Grant Workshop

The LACUNY Professional Development Committee’s 9th Annual PSC-CUNY Grant Workshop on September 17 was attended by twelve librarians from across the CUNY community.  Presenters included Janet Munch (Lehman) of the library panel of reviewers and Maura Smale (City Tech) and Ching-Jung Chen (City College), past grant recipients.

The session began with a presentation by Janet Munch regarding preparing grant proposals for best chances at receiving funding.  She presented two sites that are recommended viewing for anyone preparing a grant: the Research Foundation, which has all you need to know about grants, including the PSC-CUNY Grant site with a users’ manual and sample applications along with a list of past awards funded since 1999 that includes the name of the recipient(s) and the title of the application, and the LACUNY site, which has the PDC page with a list of grant titles, names of recipient(s), and abstracts where provided, along with tips on grant writing.  Janet emphasized the importance of attending local workshops on one’s campus in addition to the PDC workshop.

Some history of funding was shared.  In 2008, fourteen of twenty-one applications were funded.  In 2007, eleven of the thirteen submitted were funded.  In 2006, eight of the fifteen submitted were funded, and in 2005, all nine submissions were funded.  Janet noted that you can pick your panel, although the Research Foundation can reallocate your application to another panel.  Ching-Jung mentioned that she was advised to apply to the library panel because that is where her experience lies.

Next, a timeline was shared by Janet.  She emphasized that if you were hired after June 2009 you have extra time to submit your grant proposal (out-of-cycle).  Regardless of whether you apply in-cycle or out-of-cycle, however, be sure to check with your local grants office because each campus has its deadline for applications, which is sooner than the deadline for the grants posted on the RFCUNY site.  Notification is sent via e-mail by the Research Foundation on April 15 to the e-mail you used to submit your application; this is sent whether you receive funding or not.  If you do not hear from the Research Foundation by April 16, be sure to call your local grants office.  Funding begins July 1, 2010.  If you are using human subjects, you can submit your proposal without IRB approval, but it is strongly recommended you start on the IRB approval process before July because the process takes time and you can’t start working before the IRB approval is received.  Maura also emphasized that IRB approval can take longer than you might think and starting even before knowing if you have received the finding is the way to go.

In terms of the application itself, it was suggested by Janet and emphasized by both Ching-Jung and Maura that you get at least one person to read your grant proposal and that you be careful in your writing.  Janet emphasized including a clear, concise statement of the problem and the significance (why it is important you get funded, what is the significance to the area / topic, what are you doing that’s different).  Janet also emphasized the importance of the literature review because it helps put your project in context of what has been done and what is missing.  You should also be sure, where asked, to list relevant publications since these show that you have an interest and experience in the topic/area and also list other activities that might help show your experience in the area.  When you are asked to suggest reviewers, it is good if you can do so, but it is not mandatory.

The maximum funding for a grant is $6,000, though generally a grant is funded for between $3,000 and $5,000.  Librarians do not qualify for summer salary, although they are eligible for release time.  Talk to your chief librarian before asking for release time as a permission form needs to be filled out.  It is preferred that you hire CUNY students as research assistants as opposed to outsiders.  Equipment is for items over $1,000 and these items become CUNY property.  Supplies are items under $1,000 and are usually expendable.  The grant cannot fund journal subscriptions, internet service, membership or other ongoing needs, training courses, presentations, PDAs, travel costs to attend or present papers at conferences (only registration fees are funded).  If you are interviewing someone at a conference, the travel might be funded.  It is important to justify every item on your budget, particularly any single item over $2,500.  Janet noted that the budget can be changed later to reallocate categories, but you must put items into categories at the time of application.  Janet also mentioned that you should prioritize the items on your budget.

Anyone on the University payroll is eligible other than substitutes or adjuncts, although faculty on sabbatical can apply for a grant.  The project must involve original research and cannot be for collection development, personal or professional education, curriculum development, or textbook writing.  The project can be solo or with a co-investigator.  If you are working with someone else, be sure to include in the application how the other person contributes to the project.

You receive evaluations with your grant, whether funded or not.  These are in the system where you can see them when you log in, and you can put the reviews in your personnel file on campus if you desire.

Sara Rofofsky Marcus (Queensborough) and Anne Leonard (City Tech)