Article 39 (Research and Scholarship Fund) of the Collective Agreement (full-time unit) requires that University research funds be disbursed by the Committee on Research and Scholarship. That Committee is chaired by the elected faculty Research Officer and is composed of three elected members of the SJU ASA full-time bargaining unit and the Associate Dean (or another delegate of the Vice President Academic and Dean).

 

Members of the Committee who wish to apply for Faculty Research Grants (FRG) shall recuse themselves from evaluation or discussion of their own applications as outlined in Article 39.1(c).

 

NOTE: New applications for FRG funding may not be considered until the appropriate report has been submitted for prior FRG funding. See ‘Reporting Requirement’ below.

 

 

Applicants must complete all components of the Application Form, consisting of the following (with descriptions below):

 

Project summary: applicants must submit a single-spaced project summary of no more than 200 words. The summary should be intelligible to a non-expert audience and should briefly outline how the proposed project is original and important and how it advances, develops, or mobilizes knowledge related to the disciplines supported by St. Jerome’s University. It should also outline all deliverables. Keep in mind that, if the application is successful, this summary may appear on the St. Jerome’s University webpage.

 

Project proposal: applicants must submit a detailed proposal of no more than 1500 words explaining the nature of their research project and justifying it in relation to the FRG priorities (defined below). Proposals should outline relevant theories and methods, and sources of data; they may contain references and bibliographies. Proposals should explain in detail any deliverables, indicate all anticipated timelines, and situate the proposal in terms of the applicant’s research agenda and their disciplinary field. If the application is for an ongoing project that received prior FRG assistance or for a similar project that received prior FRG assistance, applicants must justify their need for renewed FRG funding. Such applicants must also indicate what they accomplished with prior FRG funding (e.g. a SSHRC proposal, a published article, a contribution to knowledge, etc.).

 

Project deliverables: applicants must specify the nature of the research contributions tying them to anticipated timelines.

 

 

Applicants should indicate whether they plan to apply for additional funds beyond the FRG for their projects and how such external funding might complement the FRG. For example, a new faculty member applying jointly for a UW SSHRC Seed Grant and for a FRG must explain how the two sources of funding will work together. In such a case, applicants should submit both proposed budgets (see below). If, moreover, an applicant currently holds funding for the submitted project, he or she must explain how that funding would complement the FRG and why FRG funding is necessary.

 

Applicants must demonstrate evidence of their research record or potential. To that end, they must submit an up-to-date curriculum vitae (attached at the end of Application Form) and a written statement outlining their previous identifiable contributions to the advancement, development, and mobilization of knowledge, and explaining how they are qualified to undertake the proposed project (600 words max., single-spaced).

 

Applicants must submit an itemized budget with clear justification for all line items. Allowable budget expenses must be in line with those permitted by university policy. The Committee encourages applicants to contact the Director of Finance and Accounting with any questions.

 

Applicants must explain how each budget item advances the goals of the proposed project. If relevant, applicants must also justify the choice of research location. If applicable, applicants must justify the use of any purchased equipment after the project’s completion. All items purchased from research funds become the property of St. Jerome’s University.

 

All applications for salaries must adhere to the recommended salary rates for student and non-student assistants paid from research grants guidelines published by the Office of Research at the University of Waterloo. This information will be made available by the Committee on 1 September each year, or applicants should consult the Research Office website: https://uwaterloo.ca/research/find-and-manage-funding/apply-funding/building-budget/recommended-salary-rates

 

If hiring a student, clearly state what that student will be doing and how their work directly advances the project.

 

Keep in mind when budgeting for student assistance that you must also budget 14% (the upper threshold for the Employer’s obligations for vacation pay, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Fund, Workman’s Compensation, and Employers’ Health Tax).

 

All applications must comply with the guidelines established by the University of Waterloo’s Office of Research Ethics (ORE).

 

Applicants whose research project requires a formal ethics review from the UW Office of Research Ethics (ORE) must include in their application package a proof that ORE approval has already been sought (although not necessarily yet obtained) and must include their ORE application number. Without such information, the research grant application will not be considered.

 

FRG funds cannot be released until the applicant provides the Committee Chair with up-to-date ORE documentation proving that ethics approval has been obtained.

 

Please include an updated CV at the end of the application.

 

 

The evaluation of applications will be based on:

In cases where the Committee feels there are unanswered questions, the Chair may contact an applicant to request additional information or clarification prior to the Committee making a final decision.

 

 

In evaluating applications, the Committee may (i) authorize the grant as requested, (ii) authorize a reduced grant, or (iii) reject the application.

 

 

Results of the annual FRG competition will be posted to the St. Jerome’s University website.

 

 

The Collective Agreement requires that recipients of FRG funds must (i) submit a brief progress report to the Committee Chair regarding the FRG-funded project, deadline 15 February; (ii) submit a final report to the Vice President Academic and Dean upon completion of the project when FRG funds have been exhausted.

 

Progress reports should be no more than 500 words and should include information on how the funds have been spent to date, expected completion, and list any significant challenges encountered while undertaking the research.

 

Final reports should be no more than 500 words and should include information on how the budget was spent, contributions arising from the research, and significant challenges encountered while undertaking the research.