Project Development Grant (PDG)

• Eligibility: Radow College full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty
• Funding: Up to $5,000
• Focus: Funding for research and creative activities not generally supported by extramural sources.
• Application: Proposals accepted from September 1, 2024 – November 1, 2024. Submit applications via the InfoReady @ KSU portal: https://kennesaw.infoready4.com/

The Radow College Project Development Grant (PDG) program provides financial assistance to faculty with promising research agenda who might have difficulty accessing funds from other sources. This includes projects common among humanities disciplines, but are not limited thereto. Preference will be given to proposals from faculty who have limited alternative sources of funding and to proposals that have co-funding support from their department or school.

The program invites proposals on a range of topics. However, in line with this year’s emphasis on mental health awareness, research proposals that engage the topic are eligible for additional funding beyond the above noted funding caps.  Proposals that seek the additional level of funding must make a clear and compelling case for how the project addresses mental health wellness/mental health awareness and the value-added of the increased funding requested.

• Applicants must be tenured or tenure-track faculty in Radow College.
• Preference will be given to faculty who have not recently received a Radow College Project Development Grant.  
• Applications may be individual or collaborative projects.  Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with faculty from outside Radow College, but only Radow College faculty can receive funding.
• There is a limit of one (1) award per faculty member per fiscal year.

Awardees must submit a written plan for encumbering/spending funds to RCHSSresearch@kennesaw.edu within 14 days of a funding decision. Failure to submit a spending calendar within the 14-day window risks having the funds reclaimed by the college.  

Funds can be used for equipment, materials, and technology purchases essential to the project.

Funds can be used to hire a Graduate Assistant to support research efforts.

Funds can be used for travel to undertake project-related research, including flights, mileage, lodging, per diems, or other eligible costs. However, Funds cannot be used to attend conferences or other destinations not directly related to project research.  All USG/KSU Travel rules apply (https://fiscalservices.kennesaw.edu/travel/faqs.php).

Funds cannot be used for salary support or to offload teaching.

NOTE: All award funds must be expensed during the fiscal year and must observe Radow College year-end purchasing deadlines.  

The Project Development Grant program is using the InfoReady @ KSU portal for all submissions (https://kennesaw.infoready4.com/).  The application should be composed in an MS-Word compatible format using 12-point fonts and 1” margins.  Text shall be double-spaced.  Each Roman-numerated section should begin on a new page.  Proposals that do not meet the formatting expectations are subject to being returned unreviewed.

1. Cover Page: Project title, faculty name, department/school, and contact information. 
2. Abstract Page (250 words max): Describe the primary objectives of the research project or creative activity, the significance of the project/activity, and key deliverables.
3. Project Narrative Page (2 pages max): The narrative should include the following in clearly identifiable sections.
   1. Research Question/Project Objective:  Highlight the significance of the project both for scholars within your discipline as well as for a broad audience of social scientists and humanists.  Explain clearly why your project is important, original, or otherwise significant.
   2. Methods/Approach:  Be specific in how you will carry out your project. Avoiding unnecessary jargon, describe not only the research design or conceptual framework, but also the concrete activities to be undertaken (e.g., fieldwork, archival research, data collection and analysis, etc). 
   3. Expected Outcomes: Describe project deliverables.  Explain how the project contributes to a research program that can be expected to generate scholarship beyond the period of the award.
4. Budget Page with Justification (1 page max): Explain how funds will be used. Explain how travel funds are necessary to meet project objectives and will be used to conduct the project. List major equipment and materials to be purchased and describe how they are necessary to carry out the proposed project. The justification should explain project-related co-funding provided by department, school, or other resource.
5. CV or Biographical Sketch(es) (2 pages max): Applicants are encouraged to follow NSF or NIH format. A one-page summary of other key personnel may also be included (if applicable).
6. Statement on Human Subjects: All research involving human subjects must have IRB approval. Though a proposal that has not yet undergone IRB review will be considered for funding, no funds can be disbursed until the project is approved.

NOTE: Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis and awards offered until the available funding has been exhausted.

Of the elements addressed in the below attached rubric, particular attention will be given to the extent to which proposals explain clearly the importance and impact of the proposed project. Consideration will also be given to the degree to which the project can be expected to lead directly to additional research publications or other scholarly outputs. 

• Funded investigators commit to submitting an End of Year Report (see below).
• Funded investigators agree to notify the Associate Dean of Research of project deliverables and to provide copies of articles, chapters, or other scholarly outputs supported by the award, including any publicity materials, press clippings, or reviews.
• Funded investigators agree to have research summarized in a Radow College publication, if requested.
• Funded investigators agree to participate in follow-on activities such as serving as a proposal reviewer or presenting their research at a seminar, workshop, or other event, if requested. 
• Funded investigators commit to acknowledge Radow College support in any papers and publication ensuing from the research.

• An “End of Year” report is due by June 30, 2025.  
• The report should be completed using the template distributed through InfoReady. 
• A project cannot be “closed” until the report has been received.  An investigator with an “open” project is not eligible for additional Radow College research funding.

The Radow College grant application scoring system uses the NSF’s 5-point scale.  The entire scale should be considered for each criterion.  The Summary Assessment should reflect the reviewer’s overall evaluation of the proposal (i.e., not a numerical average of individual criterion scores).  A score of “3” represents a “good” application.

• Criteria 
  Description 
• Aims & Objectives 
  Aims and objectives are clearly presented and can be met. 
• Background 
  Demonstrates knowledge of existing research/approaches. 
• Significance 
  Potential to make a significant impact on area of study. 
• Approach 
  Methods/procedures/process are clearly explained & appropriate. 
• Timeline 
  Research plan is clearly stated and achievable. 
• Funding Potential  
  Strong potential for project to secure future outside funding. 
• Budget 
  Budget is complete, well justified, & appropriate. 
• Summary Assessment 
  Overall (holistic) assessment of proposal quality. 

Comments: Identify key strengths and highlight areas that need strengthening. Offer recommendations for how to address shortcomings