Collaborative Research Cluster Initiative

Purpose

To invest in innovative, collaborative activities to promote academic excellence, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) invites proposals to support (1) professional development and enrichment activities, and (2) collaborative research clusters.

I. Development & Enrichment Grants

All full-time faculty and staff in CHSS are eligible to apply for funding to support a broad range of professional development and enrichment activities in areas such as teaching and pedagogy, community engagement, and new skills development.

Funding up to $2,000 is available for each application. To apply, please submit a narrative (maximum 1000 words) to describe the project, its potential benefits, a timeline for completion, expected outcomes, and a proposed budget.

II. Collaborative Research Clusters

All tenured and tenure-track CHSS faculty are eligible to apply as the PI of the proposed research cluster. The research clusters that received CHSS funding previously and met their final report deadline may submit a new proposal if they would like to expand their original work.

A complete application must include the following:

  • The name of the research cluster, project title, name and contact information for the PI and Co-PI, cluster members’ names, affiliations, and their background and expertise;

  • A narrative (maximum 1200 words) that describes the project, its purpose and goals, and proposed activities;

  • A short version of the PI’s and Co-PI’s CV(s) with a focus on key scholarly accomplishments

  • A schedule/timetable of proposed activities and estimated budget

    • Successful applications will receive up to $5,000 to support their cluster activities as seed funding, with a view toward the development of joint projects, publications, and/or grant applications.

    Cluster activities include, but are not limited to, work-in-progress meetings, networking events, workshops, training sessions, and exploratory trips. Funding may be used for the following purposes: costs related to guest speaker(s) deemed necessary to advancing the cluster’s central project; costs related to the development of grant proposals for external funding; the purchase of research materials required for the advancement of the cluster’s project; research participants; and/or travel to a venue of relevance to the cluster’s research. A maximum of $400 may be spent on food/beverages.

    Application and Selection

    Applications must be submitted through the forms on the CHSS website (available under the Faculty Resources tab on the CHSS website) by 5 p.m. on Friday November 1, 2024.

    Collaborative Research Cluster

    Development & Enrichment Grant

    Materials submitted after the deadline or not following the stated guidelines will not be considered. A Review Committee will evaluate all the proposals and make recommendations to the CHSS Dean. Applicants will be notified when the selection process is concluded.

    Selection criteria include:

    • The significance of the proposed project;
    • The clarity and achievability of the goals and measurable impacts of the proposed project with respect to the CHSS & SHSU strategic priorities;
    • The significance and viability of the proposed project;

    All CHSS funding decisions must comply with state laws, and grant expenditures must follow the SHSU guidelines related to purchases, procurement, and travel. All funds must be spent by August 15, 2025. Any unused funds are returned to CHSS afterwards.

    A final report must be submitted to CHSS Dean’s Office by September 30, 2025 to describe the outcomes of the proposed project and future plan. For the collaborative research clusters, the PI will serve as the primary contact for funding-related communications.