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Programs

NCURA Research Program

Request for Proposal: NCURA Research Program

Proposal Deadline: Friday, April 29th, 2022 at 5:00pm Eastern Time

Submission Address: Proposals must be emailed to NCURAResearchProgram@ncura.edu

 

Vision

The NCURA Research Program is founded on the tenets of NCURA’s core values, with the goal of enhancing research and education programs that increase both public and private support for NCURA. The purpose is to create opportunities for NCURA members, faculty, and staff to innovate and pursue excellence in developing and sustaining critical partnerships and include but are not limited to: supporting the data-driven needs of NCURA and the profession; identifying, developing and implementing innovative programs for research and education; and building resources for new partnership programs that support global efforts. Proposed research activities should include the collection/acquisition of new data and/or in-depth analysis of previously existing data and should be relevant and applicable to the broad research community (i.e., provide impact beyond an individual institution).

 

Research Plan

The proposed research should contribute to the current body of knowledge in the field of research administration, and provide a sound approach that is novel to research administration. The research proposal should address a problem or an opportunity in the field of research administration (both domestic and global), and present a solution-based approach that may include an implementation strategy/phase. The proposal shall not be strictly implementation-based in nature and not limited to size or type of institution.

Read about previously-funded projects here!

 

Anticipated Award Funding

NCURA estimates up to $30,000 may be available for this solicitation and anticipates funding two (2) to four (4) projects. The number of projects funded will be determined based on the merit of proposals received in accordance with review criteria below and the amount of funding available at the time of the award.

 

Funding Period

One year with an anticipated start date of June 1, 2022. The start date may be negotiable in extenuating circumstances and upon mutual agreement by NCURA and the awardee’s institution. A single no-cost extension may be requested in accordance with the NCURA Research Agreement Terms and Conditions.

 

Lead Proposer (“Principal Investigator” or “PI”) Eligibility

The lead proposer must be from an institution with at least one NCURA member in good standing. An NCURA member must be an integral part of the research project team. (Please contact info@ncura.edu for information on member institutions.)

 

Proposal Sections:

NCURA Cover Page

Sections A - F, Narrative (limited to 10 pages)

Section A: Purpose/Focus of the Project
project’s purpose explains the reason for its existence, the meaning of what is proposed, the ambition or dream pursued by the project or the direction it takes and maintains.
Section B: Description of Problem or Needs Justification
The justification refers to the rationale for the research, or the reason why the research is being conducted, including your vision for the future and a demonstration of the value and benefits the project brings to the research administration community.
Section C: Objectives and Expected Outcomes
Project objectives are what you plan to achieve by the end of your project. This might include deliverables and assets, or more intangible objectives like increasing productivity or motivation. Your project objectives should be attainable, time-bound, specific goals you can measure at the end of your project.
Section D: Design/Methods/Analysis
The design of a research topic explains how the research will be carried out: the techniques to be implemented for collecting and analyzing data; the method(s) applied for analyzing collected details; type of research methodology; probable objections for research; settings for the research study; timeline; and measurement of analysis.
Section E: Broader Impacts
Broader Impacts are the societal benefits of the project. Aligning broader impacts with NCURA’s strategic goals and directions allows the research to have a greater overall impact.
Section F: Dissemination Plan
A dissemination plan explains how the outcomes of the project will be shared with those who could use the information in practice.

Section G: Budget Justification
A narrative section should be included to justify all expenses and clearly outline each individual’s role in the project. Requests for equipment, supplies, and services should be explained in detail. Travel costs for meetings to collaborate or for research purposes are allowed; however, expenditures related to conference travel are not permitted. Indirect costs up to 26% of Total Direct Costs are allowed.

Section H: Appendix
Description of related subject-matter experience of PI, Co-PI(s), key personnel – limited to 1 page per individual; letters of support.

 

Format

All proposals must be sent electronically as a single pdf file. The complete proposal packet must include the NCURA Cover Page, narrative, budget justification, and applicable appendices. The proposal must be paginated, double-spaced, 11-point font (of choice), and include 1-inch margins on all sides.

 

Submission

Proposals will require approval and submission in accordance with submitters’ institutional policies.

 

Review and Award Determination

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by a Board-appointed review panel comprised of NCURA members and subject matter experts. Funding decisions will be announced no later than May 31, 2022. Feedback will be provided to those proposers who are not selected for funding.

 

Award Terms and Conditions

Upon submission of proposal, award recipient agrees to NCURA Research Agreement Terms and Conditions.

 

Obligations of Award Recipients

Begin research on or after June 1, 2022 and complete research no later than May 31, 2023. A single no-cost extension may be requested in accordance with the NCURA Research Agreement Terms and Conditions.

 

Reporting Requirements

A six-month progress report must be submitted on or before December 1, 2022 (reporting on the period June 1, 2022 through November 30, 2022). A final report is due within 60 days of close of award (on or before July 31, 2023). The final report should include details of outcomes and follow-on activities: data collected, analysis report(s), impact on the profession, future goals, copies of publications submitted to scholarly journals and other outlets, professional presentations/dissemination, and follow-on grant proposals that are directly attributed to this funding. NCURA would also appreciate being informed of any major outputs, accomplishments, and follow-on activities directly attributed to this funding that occur after the final report is submitted.

 

Dissemination

PI(s) are expected to present project results which may include a combination of the following: presenting at NCURA meeting(s), submitting a poster session, submitting an article for publication in the NCURA Magazine, participating in a digital video component for NCURA upon request, submitting an article to the NCURA Research Management Review.

 

Review Criteria and Scoring

The following matrix indicates the information that should be included in proposals along with scoring and descriptors that will be used by the board-appointed review panel to evaluate and score the proposal.

 

Purpose/Focus of Project: Purpose or focus of project aligns with NCURA's vision in the RFP.

 

0-3 points

Purpose or focus is loosely defined and/or explained. OR, project is not clearly aligned with the NCURA vision in RFP.

 

4-7 points

Purpose or focus is moderately defined or explained and is reasonably aligned with the NCURA vision in the RFP.

8-10 points

Purpose or focus of project is well defined, clearly explained and specifically aligned with the NCURA vision in the RFP.

Total

Problem Description/Needs Justification: Project addresses an important problem or high need area within research administration.

 

0-3 points

Problem or needs justification is absent or not well explained.

 

4-7 points

Problem or needs justification is stated but does not clearly address the need for the research.

8-10 points

Problem or needs justification is clearly stated and explained. The project clearly addresses the need for the research.

Total
Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The project exerts a sustainable, powerful influence on the field of research administration.

 

0-3 points

Application describes objectives that are not directly relevant to the problem, or the expected outcome(s) does not reasonably reflect a viable solution to the stated problem.

 

4-7 points

Application describes clear and relevant objectives. The Expected outcome offers a solution with limited impact on the field.

8-10 points

Application describes clear and relevant objections with new insights into the problem. The outcomes are viable and offer novel or innovative solutions to the stated problem.

Total
Design/Methods/Analysis: Conceptual framework, research design, methods and analysis are well developed and appropriate to the research questions.

 

0-3 points

Elements of research design/methods/analysis are missing or poorly explained.

 

4-7 points

Research design and methods appear appropriate to the project but lack some clarity in explanation.

8-10 points

Research design/methods/analysis are appropriate to the project and are very clearly explained.

Total
Broader Impacts: Proposal explains the broader impacts of the research for the NCURA membership and the research administration profession.

 

0-3 points

Broader impacts are missing or unclear.

 

4-7 points

Broader impacts lack clarity or detail.

8-10 points

Broader impacts are well developed and explained in detail. The proposed outcomes could benefit a broad array of users.

Total
Dissemination Plan: Proposal explains a plan to disseminate research results.

0-3 points

Dissemination plan is missing or unclear.

                                   

4-7 points

Dissemination plan repeats expectations of the solicitation and/or provides more specific external dissemination.

 

8-10 points

Dissemination plan meets solicitation expectations and include additional internal and/or external dissemination opportunities.

Total

 

Questions?

Contact kkissmann@tamu.edu