TO: University Faculty

January 2015

MEMORANDUM

TO: University Faculty

FROM:Edward Goetz, Director, CURA and Professor, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) invites proposals for our Faculty Interactive Research Program. The purpose of the program is to encourage University faculty members to carry out research projects that involve a significant urban-related public policy issue for the state or its communities, and that include active engagement with groups, agencies, or organizations in Minnesota involved with the issue.

Following are several examples of projects that have been supported in the past few years and the home departments of the faculty who conducted those projects:

• internal migration and recovery from the great recession in urban Minnesota counties and neighborhoods (Sociology)
• improving community access to healthy foods through the Minneapolis staple food ordinance (Public Health)
• fringe banking and low-income communities (American Studies)
• hospital costs generated by SUVs and light and heavy trucks (Public Health)
• financial counseling for foreclosure victims (Psychology)
• arsenic vulnerability maps for domestic wells in West-Central Minnesota (Soil, Water, and Climate)
• access to healthcare services among Somali and Sudanese immigrants (Anthropology and Sociology, UMD)
• manpower planning for transit operations (Civil Engineering)

Regular faculty members are invited to apply. Each award will provide support for two pay periods of the faculty member’s time in the summer of 2015 and a half-time graduate research assistant for the 2015–2016 academic year. Where appropriate, limited support for miscellaneous research expenses can be provided. Faculty members who are selected will be expected as part of their project to: (a) interact or engage with appropriate community organizations or agencies, (b) prepare a report for the organization or agency where appropriate, and (c) prepare a 3500-word manuscript for publication in the CURA Reporter, our regular report of faculty research.

Research projects should focus on issues and concerns important to Minnesota, such as communities of color, the criminal justice system, demography, state or local economic development, education, employment, energy, the environment, health, housing, state and local government, welfare and poverty, human and social services, transportation, or land use and development.

Eligibility: Applications are invited from all University faculty members who, in conformity with the tenure regulations, are classified as “regular” (tenure code = P,N,C) members of the faculty. The program is designed particularly for faculty who hold nine-month appointments (appointment term not equal to “A”), although we have supported projects of regular faculty on twelve-month appointments. In special cases we can support joint projects.

Terms of the Award: During the period of support for the faculty member, the recipient of the project award is expected to be devoted to the project full-time; accordingly, those receiving awards may not accept other employment. This provision does not preclude acceptance of additional supplementary support for the same project, except for that portion allocated to the faculty member’s salary.

Application Procedure: Applicants are asked to submit the following materials:

1. A completed application form (see below). The application form should include a short (150 words maximum) abstract that clearly and succinctly describes the nature of the problem or issue the project will address, the mission of the community partner(s) (if identified), the research strategy you will employ, and the expected outcome(s) of the project. Please be aware that this abstract may be used in CURA publications, press releases, or promotional materials to describe your project.

2.A letter that explains in more detail the nature of the project to be supported. The letter should include a discussion of the problem or issue the project will address; a description of the research methods to be used; an indication of the applicant’s background in and familiarity with the topic; an indication of consultation with the agencies, groups, or organizations that will be involved with the project; and a consideration of the potential public policy implications of the research.

3.A current curriculum vitae.

Application materials may be mailed to Faculty Interactive Research Program, CURA, 330 HHH Center, 301—19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455 ore-mailed (preferred). NOTE:Applications sent to any other address may not be considered.

Deadline: Applications must be received in the CURA office by 4:30 p.m. on March 16, 2015.Grant recipients will be notified in April.

Please call me at 612-624-8737 or e-mail me (with subject line: “FIRP grant”) at if you have questions.

Application Form

CURA Faculty Interactive Research Program

FY2015–2016

Name:

Title or Position:

Department:

Mailing Address:

Phone: E-mail:

Project Title:

Abstract (maximum 150 words—include nature of problem to be addressed, the mission of community partner[s], research strategy to be employed, and expected outcomes):

Budget Estimate:

P.I. (2 pay periods summer salary)

Salary: $ ______

Fringe Benefits: $ ______

Enterprise Assessment (1.75%): $ ______

Total P.I.: $ ______

Grad. Research Assist. (9-month, 50% appointment)

Acad. Yr. Salary: $ ______

Acad. Yr. Fringe Benefits:$ ______

Enterprise Assessment (1.75 %): $ ______

Total G.R.A.:$ ______

Miscellaneous Research Expenses (estimate)$ ______

TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET:$ ______

Send this form, along with your other application materials, to: Faculty Interactive Research Program, CURA, 330 HHH Center, 301—19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55455; or e-mail to .
Applications sent to any other address may not be considered.