Lilly Endowment's $63 Million Initiative To Promote Opportunities Through Educational Collaboration

The Lilly Endowment will announce Thursday (December 12, 2013) $62.7 million in grants to 39 Indiana colleges and universities to combat brain drain among graduates. As the third round of grants over the past decade, this is a part of what the endowment calls its Initiative to Promote Opportunities Through Educational Collaboration.

Compared with a national rate of 30 percent, only 25 percent of Hoosiers between the ages of 25 and 64 obtain at least a bachelor’s degree, according to Census data. While Indiana does better than most states at holding on to its college graduates, its ability to attract educated adults is where it lags behind the competition according to census data. These findings are what led Mike Hicks of Ball State University to question the endowment’s brain-drain grants and other similarly focused areas. “The problem lies not in how many people we’re educating or how we’re educating them, but in having places that they want to live,” said Hicks in a September interview.

The endowment determined the size of its grants based on enrollment numbers at each educational institution. The largest grants, $5 million each, were awarded to Indiana University and Purdue University. Ivy Tech Community College will receive $4.9 million while $3 million each will go to the University of Notre Dame, Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana Wesleyan University, the University of Southern Indiana and Vincennes University. The majority of remaining schools will be awarded roughly $1 million each.

Nearly all the colleges will use the money to expand internships and experiential learning opportunities for students as well as expand career development programs, says the endowment. “These activities have the potential to [significantly] increase the number of Indiana college graduates who find satisfying opportunities in the state,” said Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education Sara Cobb.

Please read Indianapolis Business Journal article by J.K. Wall to learn additional information regarding this Lilly Endowment Initiative or visit the communications page of Lilly Endowment Inc. website.

IAC Individual Artist Program Workshops and Deadline

In December and January the Indiana Arts Commission will be hosting workshops regarding the Individual Artist Program. The deadline for this program is February 7th, 2014 for projects focused on "crafts, design, media, photography, visual arts, and folk arts related to these disciplines. The workshops offer an opportunity to get your questions answered and to familiarize yourself with this grant program. These are the currently confirmed workshop dates, but more may be added at a later time. Please visit the Indiana Arts Commission workshop page for more information.

•Date: December 14, 2013
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Artlink, Auer Center for Arts and Culture, 300 E Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802

•Date: January 9, 2014
Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m. EST
Location: Arts Illiana, 23 N Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807

•Date: January 7, 2014
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. EST
Location: Indianapolis Public Library – College Avenue Branch, 4180 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205

•Date: January 4, 2014
Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Clarksville Town Hall, 2000 Broadway St., Clarksville, IN 47129

Jim Connolly Presents "Middletown"

Contributed by Brenda Mackey 

Graduate Assistant, Research Publications

Sponsored Programs Office, Ball State University

Anyone familiar with Muncie’s nickname “Middletown” has heard that our town is emblematic of the American experience. The original Middletown studies, conducted in the 1920s, analyzed Muncie’s transition from a farming town to an industrial town. Since the close of the Borg Warner plant in 2009, Muncie has been experiencing another shift, deindustrializing and moving to a newly globalizing economy.

Prof. Jim Connolly, director of the Center for Middletown Studies and professor of history, spent the Spring 2013 semester in Germany as a guest professor. When he presented about Middletown, the groups of German academics most often wanted to know about the local response in Muncie to the studies. The response of Muncie residents varied from enthusiasm (“We represent America!”) to resentment (“I don’t want to be ‘average.’”). His German audiences told Connolly that the Middletown studies confirmed American stereotypes: white, protestant, individualistic and ignoring race. They also expressed surprise that the American government would allow a decline like the one Muncie is now experiencing to happen.

Muncie changed dramatically between 1890 and 1925, but not in the cultural sense. While technology changed daily life, the philosophy of the people of Muncie remained the same, placing high value on individualism, limited government and religion. Whether those values will persist through Muncie’s current transition remains to be seen.

Outstanding Faculty Award Nominations Now Open

Each year a faculty selection committee selects nominated recipients for nine very significant awards presented to colleagues who have made an unusually significant impact on the students, their fields, Ball State University, and/or the community at large. The goal of these awards is to recognize true excellence, dedication, and performance. Please consider nominating colleagues that you know should be recognized by their peers for their important contributions to the university. To make a nomination for awards, please complete the nomination sheet, obtain the required signatures and submit any required additional documents to the Associate Provost Office located in room 326 of the Frank A. Bracken Administration (AD) Building.

More information regarding the nomination process and award categories can be found at http://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/AssociateProvost/Services/OutstandingFacultyAward.aspx

Ball State University Instructor Photographs Indiana's Historic Courthouses

With the aid of Chris Flook, a Ball State University telecommunications instructor, photographs of Indiana's 92 historic county courthouses are now showcased online for Indiana's Courthouse Squares website. Historically, county courthouses served as iconic fixtures for a community's identity and recently several Indiana communities have taken significant strides to revitalize both the courthouses and their surrounding squares.   

As the website's project photographer, Flook spent many summer days traveling throughout Indiana to photograph the iconic fixtures. As quoted in an article from ABA Journal, Flook states, "I like the idyllic idea of town squares but its relatively rare to have the courthouse at the center of town squares in the United States. Only a few regions and states have this." The gathered historical information will be used in preparation for Indiana's 2016 Bicentennial Celebration. 

Please visit Indiana's Courthouse Squares website to view Chris Flook's photos and historical courthouse information. 

NIH Resumes Funding Process

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Deputy Director for Extramural Research, Dr. Sally Rockey, posts in her Rock Talk blog that October grant application submission deadlines will be rescheduled to dates in November. This will allow applicants time to access NIH staff, help desks, and electronic systems. The specific revised due dates will be published in the NIH Guide at a later date. The eRA Commons and other NIH extramural electronic systems are also expected to be accessible to the public on Monday, October 21.

Click here for more information. 

Ball State University Hosts Midwest Writers Workshop

This year Ball State University hosted the Midwest Writers Workshop conference which is a yearly gathering of agents, editors, and publishing professionals with a mission of helping individuals become published authors.

After applying for a grant through the Discovery Group, Ball State University Associate Professor of English, Cathy Day was able to bring the two day event to Ball State's campus. Many Ball State English students were capable of attending the two days of panels, presentations and forums by industry professionals as either a paid intern or scholarship winner.

During the conference, students were educated on how to create and format an e-book as well as build an author website. Conference attendees had an opportunity to schedule a free, 50-minute social media consulting session with the goal of recommending ways to improve online literary citizens. They were also able to spend an hour and a half talking to literary agent Brooks Sherman.

Please visit Cathy Day's Website to learn about all the exciting work that took place during the conference.

Discovery Award Grant Application Now Available

Discovery is a women's collaborative philanthropic group established to support projects and programs at Ball State University.  

Discovery members are volunteers who pool annual contributions and work with university administrators to select the projects they support.  

Discovery members encourage projects that significantly impact Ball State students, offer immersive learning opportunities, and have potential for other external funding in the future. The maximum grant request amount is $20,000.00.  

Discovery will consider funding for: specialized equipment, student assistant wages, graduate assistantships, program administrative costs, and summer stipend (salary is capped at $2,500; plus additional fringe benefits).  

Discovery will not consider funding for: faculty release time, computer equipment, general office equipment, or indirect costs.

For guidelines, cover page, and application please visit the Discovery Award webpage: http://cms.bsu.edu/giving/opportunities/discovery/discoveryawardsnominations

Federal Government Shutdown Contigency Plans

The White House has created a webpage with links to the contingency plans for many agencies across the Federal Government. The page will be updated as more plans become available.

Empowering Educators Through Engineering STEM Success Program

Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) and Ball State University (BSU) have teamed up to promote education in science, technology, engineering and math by launching the Engineering STEM Success Program. Last summer, WCS sixth through ninth grade teachers working with math, science, special education and English Language Learners voluntarily attended a two-week Math Science Partnership Summer Institute with the goal of improving classroom content. The 80 hours of instruction is college-level material provided by Ball State University to coach WCS educators in furnishing their students with a real world understanding of math and science. Throughout the program, teachers are encouraged to develop project-based, hands-on learning experiences that they can apply in the classroom.

After partnering with BSU about the program idea, both WCS and BSU worked diligently to co-write the grant. The Engineering STEM Success program was ultimately funded by a $450,000 grant received from the Indiana Department of Education. This past summer was year one of the possible three year grant. Almost fifty teachers were involved last summer and most of them plan to return this summer to continue their learning as well as strive to have a greater impact on their students.

Photos and more information from the event can be found here on the foundation's website.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund and their grant programs

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is an independent private foundation dedicated to advancing the biomedical sciences by supporting research and other scientific and educational activities.

Within this broad mission, BWF has two primary goals: 

• To help scientists early in their careers develop as independent investigators 
• To advance fields in the basic biomedical sciences that are undervalued or in need of particular encouragement 

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund's grantmaking strategies are to support biomedical scientists at the beginning of their careers and to make grants in areas of science that are poised for significant advancement but currently undervalued and underfunded. Within this overall strategy, BWF makes grants within several focus areas:

• Biomedical Sciences 
• Career Guidance 
• Diversity in Science 
• Infectious Disease 
• Interfaces in Science 
• Population and Laboratory Based Sciences 
• Regulatory Science 
• Reproductive Sciences 
• Science Education 

Please visit the foundation website for more information about these programs.

Ball State University Supports Indiana Courthouse Squares Project

Indiana's Courthouse Squares showcases all 92 county courthouses and their adjoining squares by way of high-resolution photography. County courthouses serve as iconic fixtures for a community's identity that: symbolically asserts the rule of law at the center of American society; exhibits a unique architecture that captures the era in which the structure was built; serves as the iconic edifice for many of the county seats; and provides centralized places for economic and social activities. In recent decades, several communities in Indiana have taken significant efforts to revitalize their courthouses, which has assisted in the rejuvenation of their surrounding squares.

With the aid of project photographer Chris Flook, Indiana's Courthouse Squares promotes the historical Indiana Courthouse with high-resolution photography as well as develop further in preparation for Indiana's 2016 Bicentennial Celebration. This project was generously supported by Ball State University's Sponsored Programs Office in the summer of 2013. Additional support was provided by Ball State University's: Department of Telecommunications; College of Communication, Information, and Media; and Building Better Communities. All photographs, maps, and other materials are copyrighted by Ball State University.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
- Kris Scott: BSU Department of Telecommunications
- Chris Raleigh: Logo Designer and Developer
- Kelli Huth: BSU Building Better Communities Fellows Program
- Sarah Lee, Augusta Wray, & Maggie Cude: BSU Sponsored Programs Office
- Jarred Scott
- Allison Rice: BSU Department of Telecommunications
- Joseph Vella: Bayonet Media
- Andrew Bissonnette
- Joshua Carroll: BSU Teleplex
- Lori Byers: BSU College of Communication, Information, and Media

To find out more information or visit Indiana's Courthouse Squares website, click here. 

Ball State University Educators Publish Book to Promote Japanese Education

Dr. Kazumi Matsumoto, Assistant Professor of Japanese at Ball State University, and her colleagues within the Department of Modern Languages and Classics have published the book, Embracing the New Phase in Japanese Education in the United States. After the cancellation of the annual conference of Central Association of Teachers of Japanese (CATJ) in 2011, Dr. Matsumoto and her colleagues were able to resume the event in 2012.

 With additional funding received from the National Endowment for the Humanities through Indiana Humanities and the Northeast Asia Council (NEAC) of the Association of Asian Studies, they were able to host the 23rd CATJ Conference in 2012 with the theme of "Embracing the New Phase in Japanese Education in the United States," which spurred the creation of the likewise titled book.

The book presents a collective volume of conference proposals in hopes of providing valuable information to Japanese educators and educational agencies around the nation.

From NCIIA: E-Team Program for Faculty and Students

Next E-Team Stage 1 Deadline: October 4, 2013
Click here to view our most recently funded E-Teams.

NCIIA is announces this year's E-Team Program. This program provides early-stage support and funding of up to $75,000 for collegiate entrepreneurs working on market-based technology inventions.

Since 1995, our E-Team grants have been funding collegiate student and student/faculty teams to move ideas out of the lab and classroom and into the marketplace. The program enhances this opportunity by providing expert entrepreneurial and venture coaching, experiential workshops, and a potential investment opportunity to help realize the commercial success of the technology inventions and innovations that come through our organization.

Selected E-Team Program participants may also be invited to exhibit their technologies at Open Minds, the annual showcase of breakthrough technologies from NCIIA's top student teams. The 2014 Open Minds exhibition will be held in San Jose, CA, March 21-22 during NCIIA's annual conference, OPEN.

E-Team Program Stages

Stage 1 provides funding of up to $5,000 to attend a three-day workshop on market analysis and value proposition development. The intensive hands-on workshop is based on NCIIA's successful Lens of the Market and InnovationLab curriculum. The focus of Stage One is to better articulate the opportunity for the innovation in the marketplace and to develop near-term milestones.  Remaining funds may be used to support further development of your project/product.

Stage 2 provides additional funding of up to $20,000. A required, intensive workshop helps teams further develop their business model. Six monthly sessions of coaching follow the workshop, guiding the team from confirmation to execution of their business model.

Stage 3 Eligible Stage 2 teams may be invited to participate in Stage 3 - NCIIA's VentureWell program. VentureWell focuses on helping teams develop a “lens of the investor” perspective and culminates in a venture forum to present to potential investors. NCIIA will invest up to $50,000 in two to three Stage 3 teams per year, typically in the form of convertible debt.

At this time the VentureWell program is designed for for-profit ventures only. Two sector-specific  sections will be offered each year: one in the winter for teams working on cleantech devices, and one in the summer for teams working on biomedical and/or health-related devices.

What's an E-Team?
NCIIA defines an E-Team as a multidisciplinary group of students, faculty, and industry mentors working together to bring a technology-based invention (product or service) to market. The "E" stands for entrepreneurship.

E-Team Program submission deadlines:

• October 4, 2013
• February 7, 2014
• May 9, 2014

Program Guidelines
Read the guidelines before you apply!
The answers to most of your questions are in the program guidelines---program details and deadlines; how to apply; examples of eligible technologies; selection criteria; information about how to apply, and more.

Is the E-Team Program for you?
Students and faculty from NCIIA member institutions (US-based colleges and universities) are welcome to apply. Funding is awarded to institutions (not directly to individuals or teams). Submissions are evaluated by external panels of reviewers and will be judged on the following:

• Technology innovation and feasibility
• Business model and commercial potential
• Team composition, commitment, expertise, and institutional support
• Positive social and/or environmental impact

NEW!  OFFICE HOURS FOR E-TEAM PROGRAM INQUIRIES!
Have an idea but not sure whether it's a fit with the E-Team Program? Director of Venture Development Joseph Steig will be holding Office Hours (via phone or Skype) the weeks of September 9 and September 16 to review your proposal ideas and provide feedback.  Slots are limited so schedule your call today!
Once your call time has been confirmed additional instructions will be sent to you.

How to apply
Click here to apply. Detailed instructions and information about the application process can be found in the program guidelines.
You may preview a PDF of the online application here. 

PLEASE NOTE: this PDF includes screen shots of NCIIA's five-step proposal process. The proposal content shown may vary slightly from the E-Team Program proposal, but steps for the application are the same. This PDF is for preview purposes only.

Contact Us
Questions? Contact us: grants@nciia.org or call 413-587-2172.

From NCIIA: Sustainable Vision Program (Deadline November 8!)

Sustainable Vision Grants fund educational programs in which student teams create and commercialize technologies that benefit people living in poverty.

• Up to $50,000
• Grant period: one to three years
• Who may apply: faculty from NCIIA member institutions

             Upcoming submission deadline: November 8, 2013 

Program Guidelines
Read the guidelines before you apply!
The answers to most of your questions are in the program guidelines---program details and deadlines; how to apply; examples of eligible technologies; selection criteria; information about how to apply, and more.

Program Overview
Since 2006, over 60 Sustainable Vision grants have been awarded to NCIIA member / US universities to innovate, commercialize, and distribute technologies in the US and 30+ countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Grantees have access to funding, venture development support, coaching and a network of advisors, entrepreneurs, faculty and students.

Note that the Sustainable Vision grants program focuses on supporting educational programs only. If you are part of a team focused on the development and deployment of a specific technology-based solution to poverty alleviation, you may be eligible to apply for NCIIA’s E-Team Program.

Selection Criteria
Successful proposals:

• create and improve new or existing university courses, certificate programs, minors, majors, and/or extracurricular programs with a focus on technology invention, innovation and entrepreneurship to address poverty alleviation and basic human needs.
• result in the formation of multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial student E-Teams* to develop technology-focused inventions and innovations that address critical global problems.
• establish a network of faculty and students who are working to solve problems with technology solutions and an entrepreneurial approach.

*What's an E-Team?NCIIA defines an E-Team as a multidisciplinary group of students, faculty, and industry mentors working together to bring a technology-based invention (product or service) to market. The "E" stands for entrepreneurship.

How to apply
Click here to apply. Detailed instructions and information about the application process can be found in the program guidelines.
You may preview a PDF of the online application here.
PLEASE NOTE: this PDF includes screen shots of NCIIA's five-step proposal process. This PDF is for preview purposes only.
If you have an idea for a Sustainable Vision proposal, but are not sure whether it's a fit with NCIIA guidelines, you may send a one-paragraph summary to facultygrants@nciia.org. We are glad to review your brief summary on a first-come basis and provide you with feedback. Please note that due to high volume, we are unable to guarantee replies to inquiries made less than two weeks prior to the proposal deadline.

From NCIIA: Course and Program Grants (Deadline November 8!)

Course and Program Grants strengthen existing curricular programs or build new courses and programs in invention, innovation, and technology entrepreneurship.

• Up to $50,000
• Grant period: one to three years
• Who may apply: Faculty from NCIIA member institutions

              Upcoming submission deadlines: November 8, 2013 and May 9, 2014

Program Overview
Course and Program grants are awarded to NCIIA member institutions for the purpose of strengthening existing curricular programs or building new programs in technology-based invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Proposals may request support for a single course, a course sequence, a certificate program, a minor or major, extracurricular programs or a combination of these. Successful proposals include the following elements:

• The formation of student teams (E-Teams*) focused on technology invention, innovation and entrepreneurship with a positive social/environmental impact.
• A focus on entrepreneurship and support for promising student teams who want to continue to develop their technologies and business models after participation in the proposed course/program.
• A plan for continuation (and financial sustainability) of the course or program post-NCIIA-funding.
• An emphasis on experiential learning-by-doing and creative pedagogical approaches to solving real world problems. 

 NCIIA encourages proposals that involve students and advisors from engineering, science, business, design, and liberal arts disciplines, as well as groups traditionally underrepresented in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship, including women and minorities.

Note: If you are proposing a course and/or program which focuses on the development and deployment of technology-based inventions and innovations for the benefit of people living in poverty in the US and/or abroad, you should submit a Sustainable Vision proposal instead of a Course and Program proposal. Learn more about the Sustainable Vision grants program here. Applicants may not submit both a Course and Program proposal and a Sustainable Vision proposal for the same idea during the same grant cycle.

* What's an E-Team?
NCIIA defines an E-Team as a multidisciplinary group of students, faculty, and industry mentors working together to bring a technology-based invention (product or service) to market. The "E" stands for entrepreneurship.

How to apply
Click here to apply. Detailed instructions and information about the application process can be found in the program guidelines.
You may preview a PDF of the online application here.
PLEASE NOTE: This PDF includes screen shots of NCIIA's five-step proposal process. The proposal content shown may vary slightly from the Sustainable Vision grant proposal, but steps for the application are the same. This PDF is for preview purposes only.
If you have an idea for a Course & Program proposal, but are not sure whether it's a fit with NCIIA guidelines, you may send a 1-2 paragraph summary to grants@nciia.org. We are glad to review your brief summary on a first-come basis and provide you with feedback. Please note that due to high volume, we are unable to guarantee replies to inquiries made less than two weeks prior to the proposal deadline.

Previously funded Course and Program grants

From NIH: Understanding Percentiling for Grant Applications

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Deputy Director for Extramural Research, Dr. Sally Rockey, posts in her Rock Talk blog how percentiles are configured for some grant applications. After receiving multiple hits from her posts on how percentiles relate to paylines and succcess rates, she defines what a percentile is and how the NIH uses them in regards to their grant applications.

Dr. Rockey also presents an example to show how, "Percentiling allows NIH institutes to compare applications even when different study sections have different scoring behaviors." She hopes her example will shed more light on how peer review works at NIH.

Click here to read the post.

Free Class Finding Funding for Faculty: Identifying Sources

University Libraries and the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) are combining forces to assist faculty in finding funding sources for their research and creative activity agendas. SPO’s Jessie Roark will give a tutorial on COS Pivot, the largest funding opportunity and researcher expertise database, as well as other resources SPO has to offer. You will also learn about Web of Science, a powerful database helpful in crafting necessary literature reviews for grant proposals.
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2013
Time: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Location: BL 225

Register here.

Call for Proposals: Cohen Peace Fellowship

The call to submit proposals for the Benjamin V. Cohen Peace Fellowship is now open! The Fellowship provides support to conduct basic or applied research on topics related to peace. Ball State faculty members AND graduate students are eligible to apply.

• Faculty Members: Funds may be used for salary, supplies, expenses, and/or travel. Preference will be given to tenure track faculty members at Ball State University. 
• Graduate Students: Funds may be used for assistantship stipend, supplies, expenses, and/or travel and may also include tuition remission during the academic time period of the fellowship. 

Completed applications and all required materials are due to the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) by 5:00 PM on November 1, 2013. SPO will route the University Clearance Sheet and forward the completed applications to the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. The Cohen Proposal Evaluation Committee will then review the proposals.

For more information on how to apply for the fellowship, visit: 
http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/centersandinstitutes/peace/academicopps/cohenpeacefellowship.

Contact the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at 285-1622 or peacecenter@bsu.edu.

2012-2013 COTE Award Recipients

Article contributed by Dr. Soriris Hji-Avgoustis, Chair of "Family and Consumer Sciences"

On 24 April 2013, COTE announced its 2012-2013 COTE award recipients. The awards fall into three main categories: COTE Exemplar Awards, COTE Green Initiative Awards and COTE Service Awards. Dr. Jinhee Nam and Jo Dean Tipton (student) were awarded a Green Initiatives Award for their exemplary efforts to infuse reused and repurposed clothing into fashion design. The Ball State 2013 Solar Decathlon Team was also awarded a Green Initiatives Award for their exemplary efforts to engage BSU Students in the Department of Energy's 2013 Solar Decathlon in cooperation with teams from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville (Team Kentuckiana). Dr. Pucciarelli and Professor Ahmadi are members of our Ball State team. As members of this team, they have participated in the advancement of public knowledge by demonstrating energy efficient techniques that are cost-effective, attractive, and easy to implement. Congratulations to all!!

Proposal Development and Submission: Items to Consider -- NCURA YouTube Tuesday.

In this week's installment of NCURA's YouTube Tuesday series Clarice Lloyd, Grants and Contracts Manager at Georgetown University, talks about items to consider while working on and submitting your proposal. The video is just over three and a half minutes long and contains a lot of great information to think about.

Proposal Development and Submission: Items to Consider

If you want to look through past YouTube Tuesday topics or any of NCURA's other videos you can visit their YouTube channel here.

NEH Summer Stipend Deadline and Information

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Stipends support individuals pursuing advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Research typically results in articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other scholarly resources. Summer Stipends support continuous full-time work on a humanities project for a period of two months.

An outright award of $6,000 is provided for two consecutive months of full-time research and writing. In accordance with NEH guidelines, Ball State may nominate two faculty proposals.

Ball State internal application deadline is August 29, 2013.
Deadline for final submission to the NEH is September 26, 2013 for projects beginning May 2014.

Click here for full guidelines.

Materials to submit for the August 29 internal review:

• The Ball State NEH Summer Stipend Internal Application Coversheet
**This form is in lieu of ATTACHMENT 1: Supplemental Information for Individuals Form
• A single copy of the application, including:
  • 3-page (single-spaced) narrative
  • 2-page (single-spaced) resumé
  • 1-page (single-spaced) bibliography
  • 1-page appendix (graphical materials or edition/translation sample, if applicable)
• You do not need to include reference letters at this time.
• You do not need to have processed a Ball State clearance sheet.
• Proposals will be submitted electronically through grants.gov.

Please submit your completed internal application to Augusta Wray by August 29, 2013.

Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants from the NEH

The Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program awards grants to support the planning stages of innovative projects that promise to benefit the humanities. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities.

Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants may involve

• research that brings new approaches or documents best practices in the study of the digital humanities;
• planning and developing prototypes of new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries’ and museums’ digital assets;
• scholarship that focuses on the history, criticism, and philosophy of digital culture and its impact on society;
• scholarship or studies that examine the philosophical or practical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies in specific fields or disciplines of the humanities, or in interdisciplinary collaborations involving several fields or disciplines;
• innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and new media; and
• new digital modes of publication that facilitate the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all academic levels.

Innovation is a hallmark of this grant category, which incorporates the “high risk/high reward” paradigm often used by funding agencies in the sciences. NEH is requesting proposals for projects that take some risks in the pursuit of innovation and excellence. Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants should result in plans, prototypes, or proofs of concept for long-term digital humanities projects prior to implementation.

The deadline for application is September 12, 2013.
To view the full announcement visit: http://www.neh.gov/grants/odh/digital-humanities-start-grants
If you are interested in applying for this opportunity please contact the Sponsored Programs Office at 5-1600 or SPO@bsu.edu.

NEH Offers New Enduring Questions Grants

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has released a solicitation for the new round of Enduring Questions grants. The grants offer funding to faculty to develop new courses that will encourage undergraduates and teachers to use the humanities to grapple with a fundamental concern of human life. Through a deep and sustained program of reading, students will encounter influential thinkers from across previous centuries to the present day.

In its last five annual competitions, the Enduring Questions program received approximately 193 applications per year. The program made an average of nineteen awards per year, for a funding ratio of 10 percent. Award descriptions from previous grantees can be found here, including examples from GRC members: University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Wheaton College; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania; State University of New York, The College at Brockport; and Saginaw Valley State University.

Applications are due by September 12, 2013 for awards of up to $38,000. The award amount is dependent on the number of project directors indicated in the application. The grant period may last between 18 and 36 months.

If you are interested in applying for this grant please contact the Sponsored Programs Office at 285-1600 or spo@bsu.edu or your area proposal manager.

From Blue Avocado

This blog post originally appeared on Blue Avocado, the online magazine for American Nonprofits. Although the author here is speaking about funding for nonprofit organizations SPO thought everyone who has ever had to deal with funding restrictions on a project would appreciate it.

*****

Blue Avocado's humor columnist Vu Le dreams about restricted funding for cakes:

For the past few months one of our staff has an eye that's been twitching. "It's this grant!" she says. "It's for our after-school program. It pays for instructors' teaching time, but not their planning time! How can they teach when they can't plan?! How? How?!"

"Psst," I whispered, "Let's talk in the conference room. "Since the staff is so dedicated, they will plan anyway even without getting paid,” -- I paused, looking around -- "Why don't you just increase their hourly wages?"

"This grant capped the hourly wage, so I can't pay them more. The other grant might pay for planning time, but they don't pay for employer taxes!" She started pulling at her hair, and both of us collapsed on the floor, weeping and beating our chests in anguish and despair.

Grant Seeking and Grant Writing workshops from the Muncie Public Library

Two free grant training opportunities from the Muncie Public Library.

Foundation Directory Online Basics.
This database lets you search over 100,000 US grantmaker profiles to find a good “fit” to fund your project. You can discover a foundation’s funding interests, funding history, method of approach, timelines, and much more. RSVP by Monday, May 20—seating is limited.
Date: Wednesday, May 22, 10am-noon
Place: Connection Corner, 1824 E. Centennial

Grant Writing Basics.
Learn the components of a grant proposal, what information to include, and tips and tricks for writing a strong proposal. RSVP by Monday, May 20.
Date: Thursday, May 23, 10am-noon
Place: Connection Corner, 1824 E. Centennial

To register, contact Donna Browne at 741-5155 or dbrowne@munpl.org.

Spring 2013 Update of Ball State Research Now Online!

The Spring update of Ball State Research is now available online!

Ball State Research is an online magazine produced by the Sponsored Programs Office in order to highlight some of the amazing sponsored projects taking place at Ball State. The spring update focuses on the Global Health Institute, a campus knowledge unit established in 2009 to encourage interdisciplinary investigation of critical issues that are impacting local and global health.

Please, take a few moments to read all about the exciting work taking place at the Global Health Institute.

Ball State Talks Peace

By: Margaret Cude

On April 5 and 6, 2013, the Ball State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies hosted the first ever Benjamin V. Cohen Peace Conference: Promoting Nonviolence at Home and Beyond . Co-sponsored by the City of Muncie, Benjamin V. Cohen Memorial Endowment Fund, and the United States Institute of Peace, the event drew presenters and audiences from across the US, and even a few from Canada.

With over 150 pre-registered attendees and more than fifty presentations, the Conference covered such varied topics as mediation techniques, racism, the crisis in Sudan, Muncie economic empowerment, pagan oppression, and conscientious objection.

“I was very impressed to know about the efforts of various centers and offices across Indiana,” said Janet Brown, Spiritual Life Commission, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Friday’s kick-off included addresses from Dennis Tyler, Mayor of Muncie, Dr. Robert Morris, Associate Provost of Research and Dean of the Graduate School, and keynote speaker Pastor Steve Roese, President and Founder of Water is Basic.

Open Sessions on Supplemental Compensation

Three opportunities are scheduled to address questions about the supplemental compensation policy.

Supplemental Compensation Open Sessions – Bracken Library 215

a.       Tuesday, 4/16/13           11:30 am to 1:00 pm

b.      Wednesday, 4/17/13     11:30 am to 1:00 pm

c.       Thursday, 4/18/13          3:00  to 4:30 pm

This will be an open format for Q&A, as well as discuss policy basics. There will not be a formal presentation.  As time and attendance permit, specific individual scenarios can be reviewed.

These sessions are directed for faculty and professional personnel, individuals who enter supplemental compensation payments, as well as Chairs and Directors who approve supplemental compensation. 

Prior to attending a session, individuals should review the current policy located at http://spo.iweb.bsu.edu/supcomp/SupCompPolicy.pdf.

Supplemental Compensation is defined as “all compensation beyond the employee’s base salary, whether originating internally or externally, and processed through University Payroll and Employee Benefits.” This includes summer teaching.

Please refer all questions to: 

Jacqueline S. Davis, MA, CRA

Proposal Manager and Supplemental Compensation Coordinator

Sponsored Programs Office

Ball State University

Selected Grantweek updates from the Grants Resource Center for the week of April 1, 2013

Federal Budget Progress (No April Fool’s Joke)

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed budget plans for FY 13 and FY 14 recently, leaving GRC members one step closer to knowing the future landscape of Federal funding opportunities. It was the Senate’s first budget in four years. The Senate plan calls for almost $1 trillion in tax increases while cutting spending by roughly the same amount over the next decade. The plan addresses higher education by fully funding the Pell Grants Program, increasing aid for existing education programs, and increasing institutional and research support.

According to the Washington Post, the GOP-led House plan would lead to a “radical” reduction in the size of government, making large cuts in healthcare and social programs. The House plan hopes to move funding for higher education away from financial aid to policies that develop more innovative institutional options for students and their families.

Of course, neither of these plans will be implemented as is. Instead, they will set the boundaries for the coming debate. The real battle begins as Senate and House leaders meet to reconcile their competing visions and try to come up with something both chambers can approve and send on to President Obama.

Internationally Attended Conference Examines Print Culture

By: Margaret Cude On Friday and Saturday, March 15-16, 2013, researchers from around the world met at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center for the “Print Culture Histories Beyond the Metropolis Conference,” hosted by the Center for Middletown Studies. “The animating idea of the conference is to explore the ways that printed material was produced, consumed, circulated, and encountered in smaller cities, provincial districts, rural settings, colonial outposts, and comparable contexts,” said Dr. James Connolly, Director for the Center for Middletown Studies and Professor of History.

From the NCIIA: E-Team Program for Faculty and Students

Next E-Team Stage 1 Deadline: May 10, 2013

Click here to meet our Fall Stage 1 E-Teams

NCIIA is pleased to announce a NEW E-Team Program, launched in fall 2012. The program provides early-stage support and funding of up to $75,000 for collegiate entrepreneurs working on market-based technology inventions.
Since 1995, our E-Team grants have been funding collegiate student and student/faculty teams to move ideas out of the lab and classroom and into the marketplace. The 2012-13 E-Team Program enhances this opportunity by providing expert entrepreneurial and venture coaching, experiential workshops, and a potential investment opportunity to help realize the commercial success of the technology inventions and innovations that come through our organization.
Selected E-Team Program participants may also be invited to exhibit their technologies at Open Minds, the annual showcase of breakthrough technologies from NCIIA's top student teams. The 2013 Open Minds exhibition will be held March 22-23 in Washington, DC at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, hosted by hosted by its Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

From NCIIA: Course and Program Grants (Deadline May 10th!)

Course and Program grants strengthen existing curricular programs or build new courses and programs in invention, innovation, and technology entrepreneurship.

• Up to $50,000
• Grant period: one to three years
• Who may apply: Faculty from NCIIA member institutions

Upcoming submission deadline: May 10, 2013

Program overview
Course and Program grants are awarded to NCIIA member institutions for the purpose of strengthening existing curricular programs or building new programs in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Successful Course and Program grant proposals present creative pedagogical approaches that generate and deploy E-Teams*, bringing real-life applications into the classroom setting and beyond.
*What's an E-Team?NCIIA defines an E-Team  as a multidisciplinary group of students, faculty, and industry mentors working together to bring a technology-based invention (product or service) to market. The "E" stands for entrepreneurship.

18th Annual Student Symposium Wrap-Up

The 18th Annual Student Symposium has come and gone and we here at the Sponsored Programs Office couldn't be more pleased with the way it turned out. The day started at 6 a.m. with a chilly check-in thanks to the snow that continued to blanket campus throughout Tuesday morning. Check-in ended at 9 a.m. and our twelve faculty judges spent the next three hours evaluating the projects. They had the increadibly difficult job of choosing the best projects based on content and display. After the individual judges scores were tabulated by Sponsored Programs Office staff we had our six winning projects. During the afternoon public display session more than four-hundred people made their way around the ballroom to view the projects set-up there. We hope that everyone, participants and audience members alike, took a few moments to enjoy the cookies and punch provided in the Alumni Lounge across the hall.

As the day came to an end everyone made their way to the Cardinal Hall for the presentation of the awards. We were very honored to have several special guests in attendance: Paul Sr. and Linda Litten and Dr. James Pyle. Mr. and Mrs. Litten's son, Jeffrey, is one of three former SPO staffers for whom the Keys/Litten/Smith award is named. Dr. James Pyle is a former director of the Sponsored Programs Office, having served in that capacity for 24 years. After a few brief remarks from Justin Miller, the current director of Sponsored Programs, the awards were presented by Dr. Robert Morris, Associate Provost for Research & Dean of the Graduate School. In total six awards were given, each accompanied by a $100 cash prize. Congratualtions to the award winner and their faculty mentors. (Complete list of winners at the bottom of this post.)

Lectures from the Researcher of the Year and the Creative Endeavor Awardee

Researcher of the Year and Creative Endeavor Awardee Lecture   Monday, April 15, 2013 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.   Bracken Library, Room 104
	Holmes Finch Department of Educational Psychology 2012-13 Researcher of the Year Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years of Statistical Practice
	Beth Turcotte Department of Theatre and Dance 2012-13 Creative Endeavor Awardee Ball State to Broadway
All are invited to attend the reception following the lectures.