Research Funding Opportunity for KU Faculty in the Arts and Humanities
The Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI) is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for KU faculty in the arts and humanities. The purpose of the grant program is to foster deeper ties between the arts and humanities and the education and social sciences within which most of AAI’s work is focused. We believe that looking at education and social science through lenses more common in the arts and humanities will benefit our mission, and dialogue with colleagues in different fields will enrich our work.
Work in AAI focuses on enhancing educational opportunity; optimizing the well-being of children, youth, and families, creating accessible assessment systems that better support student learning (especially for struggling learners), and creating educational technologies and data systems that support students, teachers, and organizations. AAI is particularly concerned with addressing structural and systemic societal inequities and has posted a statement on our website to this end:
At the heart of our mission, the University of Kansas Achievement and Assessment Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the many communities we serve. To this end we commit to addressing the structural and systemic inequities that prevent marginalized populations from thriving. We strive to create a safe workplace where there is no tolerance for discrimination and harassment. We stand with Black Lives Matter, Indigenous Peoples, the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and all individuals who are marginalized or oppressed. We dedicate ourselves to making KU and the world around us a better place.
Proposed projects should connect to one of AAI’s areas of focus and there is a requirement that a first activity in any project is a dialogue with staff members within AAI who focus on the area to which the project is connected. There is no need to identify in advance who in AAI will participate in the opening discussion and no requirement that the dialog influence or be reflected in the finished project.
Who is eligible?
Any tenure track faculty, teaching professor, or multiterm lecturer in a department considered by KU to be in the arts or humanities is eligible.
What types of projects are eligible?
Any project that can be completed in one year is eligible. General examples include creation of artwork in any medium, or scholarly analysis through an arts or humanities lens.
What support will be available?
AAI will cover up to $12,000 for any expenses allowable under university and KU Office of Research guidelines. For example, money might be used to cover summer salary for the faculty member or a course buyout during the year, hiring a student assistant, travel, or materials. Since this is being funded by AAI, a university research center, there will be no indirect charges to be paid out of the grant.
What are the requirements for the proposal?
The proposal should be a maximum of five pages, single spaced, with a minimum 1-inch margin on all sides, minimum 11-point font, and page numbers on all pages. The proposal should cover the following and include headers for each part:
- Project Description (Description of the project including any products or events that will be the result of the project)
- Connection with AAI (How the project connects to the work of AAI)
- Importance (Why this project is important to either your field, AAI’s mission, or both)
- Qualifications (Why you are qualified to carry out this project)
- Budget (If you need help creating the budget, we can provide that.)
- Schedule (When you will start and finish and any other key dates)
How do I apply?
Email a proposal in either Word or PDF format to Neal Kingston (neal.kingston@ku.edu) and copy Judy Eyerly (jeyerly@ku.edu) and Georgianna Correll (gcorrell@ku.edu). If you need help creating the budget, contact Judy Eyerly.
When are the proposals due?
Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Central Standard Time Friday, April 29.
Who will review the proposals?
AAI will put together a review committee consisting of equal numbers of AAI staff and faculty in the arts and humanities.
When will the winning proposal be announced?
Our goal is to inform the winner by Monday, May 16, but this might be impacted by the number of proposals.