LAS-OVCDEI Collaborative Mentoring Program

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Date and Deadlines

Due Date Proposals accepted on an ongoing basis (Online submission portal)
Award Notification As early as June 1, 2024
Earliest Start Date July 1, 2024

Program Description

In partnership with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion (OVCDEI), the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) is piloting a program to provide collaborative mentoring grants in support of mid-career tenure-track and instructional specialized faculty (teaching, research, or clinical associate professors). The 2024-2025 program is the third year of the program.

The program’s main objective is to prepare faculty members for the next promotion. Submissions are particularly encouraged from groups underrepresented in the associate professor ranks. Team and individual proposals will be accepted, as well proposals from academic units. Collaborative mentoring teams and academic units can receive up to $5,000. Individual proposals may receive up to $1,500.

Collaborative and unit proposals should consist of at least 3-4 members working in a peer-to-peer interdisciplinary team. Proposals must reflect substantive involvement from team members from different disciplines and/or academic departments. Teams may also include team members from outside campus to participate (with restrictions). The grants will be distributed July 1, 2024 and must conclude by June 30, 2025.

Proposals should demonstrate research, teaching or engagement excellence. This can be conveyed through creating research/writing plans, collaborating on internal and external funding and grants, setting up and running laboratories, developing innovative pedagogy, and cultivating relationships with potential external reviewers, and community organizations.

Proposals should enhance productivity for professional outcomes in the areas of scholarship, grant applications, publications, or community outreach. Projects may consist of developing and achieving teaching excellence through the development of new pedagogical practices, developing new courses, interdisciplinary curricula, and student outcomes. Additionally, proposals may also address work-life barriers and strategies for addressing issues that may limit professional advancement at Illinois.

Individual or team proposals may include funding for:

Editing services.
Expenses for a collaborative mentoring partner outside the institution.
Honoraria for external in-person mentoring or mentoring public events.
Professional coaching.
Professional development travel.

Proposals requesting funds for external in-person support should including a letter of support from the proposed mentor for the services to be provided and the associated costs.

Faculty Eligibility

Each project will identify a faculty lead or principal investigator who will assume organizational leadership for the project. A faculty member may only be a lead or PI on one submitted project. However, there is no limit to being on other projects. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include other mid-career faculty members. Preference will be given to individuals/ teams who have not been previously supported.

Proposal Preparation

Format: Proposals are being accepted on an ongoing basis. Upload a single PDF of your proposal HERE. Guidelines and the maximum number of pages for each section is described in the call.

Download the RFP and program guidelines.

Questions?

For additional information, please send inquiries to LAS-IE@illinois.edu.