COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

RESEARCH INCENTIVE PROGRAM

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Purpose:In conjunction with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the College of Health Sciences provides intramural funds to support the purchase of research materials, supplies, consumablesand employment ofconsultants. Note: Midwestern faculty cannot receive “add” pay for grant–related activities. Typically, proposals are submitted for:

  • Pilot studies to obtain preliminary results
  • Continuation and/or completionof on-going research projects

Eligibility:Faculty with full faculty status (0.8 FTE or higher) as defined in the Midwestern Faculty handbook. Applicants should demonstrate ability for success and tangible products that will result from the Incentive Grant Program.

Award Amount:The maximum award for an individual grant is $4,000 for no longer than a 12-month period. Funds may not be used for travel or compensation of MWU faculty/staff/students. Faculty are strongly encouraged to use students for clerical duties, data collection, data entry, transcription, etc., which may be funded through the MWU work-study program If a student is paid to collect data, analyze data, perform tests, etc, the student cannot receive academic credit for the same activity.

Funding Cycle:Application deadline:May 15. Notification of award will occur by June 20. Funding cycle will be July 1 through June 30 of each year. Funds that have not been used do not roll over into the next fiscal year.

Mid-year application deadline: December 15. Notification of award will occur by January 20. Funding cycle will be January 20 through June 30 of that year. Funds that have not been used do not roll over into the next fiscal year.

Recommendation:It is highly recommended that all grants be reviewed by a faculty mentor with expertise in the particular area of research.

Procedure:Proposals should be submitted by May 15/December 15to the Dean’s Office on each campus via email as a MS Word attachment.The proposal must be at least four (4) pages, but no more than seven (7) pages in length, including references, and in 12-point font. Each proposal should include:

  • Cover page; found at:
  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Research Plan (specific aims, background,significance, preliminary studies if relevant, research design and methods)
  • Budget (with justification of items)
  • Timeline for project
  • Identification of key personnel
  • Roles and Responsibilities of Investigators

The Program Director must review the proposal to ensure that all sections have been addressed and the project is consistent with the faculty member’s scholarly agenda.

Once submitted, proposals will be evaluated for feasibility, methodology, design, and statistical analysis by the CHS Research Incentive Grant Committee (RIGC). The RIGC may invite additional review by a Midwestern faculty member that has expertise in that particular research area. The RIGC will evaluate the quality and clarity of the research plan and score each proposal. Based on this score, the RIGCwill make a recommendation on funding to the Dean, who will inform the applicant and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs of the award. The committee may also suggest revisions to the proposal by the investigator(s) prior to its recommendation to the Dean. Any required revisions must to be completed no later than two weeks after the receipt of the notice (unless an extension is approved).

Requests for continued support will be considered along with new projects during the each application cycle.

Final Report:A progress report for all grants must be submitted to the Dean’s Office and Program Director onemonth after conclusion of the funding cycle. Faculty members are expected to submit completed results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and/or as pilot data in a grant for external funding. Presentation at a professional meeting is expected, while presentation at MWU’s Kenneth A. Suarez Research Day is required.

Continuation Grant:When additional funding is requested for previously approved projects, the investigators must submit a progress report including the status of data collection, analysis, utilization of funds previously awarded, any relevant additions/deletions to the project, IRB status and the new budget with justification. Progress reports must be submitted and reviewed prior to consideration of a continuation grant. A template for progress reports can be found on the CHS Website at:

Last updated November7, 2011