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 in several areas.  Some examples include 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).  Projects should not duplicate existing NCURA educational programs.

 

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 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 July 1, 2023. 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

An NCURA member must be an integral part of the research project team, but does not have to be the Principal Investigator. If an NCURA member is not the lead PI, the proposal should be explicit in how the NCURA member is involved with the project. 

 

Proposal Sections:

NCURA Cover Page

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

·      Section A: Purpose/Focus of the Project

o   A 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

o   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

o   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

o   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

o   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

o   A dissemination plan explains how the outcomes of the project will be shared with those who could use the information in practice.

o   PI(s) are expected to present project results in an NCURA forum, which may include one or more of the following: presenting at NCURA meeting(s)/workshop, 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.

 

• Section G: Budget Justification
  • A narrative section, in the required format, 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: Subject Matter Expertise
  • Description of related subject-matter experience of PI, Co-PI(s), key personnel must be provided – limited to 1 page per individual (similar to NIH Personal Statement);
     
• Section I: Letters of support (optional)

 

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 review panel comprised of NCURA members and subject matter experts.  Feedback will be provided to those proposers who are not selected for funding.

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Award Terms and Conditions

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

 

Obligations of Award Recipients

Projects should be designed to be completed within 12 months. A single no-cost extension may be requested in accordance with the NCURA Research Agreement Terms and Conditions.

 

Reporting Requirements

An interim progress report must be submitted six (6) months from the start date of the award. A final report is due within 60 days of the end of award. 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.

 

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 dsmelser@utk.edu