Funding Opportunities for Faculty

Dean’s Exploratory Grants provide seed funding of up to $5,000 to support research explorations at the development stage where no definite outcomes can be predicted at the time the application is submitted.

Eligibility: 

• If you received funding from a Dean’s Faculty Exploratory grant last year you are not eligible to apply with the same project this year. 
• You may apply for a Dean’s Faculty Research Grant for the same project for which you received an Exploratory Grant. 
• If you have received funding two years in a row from the Dean’s Faculty Exploratory Grants you are not eligible to apply for an Exploratory Grant this academic year.

To prepare a competitive proposal that addresses the weighted review criteria in the Exploratory Grants category, refer to the following:

Clarity of the project: In your project narrative, describe your proposed project related to creative work and scholarship or an interdisciplinary project idea. Describe how this project represents an exploratory endeavor that could contribute to innovation and the generation of new knowledge. (45%)

Strong case for support: In your project narrative, describe how the project contributes to current trends/practice, your field, to your professional development at this time, and to the profile and intellectual assets of the School and the university. Projects with promise of future external funding will be strongly considered. (40%)

Clear and reasonable budget: Present a budget that clearly and accurately aligns with the activities of your project. Budget expenses should be explained in your project narrative. Click here for a list of allowable and non-allowable expenses. (15%)

For the current year’s deadline and application, click here. 

Please note: Award recipients must complete a final report on the project and submit to the Dean’s Office within 30 days of the end of the grant period. A report template will be provided. Failure to submit a final report on time will jeopardize future funding.

Provide funding of up to $7,000 to support the final stage of research for which outcomes have been determined, and a venue for dissemination or realization of research results has been identified.

Eligibility: 

If you have received funding from the Dean’s Faculty Research grants two years in a row you are not eligible to apply for a Dean’s Faculty Research grant this academic year.

Review criteria:

Clarity of the project: In your project narrative, describe your proposed project related to the exhibition, performance, or publication of creative work. Be sure to indicate in your proposal the venue in which your work will be shown (gallery, theatre, festival) or form in which it will be disseminated (journal article, conference paper). Articulate the importance of this venue to the field and to your work/research. (40%)

Strong case for support: In your project narrative, describe how the project contributes to current trends/practice, your field, to your professional development at this time, and to the profile and intellectual assets of the School and the university. Projects with promise of future external funding will be strongly considered. (35%)

Clear and reasonable budget: Present a budget that clearly and accurately aligns with the activities of your project. Budget expenses should be explained in your project narrative. Click here for a list of allowable and non-allowable expenses. (15%)

Potential for external funding: In sources of external support, indicate the other sources of funding you are seeking for this project. (10%)

For the current year’s deadline and application, click here.

Please note: Award recipients must complete a final report on the project and submit to the Dean’s Office within 30 days of the end of the grant period. A report template will be provided. Failure to submit a final report on time will jeopardize future funding.

The Dean’s office in the School of the Arts offers Summer Research Grants to support summer research in two categories:

Category I Educational

Summer Educational Research Grants unite undergraduate education and faculty by supporting projects that include opportunities for undergraduate students to work as research/studio assistants. Successful proposals must discuss how the project will increase the student researcher’s knowledge, skills and experience.

Category II General

General Summer Research Grants support a broad range of research for faculty and can be used to initiate a short-term summer project, fund a discrete sub-section of an existing or ongoing project, or complete a project already begun. NOTE: This category does not allow for any payment to contractors, studio assistants, or editors.

Eligibility: All full-time tenure-track, tenured and term faculty holding appointments through the end of the following fall semester are invited to submit applications for a grant in the amount of $3,000 in either category (but not both). This includes faculty at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor.

Evaluation of proposals in both categories will focus on the quality of the project and the significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to thought and knowledge in the applicant’s field via peer-reviewed publication, exhibition, or performance (broadly defined) and/or potential for external funding. Consideration will be given to projects that will advance the applicants’ path to tenure and promotion and the likelihood that the applicant will complete the project (or a designated sub-section of a larger project) during the summer of the award.

Evaluation of Summer Educational Research Grant proposals will focus additionally on how projects address and account for the quality of the student research experience.

For the current year’s deadline and application, click here. 

VCUarts provides financial support for adjunct faculty research, creative/scholarly work and professional development. Adjunct faculty funding requests are held to standards comparable to full-time faculty. Proposals can be funded up to $1,000.

Eligibility: Adjunct faculty must be currently employed in the School of the Arts during the time of the request and performing satisfactorily. Adjunct faculty must be on contract with VCU during the semester of the request. One submission is permitted per deadline. Funded projects may take place within an additional semester of the request, regardless of contract status, and should be completed within this timeframe. Applicants will be notified regarding the status of their proposal approximately three weeks after the deadline.

Please note: Award recipients must complete a final report on the project and submit to the Dean’s Office within 30 days of the end of the grant period. A report template will be provided. Failure to submit a final report on time will jeopardize future funding.

For current year’s deadlines and application, click here.

Faculty are eligible for two types of scholarly leave: study-research leave and educational leave.

Relevant policies and procedures for study-research and educational leaves of absence can be found on the university’s HR website. Faculty applying for national/international awards such as Fulbright Fellowships or other fellowships that have a residential requirement also must apply for leave. Candidates must notify their chair/director and the VCUarts Research office, artsresearch@vcu.edu when applying for these types of external awards.

For details and application instructions, click here.