Grants

History of PDGR Program
Grants Funding
2012 Awards
2012 Awards Abstracts

Moving ahead toward a PDGR endowment

As reported earlier, the UMRA Grants Committee has begun an ambitious plan with the goal of building a permanent endowment for our Professional Development Grants for retirees program. While we have the assurance of several more years of temporary funding from Central Administration, we must prepare for longer term financial support.

Last fall the committee proposed, and the UMRA Board approved, a phased endowment campaign beginning with an appeal to association members, then to all University faculty and P&A retirees, and finally for a campaign directed to local foundations and individual lead donors. Our ultimate goal is a $1,000,000 endowment, a sum sufficient to fund 10 or more awards annually.

Our goal for the first phase of the campaign was $100,000. With 41 contributions from members to date, plus the board's initial investment, we have raised $32,270, a sum now resting securely in our U Foundation account. As we make plans to extend our appeal to the larger audience of university retirees, we encourage UMRA members who have not yet made a contribution to do so, and if you have already made a contribution or pledge, please consider adding to it. You may use the pledge card provided in our mailing last fall, or you may go to the Foundation's giving link at giving.umn.edu/umra.

John Howe Finally, I am pleased to announce that two UMRA colleagues have agreed to assume responsibility for the ongoing leadership of our grants program. Jan Hogan will take charge of endowment building while Judd Sheridan will direct our annual award activities. Both will welcome your suggestions and advice.

— John Howe, outgoing chair of the PDGR Committee

University of Minnesota Grants for Retiree Development—The Office of the Vice President for Research and the University of Minnesota Retirees Association jointly created a program of annual Professional Development Grants intended to support faculty, P&A and civil service retirees wishing to pursue projects related to their research, instruction, or other work history and that contribute to the educational, scholarly and academic reputation of the university. The first round of grants was awarded for the 2008-2009 year, the second for 2009-2010, and the third for 2010-2011. The program and the awards are described below.

History. In 2007, the UMRA Board appointed a committee to explore a program of financial assistance to retirees who wish to continue their professional work and research projects. In 2008, with a commitment of $10,000 seed money from UMRA, the committee gained support from the University and the Graduate School in launching a pilot program.

Funding. (new 4/10/2012) Funding the program: The UMRA Board has established a committee to solicit funding for the grants program from our membership and other University retirees. While the grants program has the support of President Eric Kaler and Vice President Tim Mulcahy, the Board believes that it is wise to have a fund at the Foundation for long-term support of the program. Learn more about contributing to the PDGR on this page.

You may now directly support the Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program through your directed contribution to the University of Minnesota Foundation at http://giving.umn.edu/umra. Your gift will support and strengthen this important program.

Anyone with questions or suggestions should contact Jan Hogan at jhogan@umn.edu, or by phone at 651-645-2584.

2012 Awards. On February 27, 2012, a committee of retirees appointed by Vice President Tim Mulcahy met with Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz to review all 20 applications for the fourth cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended eight applications for funding and in early March Vice President Mulcahy announced the awards. Of the winning proposals, one came from the Duluth Campus, CLA; while the others from the following Twin Cities campus colleges: CSE (IT); CCE; CLA; Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; and the Medical School. Extended descriptions of winning PDGrants are listed on the 2012 Awards Abstracts page.

A significant feature added to the Grants program last year was a link to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). One of this year's PDGrants winners included such an indication and is now in conversation with the UROP office concerning such arrangements. Consult the 2011 Call for Proposals and the UROP office.

2011 Awards. On February 24, 2011, a committee of retirees appointed by Vice President Tim Mulcahy met with Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz to review all19 applications for the third cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended nine applications for funding and in early March Vice President Mulcahy announced the awards. Of the winning proposals, one came from the Morris Campus and the others from the following Twin Cities campus colleges: CSE (IT); CLA; Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; and the University Libraries. Extended descriptions of winning PDGrants are listed on the right and on the 2011 Awards Abstracts page.

A significant feature added to the Grants program for this year is a link to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Two of this year's PDGrants winners included such an indication and are now in conversation with the UROP office concerning such arrangements. Consult the 2010 Call for Proposals and the UROP office.

2010 Awards. Fourteen awards of up to $3,500 each were made in early 2010 for work during the 2010-2011 academic year. On February 26^th, a committee appointed by Vice President Tim Mulcahy met to review applications for the second cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee consisted entirely of retirees, several from UMRA and others from the larger university community. After a spirited discussion the committee recommended 14 proposals for funding. Vice President Timothy Mulcahy agreed with the committee’s recommendations and sent letters of congratulations to the grant recipients in early March. Two awards went to colleagues from the Duluth and Morris campuses. Of the remaining twelve awards, three went to retirees from the College of Liberal Arts, two from the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, two from the Institute of Technology, two from the Medical School, and one each from the College of Biological Sciences, the College of Education and Human Development, and Academic Administration. Committee members were pleased with the quality of the 25 proposals. A full listing of awards, including single paragraph descriptions of the winning projects can be found on the 2010 Awards Abstracts page.

2009 Awards. Twelve awards of up to $3,500 each were made in early 2009 for the 2009-2010 academic year. A summary of each of these grants can be found on the 2009 Awards Abstracts age.

Jan Hogan now heads the PD Grant funding program

2012-13 Grants Awarded

Fred M.B. Amram, Emeritus Professor of Communication and Creativity – CCE Degree and Credit Programs; CCE; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: “An Examination of British Patents Granted to Women, 1617 – 1816”

Edward M. Griffin, Emeritus Professor of English – Department of English; CLA; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: “Final Preparation and Publication of Manuscript Letters Written by Members of a Boston Loyalist Family”

Richard Hoffman, Emeritus Associate Professor – Department of Biobehavioral Health and Population Sciences; Medical School; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: “Neuropsychological Consequences of Chronic Khat Use”

Peter A. Jordan, Emeritus Associate Professor – Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; CFANS; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: “Continued Studies of the Impact of Moose Feeding on Forage Plants on Isle Royale and New Studies of the Impact on Seedling Survival by Invasive Earthworms”

Philip O. Larsen, Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology - Department of Plant Pathology; CFANS; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and
Fred Bergsrud, Emeritus Professor of Bioproducts and Biosystems – Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering; CFANS; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities : “Support for Air Travel to Provide Volunteer Support for the Institute of Agriculture at Tumaini University, Iringa, Tanzania”

Carol Miller, Emeritus Associate Professor of American Indian Studies – American Studies Program and Department of American Indian Studies; CLA; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: “Shape Shifter and Trickster Were Going Along (On the Radio): A critical Analysis of Thomas King’s CBC-Sponsored Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour”

Roger H. Stuewer, Emeritus Professor of History of Science and Technology – School of Physics and Astronomy; CSE; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities: “Support for Travel to Attend International Conference to Present Invited Lecture on The Seventh Solvay Conference: Nuclear Physics, Society, Politics, and Influence, and to Attend Meetings of the American Association of Physics Teachers”

Eileen M. Zeitz, Emeritus Professor of Spanish – Department of Foreign Languages and Literature; CLA; University of Minnesota – Duluth: “Contemporary Cuban Fiction: The Prose Fiction of Jorge Angel Hernández Pérez”