Call for Proposals: 2026 Summer Research Award Program – Revised Guidelines
Dear Colleagues:
As we look toward the end of the academic year, I am writing to announce the opening
of the application cycle for our Summer Research Award program.
For many years, this program has been a vital catalyst for scholarly and creative
activity across our campus. As we navigate recent financial realities, we are looking
for innovative ways to approach our internal investments with a renewed strategic
focus. To continue supporting our academic mission effectively with a reduced funding
pool, I have worked closely with the School Deans to restructure the program’s priorities
for this summer.
This year, the program will move to a highly targeted, competitive grant designed
to maximize institutional impact while supporting faculty research.
Strategic Priorities for Summer 2026 Funding:
- Prioritization: To support the career progression of our junior colleagues, funding priority will
be given to tenure-track (untenured) faculty to help them achieve their upcoming promotion
and tenure milestones. The next priority will be research-active associate professors
and professors.
- Commitment to a Verifiable Outcome: All applications must focus on a specific, measurable deliverable that can be completed
and submitted during the summer.
Program Details and Application Requirements
The scholarship provides a $5000 stipend. About 31 awards will be distributed. To
respect your time and streamline the review process, the application is limited to
three pages and must include the following elements:
- Applicant Status: Please clearly indicate your current rank and tenure status.
- Brief Description of Project: Clearly describe your research project, including its specific aims.
- Current Sources of Summer Funding: If you have any other sources of funding for the summer (e.g., teaching, department
funds), please describe the source and amount of funding. Please indicate “none” if
you do not have funding.
- The Verifiable Outcome: Clearly state the concrete deliverable you commit to completing by the end of the
summer. The strongest examples would include a receipt of a grant proposal submission,
a receipt of a peer-reviewed journal submission, or a submitted book proposal. Other
examples that may be accepted include a completed write-up of an experiment in the
context of a multi-study paper to be submitted in the future.
- Feasibility and Timeline: Provide a detailed timeline showing exactly how the work will be completed during
the summer. Successful proposals will clearly articulate what preliminary groundwork has already been completed.
- Impact Narrative: Briefly explain how this specific outcome addresses gaps in your portfolio for your
upcoming milestone review (if applicable).
- Prior Internal Funding: Briefly list any internal summer research funding received in the past three years
and the resulting publications or grants.
Review Process and Timeline
- April 3: Applications are due to your respective School Dean via email.
- April 10: Deans will evaluate, rank, and forward the most competitive proposals to the Office
of the Provost.
- April 15: Final award notifications will be distributed.
Note: Awardees will be required to submit proof of their verifiable outcome to the
Office of the Provost by September 30 to remain eligible for future internal funding
cycles. Awardees also commit to presenting their work at the 2026 FSC Celebration
of Scholarship Conference. Faculty who are offered an award must limit their summer
teaching to one course.
Transitioning to a more competitive award process requires an adjustment, but it is
a necessary step to ensure we continue to foster an environment of high-impact research
while being responsible stewards of our resources. I look forward to reading your
proposals and seeing the tangible outcomes of your scholarly pursuits.
Sean Lane, PhD
Senior Vice President and Provost
