Funding Information 

Funding for Results 

The Funding for Results (FFR) program provides a mechanism to fund those strategic initiatives dealing with the enhancement of teaching and learning. Proposals are requested in a standard grant proposal format and are reviewed by a Funding For Results team.  Awards are managed as grant accounts. There are two categories of competitive grants: Demonstration and  Implementation.  FFR funds support two other types of activities: University Initiative projects and the Student Professional Development Fund. 

Please Note

1. The teaching and learning focus must be clear in all proposals.
2. Methods to measure the effectiveness of the project must be built into the design.
3. Reasonable equipment items that are necessary for carrying out the project may be included in the proposal. However, it is unlikely that a proposal solely for equipment will be funded. 

Submission Deadlines

The due date for faculty/staff proposals is the second Monday of November. 
Student professional development fund requests are year round and may be submitted anytime. 

Select the Grant Type Below for Information and the Application Process: 

Demonstration Grants 

The FFR Demonstration Grant Program will provide faculty and staff with the opportunity to try new ideas for which no significant background or information exists to predict the likelihood of success. Demonstration Grants may also be pilot projects. The Demonstration Grants will be funded for two year at a maximum of $15,000. If the Demonstration Grant is successful, the project may be proposed in a subsequent year as an Implementation Grant. 

Goal 1

The primary goal of the FFR Demonstration Grant is to encourage faculty and staff to create solutions for teaching and learning improvement. Proposals relating to service learning, experiential learning, enhancement of student performance on General Education objectives, assessment of student outcomes in the major, and the improvement of student retention and success are appropriate to the mission of FFR. 

Goal 2

It is a goal of the FFR Demonstration Grant that the completed projects be presented in some format to the University community. Feedback as to the effectiveness of creative or novel solutions should be discussed and synthesized by the academic community. 

Goal 3

It is the goal of the FFR Demonstration Grant to only support projects that have clear, well-developed evaluative measures. The assessment process must be appropriate and well-integrated into the project plan. 

Application Process

Implementation Grants 

The Implementation Grant program provides funds to support projects with up to a three-year duration, in which evidence of success from previous research (or FFR Demonstration Grants) indicates that project may be adaptable to a reasonably-sized audience at Southeast. The proposals typically will be funded up to $45,000. The grants are not renewable. 

Goal 1

The primary goal of the FFR Implementation Grant program is to support projects for which 
evidence indicates that the project may be adaptable to a reasonably-sized audience at Southeast. 
This evidence may come from the following sources: a previously successful FFR 
Demonstration Grant; published activities that have been demonstrated to have a positive impact 
on teaching and learning; and/or activities from other institutions that have been demonstrated to 
have a positive impact on teaching and learning.

Goal 2

It is a goal of the FFR Implementation Grant program to bring about institutionalization of various 
successful activities. Completed projects should be presented in some format to the University community. Feedback as to the effectiveness of creative or novel solutions should be discussed and synthesized by the academic community.

Goal 3

It is the goal of the FFR Implementation Grant to only support projects that have a clear, well-developed plan for continuation once FFR funding has ended. This plan must be appropriate and well-integrated into the proposal.

Application Process

University Initiative 

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the FFR funds can be used for University initiatives. 

University Initiatives should be related to enhancement of teaching and learning.  

The FFR committee will have input into the design of the University initiatives. It is anticipated that the individuals bringing forth the University initiatives—presumably the Provost or other administrators at a similar level—will bring a proposal to the committee for discussion and committee input.  There will be no set proposal format, and the committee will not vote on the proposal in any way. 

The FFR committee will receive a report annually of the use of the funds.  

If a University Initiative is funded beyond two years, it is expected that the individuals responsible for the program will seek other funding sources, such as external funding or going to budget review. 

University Initiative funds may be used to partially fund a project funded by another source and to assist a project in transition to another funding source. 

Application Process

Proposal Format 

• The proposal includes a submitted online application form, narrative, and budget page. 
• For both Demonstration and Implementation Grants, the narrative must contain: 
  ▪ Identification of the teaching/learning problem that will be affected by the funding of this proposal 
  ▪ A clear statement of the proposed solution for that problem 
  ▪ The project’s relationship to the unit's or University’s strategic plan/priorities or current initiatives 
  ▪ Plan of activities designed to achieve the goals--WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? HOW? Explain how this is different from what others have tried. 
  ▪ Plan for Evaluation: Describe indicators of success/data to be tracked, including a description of baseline data to be utilized in evaluation. 
  ▪ Timeline

For Implementation Grants, the narrative must also contain

• Evidence that the proposed plan is likely to succeed. This may take the form of preliminary data, published research, conference proceedings, or successful programs from other universities (with supporting data). 
• A description of plans for keeping the program running (if successful) beyond the funding period of the grant 
• A plan for dissemination of the results to the University community. 

The narrative should be single-spaced, in 11-point font or larger. It is limited to three (3) pages for the Demonstration Grants. The proposal is more detailed for Implementation Grants so the narrative may be up to six (6) pages. A ‘literature-cited’ section may be included, but may be no more than two (2) pages. No appendices are allowed. 

Budget Items Allowed

• Consumable supplies
         • Student labor at minimum wage 
         • Graduate Assistant (be sure to include the cost of fee waivers, etc.) 
         • Equipment related to the project 
         • Mileage and travel directly related to delivering the project to its audience 
         • Participant stipends 
         • Release time (The amount of release time is limited and must be very well justified; department or unit support for this is encouraged.) 

FFR Evaluation Criteria

• Is the teaching/learning problem clearly identified?
        • Is the proposal clearly stated and innovative? 
        • Is the project related to the unit's or University’s strategic plan/priorities or current initiatives? 
        • Are expected outcomes clearly defined, and is a clear plan of assessment identified? 
        • Does the project plan demonstrate potential for achieving expected outcomes? 
        • What is the likelihood that the project will lead to enhanced learning? 
        • Is the budget reasonable and well justified? 
        • For Implementation Grants only: Can the plan be sustained beyond FFR funding?

Members of the Funding for Results Committee 2023-2024

Charge: To oversee the Funding for Results (FFR) program established by the University in 1996.  Team Members are responsible for reviewing all FFR proposals submitted by faculty and professional/administrative staff, recommending funds to those receiving the highest rankings, reviewing the interim and final reports of funded projects, overseeing the funding and reports from the Student Professional Development program, and for the ongoing review and development of the FFR program as it evolves. 
 
Membership: The committee shall consist of a minimum of 24 members with preference given to members with a working knowledge of the University Planning and Budget Review Committee. There will be at least one graduate student (one-year appointment); two undergraduate students (one-year appointment); one dean; one department chairperson; one faculty representative from each of the colleges, Kent Library; one representative from the Professional Staff Council; and one representative from the CTS Staff Council. Regular appointments will be for a three-year term on a staggered basis. The Provost may appoint an additional five (5) at-large members. The Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Success and Vice Provost will serve as non-rotating ex-officio members. Committee members may serve a second term but no more than two consecutive terms. Chair to be appointed by Provost. 

Student Professional Development Fund 

A goal in the University's Strategic Plan is that all students will have meaningful experiential learning as part of their education. Southeast has established, as part of its Campus-level FFR Program, a fund to support professional experiences for students. The fund helps make possible the participation by students in real-world, professional presentations of the results of research and other creative work. The program supports travel, lodging, and other expenses related to these activities (subject to university policies governing faculty/staff travel) on a competitive basis. This program is run directly by the Funding For Results Team as a permanent program. 

Application / Approval & Reimbursement Process / Criteria 

• This fund is designed to support student professional activities, including presentations, recitals, exhibitions, and similar creative activities on the regional, state, national, or international level. Students must demonstrate that their presentations or products from creative activities have been reviewed by methods appropriate to the discipline e.g. abstract, try out, submission of a tape or examples of the work to be presented and accepted by the sponsor of the activity. Funds will not be allocated for attendance only or for presentations that have not been subjected to a review process. 
• All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for funds from the Student Professional Development Account. Funds available for graduate students will not exceed twenty percent of total funds. Professional activities supported by this fund must take place while the student is currently enrolled or before June 30 for students graduating in the spring. 
• A student may receive only one professional development grant from this fund per fiscal year. 
• A student must submit, via email, the completed application form to the Office of Graduate Studies at graduatestudies@semo.edu. Proof of acceptance of the presentation or creative activity must be attached and documentation of anticipated expenses, including the Trip Optimizer form, must be provided on the Budget form. The application should be submitted at least thirty days prior to travel. Participants are expected to use the most cost effective means of transportation and avail themselves of conference hotel discounts. In the case where several students are traveling to the same meeting, efforts should be made to minimize costs by shared travel and room expenses. It is expected that the faculty sponsor will coordinate the application process, and provide an explanatory cover letter for these proposals. No more than five students will receive funding to go to a single event. 
• The student, sponsor, and chair/head of the sponsor's department will receive written confirmation from the Office of the Provost of the amount funded for the activity. An advance of the funded amount (to pay for airfare, for example) may be requested from the department of the sponsor. 
• Upon completion of the professional development activity, the student must submit a completed  Student Development Report along with a University Expense Report form (signed by the sponsor and the department chair) AND RECEIPTS FOR ALL EXPENSES CLAIMED to the departmental office of the sponsor for reimbursement. The department will then submit copies of the report and form to the Office of the Provost (mail stop 3400) for reimbursement to the department. 
• The committee responsible for evaluating applications for student professional development funds will follow the basic criteria for funding of allowing each applicant a maximum of $600, as long as funds are available. Expenses over the initial award are the responsibility of the student.  
• All travel expenses and reimbursements must abide by all University guidelines and requirements. Please consult with your academic department on allowable expenses and refer to the travel policy and procedures.