PURPOSE
This program has two purposes: 1) to allow faculty members more time to be better prepared, productive, thought-provoking professors, and 2) to allow selected students an opportunity to learn some of the challenges and engage in some of the activities related to their major field of study, via a close working association with a faculty member in that discipline. The Faculty Aide Program is distinct from the normal work grant program in that the Professor/Aide relationship must be structured so there are explicit discipline-specific benefits for the student. Mere clerical work is thus an inappropriate use of a Faculty Aide. At no time should the Aide perform duties that are the sole responsibility of the faculty member. Specifically prohibited are grading that involves substantive and unsupervised evaluation of content, proctoring exams, and leading class discussions.
PROCEDURES
Any member of the Faculty Development Board who wishes to request a Faculty Aide may submit a written proposal to the FDB for consideration. Please use the Faculty Aide Proposal Form included here. Proposals must be in the hands of the FDB Office by the deadline each year so that the Student Employment and Financial Aid Officers can match faculty requests to the backgrounds of students requesting aid. A deadline notification memo will be sent by the FDB Office.
The Student Employment Office will determine the wages for Faculty Aides and will make the Faculty Aide’s wages a part of the Work Grant money that students receive as a part of their financial aid package. Both the faculty person and Faculty Aides have the option of requesting a change and reassignment via the Student Employment Office if the working situation does not prove agreeable to either one of the persons involved. Neither participant has any guarantee of a new assignee or assignment if a semester has already started before a change is requested.
APPLICATION (http://www4.wittenberg.edu/facstaff/faculty_manual/application.pdf)
EDITH B. AND FRANK C. MATTHIES AWARD
Each year the Board of the Faculty Development Board selects and submits to the President the name of the nominee for the Edith B. and Frank C. Matthies Award. The purpose of the award, according to the original bequest, is “to further the education of selected and worthy teachers and to strengthen the faculty.” The award, which was granted for the first time in 1978, carries with it a stipend of $1,000. All faculty are eligible to apply, except those persons sitting on the Faculty Development Board.
There are no restrictions on the kind of proposal that may be submitted or the kinds of activities that may be included in the proposal (research, travel, attendance at seminars or other courses, training in instructional methods, etc.) As long as it is clear that the proposed activities relate to the basic purpose of the FDB, which is the improvement of teaching. The Board hopes that the absence of restrictions will set this award apart from other types of faculty grants and will stimulate creative and imaginative proposals.
Describe as specifically as possible in your proposal what you intend to do. You may include a list of anticipated expenses; the award, however, is intended as a stipend or honorarium and not simply as a budget to defray expected costs. As a courtesy to applicants an explanatory letter will be sent to any faculty member whose application for a competitive grant is rejected.
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT BOARD
The Student Development Board promotes student scholarship and development on-campus and off-campus. The Board identifies and evaluates candidates for external fellowship and scholarship programs (e.g. Fullbright, Marshall and Rhodes scholarships), making recommendations to the Provost regarding official nominations. The Board also coordinates with the Admissions Office to evaluate candidates for Wittenberg’s competitive scholarships. The Student Development Board also functions as an ad-hoc review panel when special funding or student development opportunities arise.
The Student Development Board is responsible for reviewing and awarding Student Research Grants. Since these are competitive programs, students submitting proposals must demonstrate a high degree of previous academic success and appropriate preparation for the type of research being proposed. These qualifications might include, but would not be limited to, GPA, relevant coursework, preliminary research, faculty assessment, etc. Students applying for grants should consult with appropriate faculty members to obtain approval of the research project before drafting a proposal.
Students (with faculty guidance and collaboration) may apply for two types of research funding from the Board:
Student Project Grants - $250
These grants provide funds for reimbursement of supply costs, travel and other incidental research costs for students pursuing projects during the fall or spring semester.
Summer Research Grants - $3000
[$2200 student stipend, $300 supplies, $500 faculty supervisor stipend]
These grants support ambitious summer research projects. The Board expects the research to result in written work, exhibition, public presentation, and/or performance. This program is competitive, so only a limited number of summer stipends will be awarded. These research experiences do not carry academic credit, and they are considered to be the equivalent of a full-time summer academic load. However, subsequent related work may be awarded credit at the discretion of the student’s department. Preference will be given to students of junior class standing. Graduating seniors are not eligible for summer stipends.
Proposal Guidelines
The Board will consider only proposals that conform to the guidelines listed below:
Section One: Project Outline
Section Two: Project Description
Meeting and Funding Cycles
Fall – September
Scholarship interviews for external grants (Fulbright, Marshall, Rhodes, etc.)
Fall – October
Admissions/Scholarship Meeting
Fall – November
Student Project Grant ($250 for spring research)
Spring – January
Informational Meeting for Students regarding internal/external funding opportunities
Spring – March
Student Summer Research ($2200, Stipend $300 for materials, $500 Faculty supervisor)
Spring – April
Student Project Grant ($250 for fall research)
