Streamlined OURC/Baker Fund process offers larger awards, expedited process for smaller proposals

The Research Division has combined two faculty grant programs into one streamlined process to support research and creative activity, with the next application deadline on Feb. 2, 2023, at 4 p.m.

The Ohio University Research Committee/Baker Fund now offers up to $15,000 in support for faculty and staff to pursue research and creative activity projects that range in scope from initial stages to those that are near completion. Proposals requesting $3,000 or less will have an expedited process and do not have to go through an external review. This program replaces the separate OURC and Baker Fund programs but maintains overall funding available for projects.

"Like the previous OURC and Baker programs, faculty requests for the combined program will be reviewed twice a year, in the fall and spring. But for proposals requesting $3,000 or less, the process will be streamlined, allowing more expedient feedback. Under the new process, faculty will receive updates on the status of their smaller grant requests within 60 days, as opposed to the three-to-four months required for the larger requests, which require external review," said Candice Thomas-Maddox, professor of communication studies in the Scripps College of Communication and one of the faculty who helped streamline the process.

"Since the new process has suspended external reviews for smaller grant requests, it also has the potential to alleviate apprehension associated with the grant application process. This should open doors for faculty from across all of Ohio University campuses to submit requests to support research and creative activity. Previously, all proposals were required to be reviewed by experts in the field as part of the committee's evaluation process. While this review process made sense for larger grant amounts, it may have inhibited some faculty from submitting requests due to multiple steps required," Thomas-Maddox added.

Attend a November workshop to learn more

Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a workshop in November – offered in-person and via Teams – to learn more about the updates to this program:

• Thursday, Nov. 17,  from 11 a.m. to noon, in Grosvenor 209 and via Teams.
• Friday, Nov. 18, from 2 to 3 p.m. (repeat session) in Grosvenor 209 and via Teams

See more info on OURC/Baker at www.ohio.edu/research/funding, including guidelines, workshop dates, and deadlines. All tenure-track faculty and full-time continuing administrative staff on all of Ohio University’s campuses whose job descriptions include research responsibilities are eligible to submit proposals in any field of study. Exceptions for non-tenure-track faculty will be considered in exceptional cases.

"Proposals still need to meet all of the guideline requirements, but may need less pages to do so. However, the proposal must still clearly articulate the purpose, need, merit and methods for the research project or creative work. Funded proposals will be based on the merit of the project or creative work, quality of proposal and adherence to guidelines. There are no quotas, i.e., funding limits per department or college," Roxanne Male’-Brune, director of grant development and projects in the Research Division, said.