Athens, Ga. (July 9, 2005) — The Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach (OVPPSO) solicits proposals from UGA faculty and staff for the IDEAS grant program. Through the IDEAS grant program, the OVPPSO seeks to stimulate the internationalization of UGA and the state of Georgia by encouraging faculty and staff to initiate promising new public service and outreach-oriented international projects. In keeping with UGA’s strategic plan, proposed activities should develop new, or substantially build on existing international projects or programs that better prepare UGA faculty, staff, and students to compete in a global society and empower Georgia’s communities and businesses to prosper in our rapidly changing global society.

What is the Scholarship of Engagement?
“Service is often seen as somehow outside the ‘real’ work of scholars…. One way to make faculty service a more legitimate use of faculty resources is through a scholarship of engagement, where outreach and service activities are treated as scholarly activities in the same way that research always has been and teaching is increasingly. When faculty and administrators finally embrace a scholarship of engagement and acknowledge the important role of service in both the internal and external functioning and health of the campus, then faculty can begin to experience integrated academic lives, with teaching, research, and service reinforcing and supporting one another. The scholarship of engagement challenges faculty to view their work in addressing community needs as a means to connect and apply disciplinary expertise to needs that exist in the community and to integrate the lessons learned into their research and teaching.” (Ward, 2003, p. v-vi)

PURPOSE

The Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach (OVPPSO) solicits proposals from UGA faculty and staff for the IDEAS grant program. Through the IDEAS grant program, the OVPPSO seeks to stimulate the internationalization of UGA and the state of Georgia by encouraging faculty and staff to initiate promising new public service and outreach-oriented international projects. In keeping with UGA’s strategic plan, proposed activities should develop new, or substantially build on existing international projects or programs that:

• Better prepare UGA faculty, staff, and students to compete in a global society; and
• Empower Georgia’s communities and businesses to prosper in our rapidly changing global society.

Specifically, the IDEAS grant program supports activities that catalyze or further the development of:

• Innovative international programs for students to gain practical experience through internships or service-learning
• International technical cooperation that empowers communities and builds human capacity (internationally and in Georgia)
• International community-based participatory research, applied research, and policy analysis projects that address a pressing global challenge
• International symposia, conferences, or seminars that address timely issues of global significance
• International program development, including linkages with foreign universities, that has potential for long-term benefits to communities in Georgia and abroad

IDEAS projects must take place in one of the following regions: Africa, Asia, or Central and Latin America. Special attention will be given to projects that focus on Thailand, China, Kenya, Tanzania, or Mexico, as part of the Global Service-Learning Initiative.

The purpose of the IDEAS program is to support and encourage the development of long-term, sustainable outreach-oriented international programs by UGA faculty and staff. IDEAS grants are intended to provide seed money to academic faculty and staff who would like to incorporate international outreach into their teaching and research, and to public service faculty and staff who would like to initiate new international outreach programming that complements their current work.

Activities supported by the IDEAS program should lead to a larger project concept and the submission of a proposal for external funding. While preference is given to sustainable projects that have potential long-term impact, proposed projects should also be able to show tangible results in the short term. Proposals should clearly outline both the short-term and the potential long-term outcomes. IDEAS grants are not intended to provide support for extensively established areas of teaching, research or outreach, previously funded projects, or new or existing study abroad programs that do not have a considerable public service and outreach component.

Since international development challenges are often complex and multi-faceted, applicants should consider interdisciplinary and partnership approaches when developing projects. Projects that demonstrate collaboration across disciplines and partnerships among academic and public service faculty and staff members are strongly encouraged. Additionally, external partnerships with organizations outside the University that have interests related to the purpose of the project are also encouraged.

Examples of past successful IDEAS projects include:

Management Simulation Game for Improving Food Chains
Faculty from the Departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Biological and Agricultural Engineering collaborated with the Indian Institute of Management to develop a game to reduce significantly post-harvest losses and improve the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables available to consumers around the world. The IDEAS project will be the basis for a major grant proposal to USDA.

Croatia Rural Development Project
Faculty from the Department of Adult Education and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government worked together to conduct community-based workshops in Croatia on rural tourism development. The project led to a $100,000 grant from the Association Liaison Office.

Distance Education Model for the Development of Technical Education Teachers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Faculty from UGA’s College of Education developed a partnership with the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology for teacher training, curriculum development, and instructional technology. The IDEAS project led to a major contract awarded to UGA by the UAE Ministry of Education and Youth.

Ghana Study Abroad OSU Klottey Lagoon Redevelopment Project
Infusing a service-learning component into an existing study abroad program, faculty and students from the Department of Sociology and the College of Environment and Design partnered with community leaders and citizens in Ghana to address a critical environmental concern. UGA undergraduate and graduate students worked alongside members of the Osu community in Accra, Ghana, to assess and plan for redevelopment of the Klottey Lagoon, an important ecological site for the region.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS:
The program is funded and administered by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach (OVPPSO). Applications are available on the OVPPSO web site at http://www.uga.edu/outreach. Questions about the IDEAS grant program should be directed to Jennifer Frum in the Office of International Public Service and Outreach at 542-6654 or .

IDEAS program proposals should be submitted online at http://www.uga.edu/outreach. Please follow the link to the application. You must also mail one hardcopy of all application materials to: SEGUE/IDEAS Grants, Treanor House, 1234 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30602. The application deadline is September 15, 2005.

SERVICE-LEARNING
Service-learning is participatory learning through organized service experiences that address community needs by way of a collaborative process between the school and the community. As a form of experiential education, it is in accord with problem based and case-study pedagogical approaches where “action oriented” learning is a way to reconnect the academy in general and students in particular with the community. For more information about what service-learning is, and a description of the differences between volunteerism, community service, and service-learning, please see http://www.uga.edu/servicelearning.

ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility is limited to full-time faculty and staff. Temporary, visiting, adjunct, or part-time faculty and staff members are not eligible, nor are postdoctoral research or teaching associates.

Only one proposal may be submitted by an eligible individual. Two or more individuals may submit a joint proposal, although no individual may serve as an applicant on more than one SEGUE or IDEAS project.

REVIEW PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach (OVPPSO). Recommendations of the review committee will be forwarded to the OVPPSO for final funding decisions.

FUNDING LIMIT
IDEAS grant proposals will generally be awarded up to $5,000. Proposals with larger budgets should have very strong justification. Demonstration of matching funds is encouraged.

USE OF GRANT FUNDS
Grants for this program are intended to support the development of new outreach activities. The program is not intended to be a source of support for an ongoing program, nor is it an alternative source of funds for programs already developed to a level that normally would justify support from external sources. IDEAS grant funds should not be used as “matching” funds, where such funds are required as part of an external proposal. Funds cannot be used to support travel to attend professional meetings or conferences. IDEAS grants are state funds and subject to all state guidelines, and are to be expended within the FY06 year (before June 30, 2006, and subject to all university spending deadlines).

IDEAS grant funds may be used for:

• Support for undergraduate and graduate student involvement in the outreach project. Grants are not intended to support students’ thesis or dissertation research. Proposals requesting undergraduate or graduate student participation should make clear the role played by the student in the outreach project, and highlight how the project contributes to the students’ learning experience.
• Travel expenditures required by the outreach project (excluding travel to professional meetings).
• General expenditures for supplies, equipment, materials, services, and personnel required by the outreach activity. The Grant does not support expenditures on computers.

DEADLINE
IDEAS grant proposals should be submitted online to the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. Application can be accessed at http://www.uga.edu/outreach. The application deadline is September 15, 2005.

PROPOSAL FORMAT

Applications should include:
1. An application form available on the OVPPSO Web site at http://www.uga.edu/outreach.
2. A letter of support by the department/unit head.
3. A current abbreviated curriculum vitae.
4. Budget: Applicants should include a detailed, itemized budget FY06 listing the following categories:
o Salaries and wages (staff benefits need not be included)

o Undergraduate and graduate student support

o Travel (excluding travel to professional meetings)

o General expenses (office supplies, services, etc.)

o Equipment (items over $1,000 listed)

Matching funds and additional support for the project should be listed. IDEAS grants are state funds and subject to all state-funds guidelines, and are to be expended within the FY06 year (Before June 30, 2006 and subject to all university spending deadlines).
5. A narrative description of the project (limit of three single-spaced pages) that includes the following:
o Abstract. No longer than 100 words to summarize the proposal’s main points.
o Description. Provide a brief overview of the rationale or need for the activity/project, and the objectives, methods, and benefits.
o Activities and Methods. Please outline the activities to be accomplished and outcomes to be achieved. Include an overview of how activities and their outcomes will be assessed. If relevant, please describe activities with non-university organizations.
o Significance of the Project. Describe how the project will contribute to the internationalization of UGA by better preparing UGA faculty, staff, and students to compete in a global society and/or empowering Georgia communities and businesses to prosper in our rapidly changing global society.
o Scholarship. Describe the role of the applicant’s professional expertise in the design and execution of the project. For example,

* How does the applicant propose to apply his/her specific discipline or expertise to address a societal/human problem or challenge?
* How will the activity complement the applicant’s teaching and research programs?
* Does the project’s design integrate other disciplines? Explain.
* Does the project bring together academic or clinical and public service faculty and/or staff? Explain.
* Does the project generate demonstrate significant integration and impact on the student learning experience, either in a specific course or program of study?

o Impact. Describe the anticipated impacts, both short-term and long-term. Evidence of impact can include both quantitative results (e.g. changes in test scores, or widespread adoption of a product or technique) and qualitative results (e.g. testimonials from or assessments by participants).
o Implementation Timetable. A complete timeline and schedule of activities to accomplish the project’s objectives should be included.
o Plan for Future Support. Applicants should identify potential external sources of support for the project, including pending proposals, and outline a plan for the submission of external proposals (limited to one page).
o Communication Plan. A brief outline of how information about the project will be disseminated to the community (both the university community and the broader community) should be included.

6. Institutional Review Board approval. Human Subjects forms, if applicable, should be submitted to the appropriate office for approval. Please contact the Human Subjects Office at 542-3199 to determine if your proposal will require Institutional Review Board approval. Attach a copy of the request to your proposal. This will be included only in the hardcopy version of the application.

SUBMISSION

The grant application packet should be prepared in the following manner:

* The completed application packet should total 10-12 pages in length (excluding the application form).
* One-inch margins.
* A type size no smaller than 12-point font.
* Application materials should be uploaded on the Public Service and Outreach webpage. Please see the application link on http://www.uga.edu/outreach. Accepted file extensions include: .doc .pdf .wpd .txt .jpg .png .gif .tif .pages.
* One hardcopy version of the entire application, including Departmental Endorsements and Institutional Review Board approval request, should be mailed to SEGUE/IDEAS Grants, Treanor House, 1234 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30602. You must also complete the online application procedure for consideration.

The application deadline is September 15, 2005.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

1. Purpose and quality of the project including relevance to priorities of the unit and the University.
2. Extent to which students will be directly involved - is there a service-learning component?
3. Anticipated overall impact of project including number or proportion of students and/or community members affected.
4. Existence of interdisciplinary collaboration on the project.
5. Budget justification and clarity.
6. Commitment and support of the requesting unit for the project including demonstration of matching funds and potential sources of external funding.
7. Sustainability - will the project be maintained past the SEGUE/IDEAS funding cycle?

REVIEW AND AWARDS

Proposals will be reviewed based on the listed proposal evaluation criteria by a committee appointed by OVPPSO. Recommendations made by the committee will be considered by OVPPSO for final funding decisions. OVPPSO will take into account the nature and number of exemplary projects that can be awarded with available funds and may offer partial funding for selected projects.

Project directors of successful proposals will be required to report annually to OVPPSO on progress or completion of the project. Reports should be based upon the evaluation criteria in the original proposal.

Proposers will be notified of funding awards by October 20, 2005.

This article was posted on Saturday, July 9th, 2005 at 5:30 pm and is filed under Grants.