The 1804 Fund

Prepare a cover page. Signatures must be obtained by the applicant and are required on the submitted proposal. The cover page must be the first page of the proposal. Do not provide any other covers or binders.

If needed, applicants may submit cover pages with electronic signatures or multiple cover pages for individual signatures.

Prepare and sign the 1804 Fund checklist. The goal of the checklist is to affirm that all the sections have been included and are compliant with formatting guidelines.

(100 word maximum)

On a separate page, include the proposal title and a brief, 100-word maximum abstract that is a clear and concise summary of the more detailed proposal. The abstract will be used to publicize funded proposals and should be a stand-alone description of the proposed project and written in lay language.

The proposal narrative for projects to EITHER Undergraduate Learning OR Faculty Research and Graduate Studies is limited to five (5) single-spaced pages.

The proposal narrative for a joint proposal, submitted to both the Undergraduate Learning and Faculty Research and Graduate Studies, is limited to seven (7) single-spaced pages.

Please Note: The review committee has broad University representation. Be sure the proposal narrative can be understood clearly by this audience.

Narrative components should include:

A. Project description

Describe the project in sufficient detail, including project goals, to provide for a fair assessment of the proposed activities.

For many projects, the inclusion of a timeline is helpful to describe the interdependence or the timing of project tasks.

B. 1804 program goals

Describe how the project addresses the program goals (Overall goals, Undergraduate Learning-specific goals, and Faculty Research and Graduate Studies-specific goals, as appropriate) and how the proposed activities will improve the learning environment at Ohio University.

Replacement and routine equipment requests are not typically funded. Requests for equipment should be clearly justified in terms of the 1804 program goals and clearly articulate how the equipment will “enhance the research and creative activity infrastructure,” including use for innovative research/creative activity and student training.

For projects enhancing classroom experiences, the applicants are strongly encouraged to include a description of the classes, curricular enhancements enabled by the 1804 Fund investment, and demographics and numbers of students affected.

C. Measurement

Identify the criteria that will be used to measure the achievement of clearly defined project goals.

D. Sustainability

The 1804 Fund provides support for up to two years. Describe how the project or project’s purposes will be continued or maintained following 1804 funding. This description should address both activity and funding continuation (as applicable), as well as how the results of the activity can be shared with internal and external audiences.

For major equipment requests, include the following information:

• A plan to cover at least two years of both the maintenance/service contract costs and equipment/facility support personnel. These funds may be wholly or in part included in the 1804 Fund request.
• For any matching funds committed to the equipment purchase, maintenance/service contracts or support personnel, list the funding sources and include a letter of support from those individuals or units in the Optional Appendices.
• For subsequent years, applicants must describe the planned approach for funding the maintenance/service contract and support personnel. This may include the implementation of user fees (contact Grants Accounting for assistance to determine a fee structure) or annual contributions.

Please note: A joint proposal must adequately address the goals, activities, and outcomes as related to both categories: undergraduate learning and faculty research and graduate studies. This can be accomplished by writing separate narrative sections addressing all of the above elements for each category or as a combined narrative. Additionally, the narrative must describe how the separate components of the project will be integrated to meet the 1804 Fund goals of strengthening and enhancing a learning-centered community.

It is imperative that applicants ensure that all projects are designed such that (1) the project methodology and dissemination comply with all current restrictions and (2) that the 6 project can feasibly be concluded within two years. Applicants with concerns should contact David Nguyen or Kim Littlefield prior to submission.

(No page, margin, spacing, or font requirements)

When creating the budget, use the subheadings below. If you do not have expenditures in that category, list the subheading and state “no funds required”.

Funds cannot be used to reimburse expenditures prior to account establishment dates.

The budget should include major categories of expenditures, as well as sufficient justification to assess the expenditures’ relationship to project goals and activities. Without sufficient justification, items may be eliminated.

Match: The budget should identify any matching support allocated to the project by the planning unit, college or other sources, by year. The match can be “in-kind,” including release time and graduate student support directed to the project. The use of university-owned or operated facilities should not be shown as match or cost sharing.

For Joint proposals: The applicant must provide separate budgets for undergraduate learning and faculty research and graduate studies components to allow for separate consideration and, if appropriate, partial funding. Note, expenses should be charged to the appropriate budget based on the beneficiary of the funding. For example, graduate students hired to teach undergraduate courses must be charged to the undergraduate learning budget.

Categories of budget items include:

A. Consumable Supplies

Enter dollar amount of requested funds. Provide adequate detail so that a person knowledgeable in the field of the proposed project can assess the request. If the budget item is a common consumable supply generally available in most laboratories, offices, or studios, please justify the purchase with 1804 funds.

B. Equipment

All major items of equipment, including computers, to be purchased with 1804 funds should be listed with the estimated cost of each item and components of each item, if applicable. Any equipment purchased with 1804 funding is Ohio University property.

C. Faculty Stipend

The committee considers academic-year release time a low priority, but requests will be considered under certain circumstances. As with all categories of support, a careful justification should be written that supports the need for release time. To calculate an academic year release time request, the amount should be based on the overloads and teaching rates. Fringe benefits should be calculated on the salary, as appropriate.

D. Student Wages

Student hours and pay rates should be justified based on the nature of the 7 work being done. Include the following information in this section: hourly wage to be paid to the student and the number of hours to be worked; amount of semester stipend and percentage of effort (for graduate stipends); and the method for determining the hourly rate of pay. Extraordinary rates of pay will not be funded without a detailed justification.

If you have graduate student stipends listed, as match or a budget request, provide the source (unit) of the tuition waiver).

The role and task of any personnel on the project should be defined in the justification and/or the discussion section. This explanation is particularly important for graduate students employed on the project.

Please Note: Under no circumstances does support for graduate student wages or stipends include or “trigger” a tuition waiver.

E. Travel

Travel should be calculated according to the rates and policies outlined in university policy (41.121). Travel should be delineated as ground transportation, airfare, parking, and other related expenses. Applicants should show the total cost and cost per unit (e.g., hotel cost x number of nights). Without sufficient details, funding may be reduced.

Students who are traveling beyond 100 miles of their Ohio University campus or to another state must register with the Office of Global Opportunities: Travel Registration.

For more support on domestic and international travel, risk ratings for destinations and planning an international experience, students are encouraged to contact the Office of Global Opportunities.

F. Other

Enter the dollar amounts and description of any other costs that are not included in the above-listed categories.

(No page, margin, spacing, or font requirements)

A. 1804 funding history

List previous 1804 Fund awards received by the principal investigator/project director within the past five (5) years. Provide proposal title, award date, amount awarded, how funds were used, and outcomes achieved as a result of the award; or attach copies of the final reports.

B. Letters or memoranda of commitment

from ALL offices or units whose collaboration is required for the successful completion of the project.

C. Biographical sketch(es)

(2 pages per person (PI and key co-investigators); no font, margin, or spacing limitations)

Submit a short biographical sketch (no more than two (2) pages) for the principal investigator and all key co-investigators. If the proposal is for a multi-user facility or instrument, attach biographical sketches for the major users of the facility or instrument. The biographical sketches for a multi-user project should include a short abstract or summary of the faculty member’s research that relates to the facility or instrumentation proposed in the application.

The biographical sketch should include:

• Current position/rank
• List of up to five (5) publications or funded grants closely related to the proposed project and five (5) other significant publications, including those accepted for publication.
• Other professional activities, awards, and accomplishments that are closely related to the proposed project.

(No page, margin, spacing, or font requirements)

These might include lists of participants, equipment quotes, or course syllabi. Copies of articles or publications are discouraged.