Updated 9/25/2013

Texas A&M University-Texarkana

Faculty Senate Committee for Faculty Research Enhancement and

Professional Development (FRED)

2014-15

The Committee for Faculty Research Enhancement and Professional Development will receive,

review, and recommend proposals each month that merit funding or other support. Individuals

and groups may submit proposals at any time during the year, but priority may be given to

proposals that are received well in advance to be included in the budget planning process.

Proposals will not be accepted after budget allowances are met. Proposals not initially funded,

may be resubmitted.

1) Proposals for Research Enhancement Funds (REF) are requested for expenses related to

conducting research including: paying students for data collection and/or data entry, purchase

of testing protocols. Expenses related to professional conferences will not be considered;

faculty may request FPDF funds under Priority Two (see below). Funds may not be used for

buying equipment; faculty may request equipment needs via HEAF funds requested through

their Dean.

2) Proposals for Faculty Professional Development (FPDF) are prioritized based on the

breadth of the university faculty that are likely to benefit from the proposal and its centrality

to the university mission. Proposals funded must meet one of the following categories:

Category/Priority One: University Wide Activities - University Wide Activities will directly target a

large number of faculty from all colleges and are likely to involve bringing experts to campus. Examples

include, but are not limited to, the following: new teaching strategies, current approaches to distance

learning, engaging young students, technical workshops and assistance for online environments, writing

across the curriculum, and academic publishing workshops.

Category/Priority Two: Faculty Interest Activities - Faculty Interest Activities target faculty in all

colleges, but are limited to smaller numbers based on shared interests. They are likely to involve

individuals and small groups who need development in an area/activity that would in turn directly benefit

the organization and not just the individual. Faculty Interest Activities may involve a train-the-trainer

model in which one faculty member attends a specific training (in-state or out-of-state) and is expected to

return to train other faculty. Alternatively, they may involve learning a skill set that enhances the

university mission, but is needed by relatively few faculty at a given time. Examples include, but are not

limited to the following: grant writing workshops, training for department chairs or program coordinators,

National Science Foundation grant writing workshops, or the A&M System Assessment Conference.

Category/Priority Three: Program Enhancement Activities - Individuals and Programs may request

money for a wide variety of professional development activities that are beyond normal conference travel

and that are not funded by Research Enhancement Grants. A reasonable benefit to the program must be

articulated in the proposal although the immediate direct benefit may accrue to an individual faculty

member. Examples include, but are not limited to, a professional workshop related to teaching or publishing

in the discipline; a technical training opportunity such as the ICPSR Summer Program; federal agency

research conferences; travel, meetings, or resources important to developing or enhancing a specific course

or courses in the program; assessment in the discipline. If the activity is an added expense for a typical

conference that the faculty member would attend, the FPD grant would only cover that additional expense

such as an additional training fee or extra hotel night, not the entire travel cost of the conference.

Updated 9/25/2013

Submission/Proposal Format Proposals should be no longer than 3 single-spaced pages and must address the following elements:

1. Faculty name/s and title/s submitting proposal

2. Type of Funds Requested: REF or FPDF (include Category Priority)

3. Description of Activities for which funds requested, including:

For REF Proposals For FPDF Proposals

Need and Benefit(s) to be derived from

project funds.

Project objectives and Evaluation criteria

Procedures (with timeline)

Need and Benefit(s) to be derived from project

funds –rationale for priority category. How many

faculty will benefit from activity?

Presenter/Provider of the activity, if applicable.

Location of the activity. If on-campus, estimate

what facilities will be needed.

Date(s) or projected time frame.

4. Budget (with explanation) 5. Assurances: “Faculty submitting proposal agrees to accept responsibility for

completion of proposal activities as described and final copy of report as described in

proposal.”

Proposal Review Process Proposal submissions are due no later than the 1

st of the month and should be submitted via

email attachment to the Chair of the Committee for Research Enhancement and Faculty

Professional Development Funds. Proposals received after the 1st

will be considered the

following month (e.g. Proposal received March 5 will be considered at April 10th

meeting).

The Committee reviews proposal submissions and forwards recommendations to Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate will award funds and notify faculty of award status via email.

Committee Procedure The Chair of the Committee will be appointed by the Faculty Senate each year. The Chair will organize a committee of faculty that is representative of the University.

Committee members may submit proposals but are expected to recuse themselves from

recommendations of proposals submitted.