Sponsored Programs - Internal Funding (RCAP)

Research and Creative Activities Program (RCAP)

NEWS & UPDATES

 

• Funding announcements have been made for the 2011 RCAP award recipients.  A list of the awardees may be downloaded here:  2011 RCAP Award Recipients & Project Titles

• The next round of applications will be accepted at the beginning of the fall semester 2012.  An announcement will be emailed notifying faculty of the deadline date and application submission procedures.

   

Quicklinks:

2011 RCAP Application - CLOSED

Frequently Asked Questions

RCAP Review Committee 

Program Description

RCAP funding is provided by the Office of Research to encourage faculty to develop individual research projects leading to the pursuit of external funding sources, or the promotion of scholarly and creative activities.

Category I funds are considered "seed" monies and will be awarded to Principal Investigators (PIs) with the stated objective of enhancing the competitiveness of a subsequent submission of a new or renewal proposal for external funding. These funds target all disciplines.

• In the case of awards given to applicants without prior extramural funding, mentors are expected to work with the Office of Sponsored Programs and assist the PI with selecting an appropriate funding agency and program, and preparing and submitting an extramural grant application. It is not expected that mentors will necessarily have, or need, technical expertise in the proposed area. However, mentors are expected to have sufficient familiarity with the targeted funding source to be able to advise on the external grant proposal process. All Category 1 proposals submitted by applicants without prior extramural funding must identify a grants mentor. The grants mentor may use up to $1,000 of the award for travel to scholarly meetings, which must be identified in the proposed budget.

 

Category II funds support the general development, expansion, or enhancement of faculty research and scholarly activity, and/or the creative and performing arts. These funds are focused on activities that increase academic, intellectual, scholarly, and/or creative pursuits. For projects involving the creative and performing arts, where publication costs are both customary and substantial, these costs may be covered. Support may also include costs associated with creating an exhibit, a performance, a musical work, etc. These funds target all disciplines.

(Please note: The Category III option has been subsumed under Category II)

 

Eligibility

All full-time faculty and instructors at all campuses who have independent programs of research or creative activity are invited to apply. Priority will be given to those with demonstrated track record or potential as evidenced, for example, by membership of the graduate faculty.

Proposals may be submitted by more than one principal investigator, but only one investigator can be designated the project manager.

 

Funds Available

Funding for exceptional projects that exceed the funding range may be submitted, but must be well defined and justified.

• Category I projects may not exceed $20,000.
• Category II projects may not exceed $8,000.

An applicant may request a project period of up to 18 months, beginning January 1, 2012, but must end June 30th, 2013. Under certain conditions, exceptions to these dates may be entertained.

 

Budget Information

Budgets will be presented in general categories and require detailed explanation. Although the Office of Research intends to fund projects as close as possible to the requested amount, it reserves the right to alter the amount depending on the number of proposals received and funds available. Cost share by departments and/or colleges is encouraged.

Allowable Costs

• Salary and fringe benefits of undergraduate students, graduate students, and technicians
• Equipment (single item which cost more than $2,000)
• Project supplies and materials
• Animal maintenance
• Travel essential to conduct the project
• Computers (requests for computers must demonstrate that computers are essential to the project and not otherwise available to the project.)
• Publication/Performance/ Production costs (Creative and Performing Arts only)
• Participant support

Unallowable Costs

• Costs in connection with faculty degree requirements
• Travel to professional meetings or conferences
• Tuition
• Faculty/instructor salary and fringe

 

Application Instructions - NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME

To submit an application for RCAP funding, download and complete the 2011 RCAP Application . Fill in the cover sheet, budget form, and budget narrative. Attach a three-page proposal and the required supporting documents as described below. Please complete the application in full. Incomplete applications may be returned.

**Email the application to your department head for review and endorsement. Department heads must email the application to the college dean for review and endorsement.**   It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all endorsements are made and the final application is emailed to internal.grants@wku.edu by 11:59 p.m. on September 26, 2011.

Proposal Narrative Instructions: At the end of the application, include the following information:

A three-page proposal narrative (Arial 11-point, half-inch margins) that provides:

• A brief discussion of the background and significance of the proposed idea, including its relation to the present state of knowledge in the field.
• A detailed narrative of the project that includes (i.)the objectives, (ii.) significance of the research, (iii.) the research task and expected accomplishments during the course of the project, (iv.) the specific outcome of the project (book, journal article, presentation, grant proposal, etc.), and (v.) a discussion of potential external funding sources (RCAP I only).

 

Attach the following supporting documentation to the end of the proposal narrative (these items will not be counted toward the page limit):

• References or Works Cited (should be included as appropriate).
• Biographical sketch/curriculum vitae (should list the most current information and use NIH, NSF, or other standard agency formats if applicable, otherwise a maximum of TWO PAGES that include current and pending support).
• Review sheets from federal granting agencies (if applicable).

 

Suggested Deadlines:

August 29, 2011 – Email the completed application to your department head for endorsement.

September 12, 2011 – Department head emails the application(s) to the college dean.

 

FINAL DEADLINE: September 26, 2011, 11:59 p.m. - CLOSED

Email the completed application as a single file attachment to internal.grants@wku.edu

 

Review Process

Applications that are complete and responsive to this announcement will be evaluated for merit by the RCAP Committee comprised of faculty representatives from each college. The Committee will then provide a prioritized list of recommendations for funding to the Vice President for Research based on the quality of the proposals per the review criteria below. Note: Not all criteria will apply to all proposals. The Vice President for Research will make awards based on these recommendations and available funds.

Research Merit:

• Does the proposal provide a compelling argument for the research or creative activity?
• Does the proposed project represent a significant contribution to the investigator's field of study?

If so, how?

• Will there be publication(s) or public dissemination?

If so, who is the audience for the proposed work, and why will they value it?

Nature of Proposal:

• Does the proposal provide a clear statement of overall project objectives?
• Are the proposed methodologies appropriate and accurate?
• Does the proposal provide a sound justification with clear and specific budget information, and is the budget appropriate?
• What is the likelihood of definitive results and conclusions?
• Is the text of the proposal well-written?
• Is the significance of the project established?
• Is the timeline well established and feasible?

Leverage:

• Will the project lead to further scholarly activity?
• Does it improve chances for funding from existing external funding sources? [RCAP I only]
• Does the project offer opportunities for funding from new external funding sources? [RCAP I only]
• Does the project enhance the reputation of WKU?
• Does the project increase the impact of WKU?