A standard form has been developed for CWR and is available in the Office of
the Provost. Please provide the appropriate information, project title, and
an abstract of 200 words.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project description (A-E) is not to exceed 10 typed, single-spaced
pages. (For modest expense grants, the project description, while
still following the general outline, can be reasonably abbreviated.)
It is understood that any academic research proposal will employ the technical
vocabulary of the researcher's field of specialization. However, since
proposals for Summer Research Fellowships, University Research Professorships,
and Wheat Ridge Kretzmann Endowment grants are evaluated and approved or
rejected by faculty members from a variety of disciplines, technical language
often proves an obstacle rather than an aid to fair evaluation. Therefore,
the Committee on Creative Work and Research requires that applicants, for
funds to be awarded by the Committee, shall either (a) write their proposals
in non-specialist's language, or (b) append to their proposals a restatement
in non-specialist's terms of key sections, especially the abstract and the
sections on purpose and significance. Thus, such a description should be
sufficiently detailed but at the same time sufficiently non-technical to give
the reviewers, who may not have a specialized knowledge of the applicant's
field of research, a firm grasp of a specialized knowledge of the applicant's
field of research, a firm grasp of what the project is, how it will be carried
out, and what it can be expected to accomplish. The description should be
organized around the following points:
Purpose
Explain the objectives of the project, giving the basic ideas, problems or
questions to be examined, and indicate in a general way how these will be
explored and developed.
Significance
Describe the contribution this project can be expected to make to the
applicant's field of study. If appropriate, mention both specific and
technical contributions and also the more general significance of dealing with
these particular ideas and problems.
Indicate the contribution this project will make to the development of
the applicant's abilities both as a scholar/artist and as a teacher.
Comment on the significance of this project in the specific context of
the Valparaiso University academic community, a community which has its own
central objectives and values.
History
Describe the previous development, if any, of the project, its current state,
stages yet to be completed, the plans for each stage, and how the work
proposed under this project fits into the whole. If appropriate, comment
also on the relationship of the project to work already done by others in the
field.
Plan of Work
Give a clear and detailed plan of work on this project, including the
expected timetable of what is to be done, when, and where. An adequate
description should be given to any special methods, procedures, and
experiments to be employed.
Expected Results
Indicate as specifically as possible what results can reasonably be
anticipated from this project. For example: Will certain hypotheses be
validated or rejected? Will new material be brought to light? Will new
methods be tested? Will the project result in public presentations, journal
articles, or a book? It is expected that both during the project and at its
completion the applicant will review and evaluate the progress and success of
the project on the basis of the Project Description.
CURRICULUM VITAE
A few tips for preparing an effective vitae are:
Display prominently your title or position along with your name.
Date the document.
Give your birth date, not your age.
State your primary and secondary fields of specialization along with your position.
List your professional positions in reverse chronological order.
Use separate headings for books, published articles, and
papers presented orally at international, national, regional, or
state-wide conferences.
List the courses you have taught.
Provide some evidence that you are a good teacher.
LETTER OF SUPPORT (OPTIONAL)
BUDGET
Stipend
The funds for the University Research Professorship ($4,000),
the Wheat Ridge Grant ($7,500 maximum), and the Summer Research Fellowship
($2,500 maximum) can be received as a stipend or expenses or a combination of
both.
Expenses
List any equipment or material needs and estimated cost.
Even if all the money in a Summer Research Fellowship is being asked for as a
stipend, it is still important to provide a budget of expenses associated with
the project, if any.
Travel
List any anticipated travel needs and estimated cost.
Anticipated Outside Funding
The Committee encourages applicants to seek outside funding, and securing
outside funding as a supplement strengthens the application. The worthiness
of a proposal is heightened by serious attempts to secure outside funding.
With your application, please include copies of proposals submitted to
foundations and agencies. If outside funds can replace the University grant,
then CWR funds should be returned.
NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be
processed by the Committee.