University of Nebraska Kearney

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES 

A.  General Instructions 

In preparing a proposal, applicants should realize that the RSC is a multidisciplinary group whose members may not have expertise in the applicant’s field.  Please avoid jargon whenever possible, and explain clearly any technical terms and procedures that are critical to the proposal. 

Faculty Proposals must be completed and submitted in the following format: 

• Cover Page  

v   Abstract (150-word maximum) 

v   Budget Section  

v   Budget Narrative  

v   Previous Projects Funded by RSC 

• Project Narrative 
• Abbreviated Vitae (2 page max for faculty) Graduate students should provide a  resume that 

      describes your context (employer, etc.), stage in masters program, physical location, etc.  

      (two page max.) 

• All RSC proposals that include significant roles from collaborators need letters of intent,  

      whether those are on campus or off campus collaborators.  This includes use of lab space,  

      consulting, access to patients or materials, etc. 

• All graduate student proposals need a letter from their mentor that affirms the 

       appropriateness of the project methodology or design. This only needs to be a statement 

      and not a long justification.  The letter also needs to describe the plan for supervising the  

      student’s work if that student is doing the project somewhere other than Kearney.   

Graduate Student Proposals should follow the same format, but may exclude the previous projects funded  

by RSC form 

See Section C for submission instructions. 

All information requested must be provided in the format specified.  For this reason ALL FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS MUST MEET WITH THEIR RSC REPRESENTATIVE TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL.  This should be scheduled before the program deadline in order to provide adequate time for any necessary revisions to the proposal.   

Proposals not adhering to the published RSC guidelines will not be considered for funding. 

      B.  Guide to Writing 

Faculty proposals must include the cover page, an abstract, and the three additional pages of the RSC proposal form.  All are included in this packet and available electronically.  Particular attention should be given to the itemized budget and the budget narrative.  A complete and thorough explanation of projected expenses must be provided.  Attached to these pages should be the Project Narrative section as described below.  Page limitations do not exist, but brevity and clarity are appreciated.  Include survey instruments if applicable, but extensive bibliography/reference sections and lengthy manuscripts are not necessary. 

1.   Project Narrative 

Proposals submitted to the RSC differ in nature as a consequence of our different support programs and the different activities proposed.  In all cases where appropriate, proposals should include the following sections in the Project Narrative (please number the attached pages): 

a.   Objectives.  This section should clearly state the purpose of the project, e.g. the questions/issues/hypotheses/creative activity to be addressed. 

• Research Significance.  The applicant should establish the importance of the proposed project in relation to the field of study and the applicant’s professional activities and development.  This may include a brief literature review to establish the theoretical background of the project. 

• Professional Development Significance.  Describe how the project will help with obtaining tenure, graduate faculty status, or promotion if applicable.  Otherwise, describe how it relates to continued professional development or additional funding.  Not required of graduate student proposals. 

• Methodology and Work Plan.  This section should contain a description of the project design and methods to be used or activities to be executed in completing the project.  The nature of this information will vary depending on the type of project proposed.  The applicant should also provide a timetable for completing the major components of the project.  Note that the RSC does not fund retroactively.  When co-investigators are involved, please explain the role and anticipated contributions of each. 

e.   Dissemination Plan.  This section should describe how the results of this project will be shared with outside audiences.  The RSC looks favorably upon, and may give priority to, projects that may lead to external funding proposals.  If applicable, please briefly explain your external funding plan (when, where, etc.).  Projects likely to result in publication may be given priority. 

f.    Copies of survey instruments/questionnaires, if applicable. 

2.   Budget 

1. Budgets should include support by the department, college, other funding sources. 

• Examples of acceptable support by the department may include paper, stationary, postage, telephone, basic equipment for lab work, computers, printers, cameras, etc. that are part of that department’s normal operation.  Proposals that seek to purchase project material or equipment ordinarily provided by the department must include matching funds from department or college and demonstrate a broader than project use.  The idea being that the cost is above and beyond what a department or the college could absorb by itself. 

• Travel requests should be limited to major expenses such as plane tickets and hotels.  In-state travel to go to a library or to interview someone will not be considered.  In-state travel for faculty should be an individual or department/college contribution, but will be considered for graduate students and calculated at .30/mile.  The budget narrative for travel should explain why the trip is a necessary part of the project and why existing communications technology will not suffice. 

• Meals should be for overnight extended trips and not “to cover lunch” during a day-trip.  These expenses could be listed as an individual, department/college contribution. 

• If the researcher needs to engage the services of someone to complete the research, services must be paid by the university and not out-of-pocket by the researcher. 

C.  Submission of Proposals 

While this packet includes the RSC proposal form, we wish to encourage people to use the electronic submission process described below. If you wish to submit the forms in hard copy you may certainly do so. In that case, we will need the original and 12 copies of the proposal, with signatures on all copies. In the case of student funding for presentation at a professional conference, only the original is needed. 

For electronic submission, the form may be found on the RSC website. This form includes the cover sheet, budget, and budget narrative. In a separate document the applicant should prepare the 150 word abstract and the full project description according to the guidelines above. 

Upon completion of the proposal and after consultation with the RSC Representative, the applicant should email both documents to the RSC Representative. 

Please contact your RSC representative or the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research if you have questions or problems with this process. 

RESEARCH SERVICES COUNCIL 

GENERAL GUIDELINES 

1. To ensure proposal is of a competitive quality, applicants must discuss their project and budget requirements with an RSC representative at least one week prior to proposal submission.  Please allow a minimum of 48 hours for review of your final draft. 

2. Proposals must be written in terms that educated laypersons can readily understand.  It is important that reviewers outside of applicant’s discipline can understand the abstract, budget and narrative. 

3. Student grant and travel award recipients are required to participate in the annual Student Research Day, held during the spring semester. 

4. Final reports of all funded research/creative activity projects must be received within six months of project completion.  If the project extends beyond the end of the fiscal year (June 30), a cursory progress report should be submitted.  Manuscripts submitted for publication may serve as final reports. 

5.     Expenditures must be for items requested in the grant proposal.  Deviations from this policy must have prior approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.  

6.     The transfer of funds from personal services (salary/wages) to non-personal services is prohibited. 

7.     Pre-Trip Requests must be approved before travel arrangements (reservations, etc.) are made.   

8.     All expenditures must be in accordance with University policies and should be based on principles of economy. 

9.     Title to materials and equipment purchased with grant funds remains with the University.  University of Nebraska policies relating to copyright, royalties, patents, or income apply to these grant programs.  Questions regarding these matters should be addressed before the proposal is submitted for review. 

10.   Funded projects involving human subjects in research must be approved by the Institutional Review      Board for Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) before they are initiated.  Funds will not be provided until documentation of IRB approval is received by the Graduate Office. 

11.   Funded projects involving animals used in research must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before they are initiated.  Funds will not be provided until documentation of IACUC approval is received by the Graduate Office. 

12.   Publications or presentations resulting from projects supported by RSC grant programs should include the following statement:  “Funding provided by the UNK Office of Graduate Studies and Research/Research Services Council.” 

13. Awards will not be made to individuals who have not complied with all requirements of previous RSC grants.