Rev. 4/2015

PUBLIC SERVICE ENDOWMENT GRANT

University of Massachusetts Amherst

The Public Service Endowment Grants (PSEG) are intended to enhance the mission of UMass Amherst as a Carnegie-classified "Engaged Research University." Proposals should focus on collaborative partnerships and interactions with the off-campus community (or communities) and related scholarship for the mutual exchange, exploration, and application of knowledge and resources. Projects that will lead to competitive proposals for sponsored research will be given the highest priority. The use of this non-renewable "seed" money should leverage campus and community resources to solve a problem or build capacity. Projects should create opportunity for sustained effort after PSEG funding is expended.

Simultaneous applications will not be accepted, i.e., investigators can participate on only one proposal in a given year.

Budget and Uses:

Awards will not exceed $15,000 and typically average $10,000 per project. Projects which request funds for ongoing activities will likely be denied. Funds may be spent in all categories except faculty release time or salary (although staff salary is not disallowed). Financial or "in-kind" contributions from partners or other external sources are desirable, but not required. (Proposals will not be denied for lack of co-funding.)

The Form of the Application:

The application package should include the following items:

  1. Coversheet (provided below). One for each co-PI.
  2. Narrative (maximum 4 pages) to include these topics:

a. Background and justification of the problem/need to be addressed

b. A clear statement regarding the community partner(s) engaged with the project: their name(s), role, expertise, and the benefits the partners will gain from the project.

c. A description of the project’s objectives and methods for carrying them out (suitable for a non-specialist). If relevant, tell how your project is distinct from and/or related to existing projects at UMass with similar goals.

d. Means of evaluating success of the project for both the faculty member and the community partner.

e. Specific plans for proposals and sources of sponsorship after the funds are expended. Indicate how the project will be sustained after the PSEG funding.

  1. Budget and justification of budget categories
  2. Curriculum vitae, short version (2 pages maximum)
  3. Letter of collaboration from the community partner(s), or someone in the community regarding the project. The letter should state specifically the partner's willingness to participate and should tell what makes the project viable from the community's point of view. (See example in FAQs.)

Proposals written bynon-faculty employeesmust be accompanied by a letter of support from their unit (institute, center, etc) supervisor or department head at the time of submission.

Review Mechanism:

A review committee will be appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement for recommendations on the evaluation of the applications. The members of the review committee will have a demonstrable record of research and engagement at the University of Massachusetts and represent the major areas from where applications have been submitted. The criteria which will be used to judge the applications, in no particular order, are as follows:

  1. The utility of the project. Is the project devised from a community-identified need? Does the project bring university expertise to an identified community need, problem, or opportunity.How important is its impact?
  2. The feasibility of the project. How likely are the participants to achieve the project's stated goals? Are the applicants equipped to accomplish what they propose?
  3. The benefit to the campus of the collaborative relationship with the community to be engaged in the project, both short and long term.
  4. Budget justifications. Is the budget appropriate given the objectives of the project? Have all items been justified? Is there alternative funding for this project?
  5. (optionally) Leveraging of campus funding.

Submission Instructions:

--Combine allfive componentsof the application in one pdf file.

--Name the file with <your last name _PSEG2015>(for example, Pearson_PSEG2015.pdf).

--Send it via y 5pm on the day of the deadline.

Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

To send the signed coversheet, please use one of these two alternatives:

  1. scan the signed document and insert it into the pdf; or
  2. include an unsigned coversheet in the pdf, with a note saying that the hard copy is being sent separately. Send the hard copy to The Office of Research Development, 101 University Drive suite B-5 to arrive before the judging, which will take place in the week following the deadline.

Applications without signed coversheets will not be reviewed.

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST

PUBLIC SERVICE ENDOWMENT GRANT

COVER SHEET

  1. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:

(LAST) (FIRST)

  1. TITLE
  1. DEPARTMENT:
  1. BUILDING:
  1. EMAIL: PHONE:
  1. TITLE OF PROPOSED PROJECT:
  1. COMMUNITY PARTNER (organization and contact):
  1. START DATE: END DATE:
  1. ENCLOSE BUDGET AS A SEPARATE SHEET TOTAL REQUESTED $

SIGNATURES:*

Principal Investigator: ______Date: ______

Head/Chair: ______Date: ______

Dean: ______Date: ______

* After completing the application form electronically please get the appropriate signatures and choose one of two alternatives for sending the signed copy to the committee. 1) Scan the signed document and insert it into the pdf, OR 2) include the unsigned coversheet in the pdf, with a note saying that the hard copy is being sent separately. Then, send thesigned hard copy to Michelle Wonsey, Office of Research Development, 101 University Drive Suite B-5 as soon as possible (before the judging).

Submit the electronic version of your proposal: Coversheet, ProjectDescription, Budget, Budget Justification, CVs, and letters of collaboration—in one document to Barbara Pearson at .

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