- Campuses :
- Twin Cities
- Crookston
- Duluth
- Morris
- Rochester
- Other Locations
History of PDGR Program
PDGR Funding
2013 Awards Abstracts
Previous Awards
On February 8, 2013, a committee of retirees, appointed by Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz, met to review the applications for the fifth cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended seven of the eight applications for funding and in the middle of February Vice President Herman announced the awards. Of the winning proposals, one came from the Duluth Campus, College of Science and Engineering, and the others from the following Twin Cities campus units: CLA; Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; CBS; and Design. Extended descriptions of winning PDGrants are listed on the 2013 Awards Abstracts page.
A significant feature added to the Grants program two years ago was a link to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Three of this year's PDGrants winners intend to recruit UROP students and have begun that process in consultation with the UROP office (UROP office).
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. 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. In 2008, 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. Prior to this year’s awards (cycle 5), projects have been supported for 2009-10 (cycle 1), 2010-2011 (cycle 2), 2011-2012 (cycle 3), 2012-2013 (cycle 4). These earlier awards are described below. 
The UMRA Grants Committee has begun an ambitious plan with the goal of building a reserve fund for our Professional Development Grants for Retirees program. The grants program has been funded by the offices of the University President, Vice Presidents, and Deans. While we have the assurance of several more years of funding from Central Administration, we must prepare for the possibility of a future funding shortfall.
In the fall of 2011, the UMRA Board approved a campaign to raise funds, beginning with an appeal to UMRA members, former recipients of grants, and then to all University faculty and P&A retirees. All of the Board and the Committee members have contributed to the fund. With 41 contributions to date, including the Board's initial $10,000 investment, we have raised $32,270, a sum now resting securely in our U of M Foundation account. (To be updated). Our 2013-14 goal is $50,000, enough funds for 10-12 small grants.
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 give by credit card online at the website www.giving.umn.edu/umra or by check payable to the University of Minnesota Foundation [CM 3854, PO Box 70870, St. Paul, MN 55170-3854]. Indicate UMRA Fund 4867. And you can support this fund with a future estate gift. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Lynn Praska, Planned Giving Officer, U of M foundation [612-624-4158; lpraska@umn.edu].
We hope you will join us in making a tax deductible gift. Anyone with questions or suggestions should contact Jan Hogan, chair of the fund raising initiative [jhogan@umn.edu; 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 26th, 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.
Frank R. Akehurst, Emeritus Professor of French; Department of French and Italian, CLA, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
“To List the current locations of the manuscripts of the
Conseil à un ami of Pierre de Fontaines (13 c)”
Ronald E. Anderson, Emeritus Professor of Sociology; Department of Sociology; CLA; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
“Individual and World Suffering”
Anna Gerenday, Scientist; Department of Entomology, College of Food,
Agricultural and Natural Resource; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
“Inventory of Mushrooms in Sphagnum Bogs of Minnesota”
Richard W. Ojakangas, Emeritus Professor of Geological Sciences; Department of Geological Sciences; College of Science and Engineering; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
“Ancient (2.7 – Billion-year-old) Glaciation in Southern India: An Uncommon
“Mega-event” of Possible Value in Intracontinental and Intercontinental Correlations”
Nora Plesofsky, PhD, Research Associate; Department of Plant Biology; College of Biological Science; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
“Fungal Resistance to Stress-Induced Cell Death”
Gerald M. Siegel, Emeritus Professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; CLA; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
“Winning Isn’t Everything: A collection of stories and essays”
Gloria M. Williams, Associate Professor Emerita and Barbara P. Heinemann, Honors Program Coordinator Emerita; Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel; College of Design; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
“Through the Lens of a Scholar: An Intellectual Biography of Joanne Bubolz Eicher”
