Archives - 2001-2 RFP Process

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TO: Faculty and Staff
FROM: Ed Fogelman, Chair, Task Force on Civic Engagement
RE: RFP on Civic Engagement
CC: Deans, Directors, and Department Heads

The Task Force on Civic Engagement is sponsoring again this year a RFP for projects that will strengthen civic engagement across the university. We recognize that civic engagement is a broad term that encompasses a variety of activities, and we expect a wide range of proposals reflecting an ecumenical understanding of what civic engagement entails. In general, we view civic engagement as involving contributions to public scholarship (research that responds to public concerns and is intended for public dissemination), civic learning (experiences through which students develop the motivation and capacity for effective citizenship and responsible leadership), and community partnership (joint activities with groups or communities working together in collaboration).

We especially encourage innovative projects that:
-combine different aspects of civic engagement, involve more than one unit, reflect multi-disciplinary approaches, and include community partners
-will be sustained as permanent innovations and can be disseminated as models for civically engaged activities in other units
-involve the participation of students
-receive additional funding from other sources.

The application process is outlined below and is also available at the civic engagement web site http://www.umn.edu/civic under News and Reports.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Due Date: Applications are due Friday, November 30, 2001. Send 10 copies to Sue Engelmann, 234 Morrill Hall.

Amount of Awards: Grants will range up to $7500. Size of awards may be lower than amounts requested.

Timing of Projects: Grants will be announced on Friday, December 21. Projects may be proposed for Winter semester, 2002, or Fall Semester, 2002.

Cover Sheet: A separate cover sheet should include the following items:
-project title and any relevant web site
-principal investigator: name, department, college, campus address, phone number, fax, and email address
-project abstract of about 250 words
-signature of Principal Investigator(s)
-signature of unit head or chair and appropriate dean or other administrator.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED ON NO MORE THAN TWO PAGES:

Description of Project:
-indicate specific goals, activities, and expected outcomes of the proposed project
-identify the innovative features and longer-term impact of the project in strengthening civic engagement in your unit(s)
-identify other faculty, students, or community partners involved as participants in the project.

Evaluation of Project: Describe in detail how the success of the completed project will be evaluated.

Sustainability and Dissemination:
-describe how this project will be incorporated as a regular part of your and your unit's professional activities;
-indicate what institutional support your unit will provide to maintain the project over time
-indicate how this project will be disseminated to colleagues or integrated into the curriculum.

TIMETABLE AND BUDGET: On one separate page provide:
-a schedule for implementation of the project, including the semester in which the project will be completed
-a budget, indicating the amount requested and the categories of expenditures with specific costs in each category.

CONDITIONS OF THE AWARDS:
-Recipients agree to provide an accounting of expenditures, a report of accomplishments, and the results of project evaluations within three months of completion of the project.
-Recipients agree to participate in public presentations, discussions, and dissemination of the project.
-Proposals must be approved by unit chairs or heads and appropriate deans or other administrator.
-Grants cannot be used to fund currently ongoing activities.
-Recipients of previous civic engagement grants are ineligible for an additional award.
-The proposal should include 4 pages: cover sheet (1), project description etc.(2), budget(1)

QUESTIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION:
Please contact:Sue Engelmann, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, 612-626-9186, engel026@umn.edu