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Funding Opportunities
Provost’s Fund for Interfaculty Collaboration
Provost’s Fund for Interfaculty Collaboration
Next deadline: Friday, May 17
Purpose
The Provost's Fund for Interfaculty Collaboration (PFIC) was developed to promote faculty discussion and collaboration on topics and activities of mutual intellectual interest that involve two or more Faculties. The Provost has limited funds to support a variety of cross-faculty collaborations, including but not limited to new interdisciplinary courses, working groups, small-scale conferences, and new research projects that have relevance to fostering interfaculty collaboration more broadly (e.g. a research project that produces a model for the joint supervision of grad students that could be used by others).
To be eligible for support, the designated leader and faculty involved with the proposal must hold primary Harvard faculty appointments at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor. Additionally, the faculty involved must be from at least two different Schools or two different divisions within FAS. Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received funding from the grant. Colleagues from outside Harvard may be included as well. Grants of up to $25,000 are available and will not typically cover salaries for faculty members or postdoctoral fellows.
These one-year grants should be considered seed money rather than continuing support (renewals are no longer permitted) and funding should be expended within a year of the award. Preference will be given to proposals that illustrate the potential long-term impact of one-time seed funding (e.g., sponsored research opportunities, resulting scholarly products) as well as to proposals that show the leveraging of other Harvard resources (e.g., cost-sharing with a Department or School).
Proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria:
Scholarly import: The activity/research should help balance and enhance the portfolio of academic activities across Harvard and expand the boundaries of current scholarship.
Linkages: The PFIC is specifically targeted at enhancing linkages and collaborations among faculty across the Schools or, less often, between traditionally disparate disciplines or divisions within a School. Therefore, three types of collaboration are possible: two or more disciplines at two or more Schools; the same discipline at two or more Schools; or, two or more disciplines within one School (e.g. between the humanities and social sciences within FAS).
Collaboration: The activity/research facilitates collaboration in areas that are difficult to address in the current Harvard structure.
Educational Impact: The idea strengthens existing educational programs and/or creates new learning opportunities. Particular value will be placed on proposals that bring the professional Schools together with the College.
Implementation: Successful applications will include a concrete implementation plan, including a list of confirmed participants, program of activities, and detailed projected budget. If the total budget greatly exceeds the limit of the PFIC ($25,000), applicants will be required to show other sources of funding before any award may be finalized.
Application Process
The next deadline for the Provost Fund for Interfaculty Collaboration is Friday, May 17 (midnight). Applications and general inquiries as well as questions pertaining to past awards should be addressed to Marshall Page, as directed below.
Applications should contain:
Proposal – The proposal should be a description of the activity (less than two pages) addressing the criteria above. Where appropriate, applicants should also attach drafts of relevant agendas, programs, schedules, etc.
Budget – Include a detailed budget including categories of expense and specific planned expenditures (e.g., guest travel and lodging, food, facilities rentals, student assistance) as well as any additional income secured or solicited from other sources.
Faculty commitment letters/emails – Include letters or emails of commitment to the project, one from the designated faculty leader assuming fiscal, administrative, and intellectual responsibility for the program and one from each significant faculty contributor specifying the level of involvement to which he/she is prepared to commit. NOTE: Letters/emails of commitment should come directly from faculty contributors (to the mailing or email address below).
Funds will be granted for use within twelve months. Funds not used within the time allotted will require that either the balance be returned or an application for an extension be submitted (extensions will only be considered under extenuating circumstances). A report will be expected from each group within one year of the award date, detailing what activities the group has engaged in, who has participated, the substance of the issues explored, and any resulting products. That report must also contain a detailed and final budget.
Applications or questions should be submitted either via email or in hard copy to:
Marshall Page
843 Holyoke Center
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 495-2579