Faculty eCommons

Academic Partnerships Faculty Research Grants – 2018

Academic Partnerships (AP) willaccept proposals for its 2018 Faculty Research Grant Program, which supports faculty research on the impact and effectiveness of online learning beginning January 5, 2018with proposals dueMarch 12, 2018.

The program offers faculty or staff members of institutions working with AP-supported programs the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund research that could increase understanding about the efficiency or efficacy of different approaches in online learning. Grants are of varying monetary value from $1,000-12,000 with most $5000 or under. Preference is given to proposals that utilize a controlled study to generate quantitative results.

Funding for longitudinal research will be provided in recognition of proposals in the following areas (we are open to other topics within each category):

  • Design of Course Content
  • Re-design projects that utilize worked examples, interleaved examples, and/or scaffolding, as an alternative to expository content to access cognitive load in most difficult courses.
  • Scenario-based objective assessments, as an alternative to written assignments
  • Evaluate course design strategies and their impact on student retention.
  • Use student input and evaluations to improve a course with a known issue.
  • Course Facilitation (Faculty- Student Interaction)
  • Studying facilitation analytically using a rubric such as AP’s Facilitation Rubric or a tool likeInstructor Insight from AspireEDU, ( or Blue(
  • Measuring effectiveness and outcomes of faculty professional development in course facilitation and other topics.
  • Instructional Technology
  • Adoption of a new instructional technology tool to promote either deeper learning or efficiency of learning (Virtual-reality/Google Cardboard are of interest).
  • Use Voice-Thread or other technology with student input to work to improve a course with a known issue.
  • Competency-BasedEducation Courseware
  • Mapping of course content to competencies or objectives and the effect on student outcomes or experience
  • Use of diagnostic assessments (mapped to competencies or course objectives) to create adaptive or personalized course experiences for students and their effect on the student or faculty experience
  • Am I eligible?If you answer “Yes” to the following questions, you are eligible.
  • Do I actively teach in a program that has an online partnership with Academic Partnerships?
  • Will my research increase scholarly knowledge and provide quantitative data regarding the effectiveness of online learning?
  • Does my research project include an aspect of quality improvement for online teaching and learning?

Note: Employees of Academic Partnerships are NOT eligible to participate in any way in AP Faculty Research Grants submitted by University Partners.

Important Dates – 2018 Grants

Spring 2018
  • 1/5/2018– Call for Proposals
  • 3/12/2018– Proposals due viaAP Faculty Research Grant Application
  • 4/15/2018- 4/28/18– AP Grant Review Committee will interview Finalists
  • 4/30/2018– Award Notification sent with Memo of Understanding
  • 5/18/2018– Signed Memo of Understanding due to Academic Partnerships
  • 5/18/2018– Projects to begin
  • 8/31/2018 – Mid-completion report due
  • 12/30/2018 – Projects to be completed
  • 3/8/2019– Final research summary and report due to Academic Partnerships
Fall 2018
  • 8/3/2018– Call for Proposals
  • 9/10/2018 – Proposals due viaAP Faculty Research Grant Application
  • 10/15/2018- 10/29/18 – AP Grant Review Committee will interview Finalists
  • 11/1/2018 – Award Notification sent with Memo of Understanding
  • 11/16/2018 – Signed Memo of Understanding due to Academic Partnerships
  • 11/16/2018 – Projects to begin
  • 3/8/2019 – Mid-completion report due
  • 7/12/2019 – Projects to be completed
  • 9/9/2019 – Final research summary and report due to Academic Partnerships

Evaluation Criteria and Review Process

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following weighted criteria:

  • Alignment of the project goals and objectives (weight factor=3)
  • Relevance and Intellectual merit of the proposed project (weight factor=2)
  • Clarity and appropriateness of the research design and procedures (weight factor=2)
  • Appropriateness of the budget and strength of the budget justification (weight factor=1)
  • Likelihood of scholarly publication (weight factor=2)
  • Potential benefit in terms of application of results to online programs (weight factor=2)

Proposal scores will be averaged and assigned a rating in accordance with the following scale:

  • Exceptional (10-12 points)
  • Very Good (9 points)
  • Good (7-9 points)

AP Grant Selection Committee members will independently review proposals and assign a preliminary score to each based on the above criteria. Preliminary scores will be averaged for each proposal and a preliminary ranking will be established. If any proposal is incomplete or does not follow guidelines, the committee will decide as a whole whether it is eligible for funding. The Committee will interview finalists by video conference prior to awards being granted.

Questions regarding the grant, application, process, status please contactFaculty eCommons, Academic Services, Academic Partnerships, 600 N. Pearl Street, Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75201.

Awardees will be informed of their selection in writing and announced onFaculty eCommons, an AP-sponsored site supporting online faculty around the world, shortly thereafter. Funds will be disseminated over the duration of the project and will be paid to the institution’s grant or equivalent office.

Please take time to sign-up for our newsletter. You are also invited to join our newLinkedIn Groupand to follow us on twitter@apcommons.

Faculty Research Grant Application

Part A: Basic Information

This section will be completed by the Office of Research, Grants and Contracts.

Part B: Proposal

Your proposal should include the following:

  • Cover page that includes the title of your proposal along with the abstract or a summary.
  • Two to four pages of proposal content that includes:
  • Introduction
  • Stated Goals or Intended Outcomes
  • Project Description
  • Literature and existing research around the topic
  • Research questions to be addressed by the project
  • Data sources
  • Methodology
  • Evaluation Plan – 500 words
  • Project Plan/Timeline
  • References
  • Biography of Researcher(s)

Part C: Budget

The Office of Research, Grants and Contracts will work with you to develop your budget. Once the budget has been finalized and RGC sends the PI the routing form, the PI will be responsible for circulating the routing form and obtaining signatures from their chair/dean.

This section includes the following:

  • Itemized Budget and Justification (one page) that includes the total amount requested. Grants are of varying monetary value from $1,000-12,000 with most under $5000. Please note the following parameters:
  • Grantees’ and other staff time. Consultant fees if any.
  • Materials and equipment.
  • Author publication fees for open access journals, if applicable.
  • Facilities and administration cost not to exceed 10%.
  • No computers or laptops.
  • Funds cannot be used for the faculty to hire someone to cover their teaching loads.
  • Travel – AP will award a $2200 travel grant to present previously funded research if accepted at a conference run by a national-scale professional society. Grant award letters will provide details.

Part D: W-9 Form

This document will be provided by the Office of Research, Grants and Contracts.

** The PI will be responsible for submitting sections B and C to the Office of Research, Grants and Contracts. RGC will be responsible for submitting the final proposal. **