Objectives

Duke University is committed to advancing faculty excellence by fostering an environment where all faculty can thrive, and the Office for Faculty Advancement (OFA) demonstrates that commitment by supporting all faculty and their academic programs. Faculty Advancement Seed Grants are intended to provide a financial start for novel, faculty-led initiatives in academic units (schools, departments, divisions, centers and institutes) that aim to promote a vibrant and inclusive academic community and cultivate networks for faculty to collaborate and form meaningful relationships. Successful seed grants are intended to have a positive impact on academic units and may continue beyond the scope of the award to become long-term initiatives.  

Guidelines and Theme

The Office for Faculty Advancement is pleased to announce the theme of the fifth cycle of the Faculty Advancement Seed Grant Program: “Building Academic Networks and Strengthening Faculty Communities.” Seed grant proposals will be accepted for review if they describe a project that seeks to address at least one of the following areas: 

1. A specific need to build networks or groups among faculty colleagues, including emeritus faculty, with connections along lines of discipline, academic title, faculty rank, personal identity, shared interest, or any other relevant category.
2. Initiatives to improve dynamics between faculty colleagues, faculty and staff, or faculty and students.
3. A specific academic culture or climate issue in a department or academic unit (for example, imbalances in power dynamics, inequitable practices and policies, mentorship challenges, etc.).
    

Please note that this initiative does not fund research projects or research collaborations.

Proposals that are successful will seek to explore issues and approaches that are directly related to the stated guidelines of this RFP. Examples of eligible activities are: workshops and programs, faculty curricular activities, structured affinity groups, resource development, small group symposia, outside speakers, book clubs, etc. OFA will offer ‘office hours’ to provide proposal support and discuss proposal ideas prior to submission.

Eligibility

All regular rank faculty in all schools¹, university institutes and centers are eligible to apply to this program as Principal Investigators (PI) (see FAQ page). Seed grant projects must include activities that focus on university departments, institutes or centers. Please contact OFA with questions related to unit eligibility.

^{1School of Medicine faculty holding primary or secondary appointments in a Basic Science or university department, institute or center are eligible to apply as Principal Investigator. Clinical faculty may participate as Co-PIs in partnerhip with a faculty member who meets the eligibility criteria to serve as Principal Investigator.} 

Funding Amounts

Seed grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $20,000. Faculty must be in good standing with the university at the time of submission and remain so throughout the project period. Funds may be revoked should this status change.

Proposal Submission Requirements

• A project narrative, including a detailed project description and rationale, targeted participants, start date, end date and metrics of success.
• A one-page budget with a brief justification. Funds may not be used to support faculty effort, staff effort, travel, equipment or monetary distributions to support secondary or related projects. The involvement of work study students and other learners will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is expected that funds will be spent in the 12 month period of the award cycle. 
• A project timeline that provides a projection of progress and benchmarks in the award cycle.
• A letter of support from the PI’s unit Director/Chair/Dean/Vice Provost addressing how the goals of the project are consistent with the unit’s long-term goals, as well as a plan for project support at the conclusion of the award cycle.

Submission Deadline and Form

The submission deadline is January 6, 2023. CLOSED

Award Timeline

Review Process

A review committee will evaluate proposals and make funding recommendations to the OFA Selection Committee.

Report

Recipients will complete a report at the conclusion of the funding cycle that summarizes project activities, assesses outcomes, details budget expenses and describes efforts to sustain or build upon the successes of the seed grant project. Seed Grant Principal Investigators will receive the template for the report at the end of the grant cycle.  

Contact

For questions about the Faculty Advancement Seed Grant Program, please contact Jennifer Goins (jennifer.goins@duke.edu). We invite you to attend OFA Seed Grant Office Hours to discuss project ideas:

• November 14, 4:00-5:00 pm (virtual): Register
• December 6, 11:00-12:00 pm (in-person): Register (event update:  now virtual)

Frequently Asked Questions