Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: What are the benefits of being a WKU Center for Literacy Fellow?

A: In addition to dedicated financial assistance,a WKU Center for Literacy Fellow will receive public recognition from the WKU Center for Literacy; acknowledgment in press and social media releases about your project; a vita entry; dedicated, ongoing assistance in creating a project to benefit the community; and potentially, a publishable manuscript.

 

Q: I have a very vague idea but I'm not sure if it will fit.  Can we talk before I submit a proposal?

A: Absolutely!  Just email (jeremy.logsdon@wku.edu) or call (270-745-2207) and we can set up either a face-to-face or Zoom call to discuss your thoughts and ideas.  More than that, we can help you turn your idea into a project that can fit our requirements!

 

Q: How much funding can I ask for?

A: This can be negotiated.  Projects can be submitted that are remarkably low cost.  While there is no particular "top end" amount,  those proposalswith the largest scope and number of individuals served will warrant the most funding. However, we also understand that you are trying to decide how much to ask for.  If you potentially have a big ask (greater than $5K), email or call us and we'll talk.

 

Q: Is this a subgrant situation?

A: It is not.  We will not release funds directly to you, which means you will not need to worry about receipts, procards, requisitions, or anything else.  We'll handle all of that.  You will submit a budget narrative of materials or services needed, and working with you, we'll get you what you need to be successful!

 

Q: What can funding be used for?

A: Let's first say that the funds cannot be used for.  We cannot pay salaries.  We can, in special circumstances, cover partial scholarships for students as it relates to the project.  We cannot buy technology that costs more than $500 or would otherwise require a requisition request from WKU (in other words, no laptops, tablets, iPads, etc.).  We cannot provide gift cards as an incentive.  We cannot fund travel (even if it is to a conference to present the findings from your fellowship project) or manuscript submission costs.

Now, on to what we can use funding for: We can cover the purchase of books, instructional materials, printing costs, software (under certain price limits - see us for more details), some technology (no computers, laptops, tablets, etc.), assistive reading devices, non-gift card incentive for student participation, and many other things that aren't necessarily listed here.  If you're unsure, schedule an appointment to talk with us and we can go over your project and see what we can do and what we can't.

 

Q: When is the deadline for submission?

A: This project does not have a deadline.  It is a rolling submission process.  You can apply at any time.

 

Q: When is the deadline for completion?

A: In general, all projects will need to be completed within one year of start date.  (This can also be negotiated.)  An informal mid-year report of students served will need to be submitted by March 31st of each year, so that we will have preliminary data to report to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation with our year-end report.

 

Q: Can I use my proposal as a research project?

A: Not only is this acceptable, we highly recommend it.  We can also assist with the entire research process, starting with writing the IRB proposal; through data collection and coding; statistical analyses; and/or article co-authoring and manuscript submission, as desired.  We can be as heavily involved as you like.

 

Q: How do I report the results of my project?

A: There are several avenues for reporting.  Our recommendation is the completion of a publishable manuscript or white paper brief, but we are open to multiple interpretations of a final report.

 

Q: Can I submit for more than one proposal?

A: Yes.