IV. Fringe Benefits and Support for Research and Study

L. Grants for Study and Research

1. General Information. The purpose of these awards is to foster the professional development of teaching members of the Randolph College faculty. Faculty employed full-time by the College who teach at least one course and regular status faculty having an annual contract to teach half-time or more are eligible for grants for study and research. A faculty member who receives a grant for use during the summer or during a sabbatical leave or leave of absence is expected to return to the College for the following year if offered an appointment. If he or she should decide not to return to the College, the grant will not be paid. If the faculty member has already received the grant, he or she shall repay the full amount of the award to the College at the time the College is informed of this decision. Interest at the rate of 6% annually will be charged for the period between the time the money was received and the date the College was notified that the individual will not return. Official acceptance of the grant constitutes acceptance of these terms. Normally, major grants will not be awarded in the year preceding retirement.

Each application should include a clear statement of the nature and objectives of the project and an itemized list of anticipated expenses. The estimate of expenses should include the projected costs of room, board, and transportation, if applicable. Transportation costs for travel by automobile are to be calculated at the current College mileage rate. When travel by automobile, including expenses for days in transit, exceeds the cost of travel by plane, no more than the cost of air travel will be awarded. Applications should, when applicable, indicate the current state of the project and an expected date for its completion. The application should be made on the appropriate forms, addressed to the chair of the Professional Development Committee. The forms may be obtained in the office of the Dean of the College.

Applications should be made by the following deadlines. In awarding grants to part-time faculty, the Committee will consider the extent of the individual's employment by the College.

September 15: Applications due for Professional Development Grants to be used during the fall semester.

December 1: Applications due for Professional Development Grants to be used during the spring semester.

February 15: Early applications due for Professional Development Grants to be used during the summer.

April 1: Late applications due for Professional Development Grants for use in the summer (dependent upon available funding). This date is to be used by those whose projects or plans could not be formed by the February 15 deadline.

 

                                        [Amended: Faculty, 2/2/98; 10/14/04]

Applications may be filed after the stated deadlines; however, the applicant should recognize that all funds may already have been designated for use.

The Professional Development Committee reviews all applications and recommends to the Administration of the College those deemed most worthwhile.

A faculty member may hold one of these awards in conjunction with grants from outside sources if the amount actually expended in the pursuit of the project is demonstrably as great as or greater than the total awards from all sources. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to seek outside funding.

A report on the use of a summer grant shall be filed with the Dean of the College no later than the end of the second week after the beginning of classes in the fall. A report on a grant which is used during the academic year shall be filed by the end of the second week after the last day of classes in the spring.

A faculty member receiving a grant is responsible for all applicable local, state and federal taxes.

2. Types of Grants

a. Professional Development Grants. These grants are provided for projects and activities encompassed by the programs listed below. Factors considered in awarding the grants include:

  • The merit of the project, including its value to the College.
  • The availability of other funding sources or methods for accomplishing the goals of the project.
  • The number and dollar amount of grants received by the applicant within the past five years. Although everyone is always welcome to apply, people who have not received a major grant within the past two years will be given priority. [Amended: Faculty, 5/6/96]
  • The lack of similarity of projects for which the applicant previously received grants.

i.  Faculty Study Grants. These grants are designed to provide financial support for members of the faculty involved in research or in taking classes leading to the enhancement of current courses or the development of new courses and programs. Such support is not granted for the purpose of work toward a graduate degree.

ii. Research Projects. Funds to support research and travel required for projects normally resulting in or directed toward publication, performance, or public exhibition. Faculty may apply for such funds for use during the College year or the summer months, or for professional expenses for projects conducted for sabbatical leaves or leaves of absence. In this latter case (funds during leaves), living expenses incurred while on leave will not be funded.

iii. Travel Grants. For those faculty attending a professional meeting or function at which they are to present a paper, serve on a panel, or have a responsibility as an elected officer. If the yearly grant for attendance at professional meetings has not been used in the year of application, that sum should be subtracted from the request for the travel grant. Grants for travel to a professional meeting at which one is not to be a formal participant will be considered under special circumstances in which attendance will contribute in especially significant ways to professional, curricular, or course development, depending on availability of funds.

iv. Katherine Graves Davidson Grants. Funds to support summer research or sabbatical research for two faculty members. Davidson grants are exclusively for projects resulting in or directed toward publication, performance, or public exhibition. Ordinarily a Davidson Grant is for a maximum of $2,000.

v. Charlotte Daniels Stern Grants. Funds for assisting the faculty in pursuit of specific proposals for research and scholarship in or related to their fields of specialization. Ordinarily a Charlotte Daniels Stern Grant is for a maximum of $2,000. The awards are intended

  • as a supplemental prize for scholarly research initiatives and might include course relief for the pursuit of such scholarly activities;
  • for faculty members who either are or show promise of being continuing members of the faculty;
  • to enable research and scholarship above and beyond the normal contractual obligations of the faculty member of the College; and
  • to stimulate and further the research and scholarship interests of faculty members rather than simply providing the technical means for publication.

b. Departmental Speakers Fund. The Campus Events Committee oversees the allocation of monies for departmental speakers who are not included in departmental budgets. With support from the Campus Events Committee fund, departments may invite speakers to address a class or classes, though whenever practical such speeches should be open to as broad a section of the College community as possible. Amounts normally range from $50 to $500.

3. Grants From Outside Sources. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to apply for grants from outside sources. The Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations maintains files of governmental and private funds and is also available to provide information about the success of previous applications and to assist faculty members in writing proposals. Faculty applying for outside grants shall contact the Dean of the College to reach a mutually acceptable arrangement concerning the relationship of the grant and responsibilities to the College before the grant is submitted. (See "Sign-off Transmittal for External Applications" form in Faculty Grants: Policies, Procedures and General Information available in the office of the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations.)

4. The Boggs-Cornelius-Harris Fund. The Boggs-Cornelius-Harris Fund, established by the Class of 1958, honors the distinguished accomplishments of Miss Isabel Boggs, Dr. Roberta D. Cornelius, and Dr. Marjorie S. Harris, who retired from active professorship in the year 1958.

The annual proceeds of this endowment, which are quite limited, shall be awarded to a member of the faculty of RC toward expenses incurred in preparing the final form of the faculty member's doctoral dissertation.

Application for this award shall be made to the Dean of the College. In the event of multiple applications, the award shall be made to the faculty member having the longest tenure on the RC faculty. In the event of applications from persons having equal tenure, the recipient of the award shall be chosen by the President and the Dean of the College. The initial capital shall be invested by the College. For any year in which there is no applicant, the income from this fund shall be reinvested in the fund.