PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE CREATIVE WORK AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE for Undergraduate Faculty and Students

Preamble

In order to encourage creative work and research on the part of its faculty members, Valparaiso University offers opportunity for appropriate recognition and financial assistance for such work through award programs, including the following:

1. University Research Professorships
2. O.P. Kretzmann Memorial Fund for research in the healing arts and sciences
3. Kapfer Research Award (College of Arts & Sciences)
4. Summer Research Fellowships
5. Expense Grants associated with Creative Work and Research
6. Undergraduate Research Faculty Development and Faculty/Student Expense Grants
7. Undergraduate Summer Research Housing Grants

Guidelines

If desired, the applicant may meet with the Committee to discuss the merits of the proposal after decisions have been announced.

Deadlines

Recipients of the University Research Professorship, Summer Research Fellowship, Wheat Ridge Kretzmann Endowment Grant, Kapfer Research Awards, and Undergraduate Research Grant must provide to the Office of the Provost a written report of their research by October 1, following the end of the fellowship tenure.

Procedures

1. Questions regarding any of the grant programs described above, as well as requests for application forms, should be directed to the Office of the Provost.
2. The Office of the Provost shall receive, process, and forward to the Committee on Creative Work and Research nominations and applications.
3. The members of the Committee may consult with other faculty members and experts in the evaluation of proposals.

The Vice President for Institutional Advancement serves as the coordinator for corporate and foundation grants. The Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources also serves as a resource for information about research opportunities.

University Research Professorships

The University Research Professorship program is designed to recognize and encourage scholarly accomplishments and creative work, and to award financial assistance to those faculty members who have demonstrated ability to conduct original research or produce creative work commensurate with their rank and years of teaching, and who are engaged in worthy projects. The appointment to a University Research Professorship is made by the President of the University upon recommendation of the Committee on Creative Work and Research. The Committee selects on the basis of the merit of the proposal (its originality and significance) and the applicant's capacity to execute the program of study. The appointment to a University Research Professorship may or may not be financed with University funds. Use of outside funds to execute a research project shall not preclude appointment to a University Research Professorship. If the candidate to be appointed to the position of University Research Professor is engaged in the fine arts, the title "University Research Professor" shall be replaced by the title "Artist (Poet, Composer, Writer) in Residence."

A maximum of two (2) University Research Professorships may be awarded each year, and if none of the applications seems suitable no awards may be given. Professorships provide one semester of full-time leave with pay or two semesters in the same academic year with half-time load, plus a stipend of $4,000. The stipend will not be subject to retirement benefits. Colleges to which the faculty recipient belongs will receive $15,000 from the Office of the Provost in compensation for the leave, but the expenditure of the funds is controlled by the dean of the college.

The deadline for the receipt of the application and all supporting documents is October 15. To be eligible for an appointment as University Research Professor an applicant must:

1. hold the rank of lecturer or above with full-time, continuing appointment;
2. have demonstrated the ability to do creative work or conduct original research, such as that required for the terminal degree in his field;
3. be tenured or have served the University in a full-time capacity for at least three (3) academic years prior to the effective date of the appointment;
4. have attempted to obtain outside funding.

To give the widest possible support to creative work and research, the Committee will normally give preference to a new candidate. A faculty member who has held a University Research Professorship may be considered for another appointment three (3) or more years after the original appointment has terminated.

O.P. Kretzmann Memorial Fund for Research in the Healing Arts and Sciences
  (Wheat Ridge Foundation)

For grant purposes, the healing arts and sciences are defined as any organized bodies of knowledge that have practical application to problems of physical, spiritual, and mental health. This would include, but not be limited to, biology, chemistry, nursing, psychology, social work, sociology, and theology. Research proposals will be eligible for consideration for an O.P. Kretzmann Fund grant if they address themselves to questions of the analysis, diagnosis, and/or cure of problems of physical, spiritual, and mental health, irrespective of the academic department of the researcher.

Preference is given to those proposals that, in addition to satisfying the above criteria, hold promise of practical usefulness in the life and ministry of the church, particularly the Lutheran Church, and give emphasis to the theological implications of academic disciplines and life situations. Grants are made by the President of the University upon recommendation of the Committee on Creative Work and Research augmented by a person chosen ad hoc by the President of the Wheat Ridge Foundation.

Any discoveries or inventions made in the course of research under an O.P. Kretzmann Fund grant is the property, in equal shares, of the researcher, of Valparaiso University and of the Wheat Ridge Foundation. The right to publish results of the research must belong exclusively to the researcher.

All faculty with the rank of lecturer or above with full-time continuing appointments are eligible for the grant. Faculty with twelve-month appointments are also eligible; however, they will not receive a cash grant but rather released time for which their department or unit may be reimbursed through the grant.

In awarding grants from this fund there must be no discrimination based on race, sex, color, or national origin. Religious considerations may be taken into account to the extent of evaluating the potential value of the proposed research for the life and ministry of the church. In the event no eligible request for a grant is received in any given year, that year's earnings on the fund will be added to the principal of the fund.

The maximum amount of the grant funds for all grants is presently $7,500 annually. Applications for the Kretzmann Fund shall be submitted to the Office of the Provost. The deadline for receipt of the application and all supporting documents is October 15.

The grant or grants shall include a stipend that will be paid at the end of the spring semester following the selection. Grants will not be awarded for any project that in any way contributes toward the attainment of a degree. All grant recipients shall file a detailed report of their work by October 1, following the year for which the award was granted. A copy shall also be filed with the Wheat Ridge Foundation and the researcher's department.

Kapfer Research Award

Click here to examine important information on Project Proposal Format.
Click here to examine and print the application cover sheet.

The Philip and Miriam Kapfer Endowed Faculty Research Award (referred to hereinafter as the Kapfer Research Award) is designed to give financial assistance to one faculty member annually in the College of Arts & Sciences. Recipients of the Kapfer Research Award are selected by the Committee on Creative Work and Research under the auspices of the Office of the Provost. Selection is based on the originality and significance of the proposal and the applicant’s perceived capacity to complete the work.

The Kapfer Research Award is funded from an endowment established by the Kapfer family. Depending on the University’s endowment spending guidelines established by the Board of Directors, the Kapfer Fund is expected to generate an award amount of $10,000 per academic year. The stipend will not be subject to retirement benefits.

The award will be used during the academic year for which it is granted for research in the faculty member’s area of expertise. It may not be used for a project that in any way contributes toward the attainment of a degree. The award recipient will provide the Office of the Provost a comprehensive, written report on the completed research together with plans for additional ways to disseminate the research results by October 1 following the award year.

In the event that no eligible request for the Kapfer Research Award is received in a given year, no award may be granted, and that year’s earnings on the fund will be added to the principal of the fund.

Goals: The goals of the Kapfer Research Award include the following:

1. To highlight the value of current research in higher education, specifically in the Arts and Sciences.
2. To use various appropriate research methodologies including applied research, classroom research and field research.
3. To develop new insights and strategies for teaching and learning in higher education that will be of value to other researchers, teachers and students.
4. To communicate the faculty member’s research results to the University community and to appropriate academic outlets outside the University via reports, publications, conferences, seminars, etc.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for the Kapfer Research Award, the faculty member must:

1. Hold the rank of lecturer or above with a full-time, continuing appointment.
2. Be tenured or have served the University in a full-time capacity for at least three (3) academic years prior to the effective date of the award.
3. Have demonstrated the ability to conduct original research.

A faculty member who has received a Kapfer Research Award may be considered again for the award only if three (3) or more years have elapsed since the original award year.

Application Guidelines: The application with all supporting documents is to be submitted to the Office of the Provost by October 15 and include several basic elements:

1. Formulate the research question clearly. Include reasons why the answer to this question is important.
2. List the practical steps that will be taken to collect, interpret, apply and communicate the research results and conclusions.
3. Speculate on ways in which the proposed research will benefit the faculty member in his or her primary role as a teacher at Valparaiso University. Also, suggest ways in which VU students will benefit from the proposed research.
4. Provide a proposed budget if the faculty applicant expects to divide the award between research-related expenses and a stipend.

Important Dates:

May 1 (annually) -- the focus of the Kapfer Research Award is publicized through appropriate channels on campus and in the Valparaiso University community.

October 15 (academic year prior to the year of the award) -- Faculty applications and all supporting documents are due at the Office of the Provost.

December 15 (academic year prior to the year of the award) -- The award recipient and all other applicants for the award are notified. The announcement of the person selected for the award is publicized as appropriate.

August (of the award year) -- The award recipient is recognized at the Opening Convocation for the academic year.

October 1 (following the award year) -- The award recipient provides to the Office of the Provost a comprehensive, written report on the completed research together with plans for additional ways to disseminate the research results.

Summer Research Fellowships

The Summer Research Fellowship program is designed to give financial assistance to faculty members for conducting creative work and research full time during the summer months. The maximum award for the Summer Research Fellow is $2,500. The Fellowship will be viewed as a stipend that will be paid in the form of a grant at the end of the preceding spring semester, and will not be subject to retirement benefits. All or part of the money can also be used to cover research expenses such as travel, student aides, expendable supplies, and equipment. Those wishing to use the award to defray expenses must submit a tentative budget (either with the application or after the award is announced) which will be subject to University approval. The Provost's Office will approve the budget and will help the faculty member set up an expense account. Those seeking Summer Research Fellowships are also eligible to apply for additional money for expenses through expense grants described below.

Applications for Summer Research Fellowships shall be submitted to the Office of the Provost. The deadline for the receipt of the application and all supporting documents is November 15. In order to be eligible for a Summer Research Fellowship, an applicant must:

1. hold the rank of lecturer or above with full-time, continuing appointment;
2. have demonstrated the ability to do creative work or conduct original research, such as that required for the terminal degree in his/her field.

A Summer Research Fellow shall file with the Office of the Provost a detailed report on his/her work, normally by October 1, following the summer for which the award was granted. A copy shall also be filed with the Summer Research Fellow's department. If a subsequent application for a Summer Research Fellowship is made on the basis of the same project, a detailed progress report on the work done under the earlier award shall accompany the application.

Expense Grants Program

The Expense Grants Program is designed to help faculty members to meet expenses that occur in connection with creative work and research. All faculty members holding the rank of lecturer or above with full-time continuing appointments are eligible. Also eligible are instructors, visiting professors, and all others with faculty rank, including part-time faculty as long as they have three years of teaching experience at Valparaiso University and the expectation of continuing employment for the next academic year.

Expenses in connection with projects that lead toward attainment of a degree will not be considered.

Applications for Expense Grants shall be submitted to the Office of the Provost. There are two (2) deadlines for the receipt of the application and all supporting documents: November 15 and March 15.

Undergraduate Research, Faculty Development, and Faculty/Student Expense Grants

These awards are sponsored by the Valparaiso University Guild. The motivation for these awards is to enhance and facilitate more undergraduate research at Valparaiso University. Annually, $10,000 will be available in support of undergraduate research: $5,000 for faculty development and support; $5,000 for student expenses.

Faculty Development: the funds will support five awards each year with a hard cap of $1,000 each. If awarded, faculty can use these funds:

1. to develop new courses that incorporate undergraduate research,
2. to enact curricular revisions that enhance undergraduate research on campus,
3. to initiate innovative plans to stimulate undergraduate research across programs or departments, and/or,
4. to cover expenses and modest stipends associated with such courses and projects.

Deadlines for fall and spring are November 15 and March 15. Details about format and application cover sheets are available in the Provosts Office.

Eligibility: All faculty on continuing appointments, and part-time faculty who have taught at VU for three years, and have reasonable expectations of teaching at VU in the following academic year (approval signature is required for part-time faculty); and all full-time undergraduate students.

Undergraduate Summer Research Housing Grants

1. Each student must be a registered undergraduate at Valparaiso University.
2. Each student must be engaged in full time research (at least 30 hours per week) while receiving the housing grant, up to a maximum of ten (10) weeks.
3. Each student researcher must have a faculty mentor.
4. Each student must be engaged in real research, as opposed to simply assisting with a faculty research project. For example, a student employed by a faculty member to work solely as a laboratory technician, or to find journal articles in the library or to proofread a manuscript would not be eligible for a Summer Research Housing Grant. The key criterion in defining 'real' research is that the student be engaged in, and contribute to, the intellectual development of the research or creative project. Two (2) manifestations of such engagement are: 1) that the student write a comprehensive research report, and 2) that the student be included as a co-author of any scholarly publications that result from the research.

Students wishing to be considered for a Summer Research Housing Grant should arrange for their faculty mentor to submit a letter of request to the Office of the Provost by April 15. This letter should include the following information:

1. the student's name;
2. a short description of the student's planned activities (in light of item 4 above);
3. beginning and ending dates for the research/housing;
4. the source of funding from which the student will be paid.

1. Students enrolled in summer school must have the approval of the Financial Aid Office in order to be eligible for this housing award.
2. Students receiving this award must abide by all the rules and regulations of the residence hall system.
3. Grants will be for up to ten (10) weeks. When not on campus for one (1) week or more, students must vacate their rooms.
4. Rooms will be double rooms with roommates assigned by the Housing Office.
5. The Internal Revenue Service considers a housing grant to be a form of compensation. As a result, the University must report the value of the room rental on the student's W-2 form.