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!!