Funding Opportunities

• Inventory materials, develop reference collections, collate information, and manage data about native biodiversity, natural areas, and managed lands.
• Assess the status of native biodiversity, natural areas, and managed systems.
• Monitor and evaluate trends in native biodiversity, natural areas, and managed systems.
• Conduct innovative research that adds to the existing knowledge base on native biodiversity, management, and sustainable use of biological resources.

• Protected natural areas ( including Dominica Water and Sewerage Company watershed for long term monitoring plots, biodiversity conservation, observational research)
• Manipulated research (natural area plots designated for manipulative research)
• Abandoned and active farm plots ( some active designated for organic and sustainable agriculture/some for research comparative chemical agriculture)
• Watershed research
• Primary rainforest
• Sports, camping, recreation, nature trails, specialty gardens

• Collate information about tourism and managed systems from established sources
• Examine the relationship between the physical/economic footprint of tourism, and ecological patterns/ ecosystem processes at a local, island and regional scale.
• Develop outreach programs for the general public and tourism trade
• Leverage volume of past and future research efforts at Springfield to provide natural history content for island-wide site interpretation literature.
• Develop plan to become an example of best practices as an ecotourism venue.

• Provide curriculum development and teacher training in relevant research and education focus areas for the Dominican K-12 school system.
• Assist with the development of youth summer camp programs (e.g., fund development, risk management, program evaluation and assessment)

• Provide a learning environment for undergraduate students to conduct field biology and other disciplines, using inquiry-based approaches, and provide them with opportunities for independent research.
• Develop projects that can involve data collection by student groups to contribute to long-term databases.

• Funds for the ATREC Initiative are state funds and are subject to all state guidelines and are to be expended within the FY08 year (before June 30, 2008)
• Support of graduate or undergraduate participation in the proposed project. This excludes thesis or dissertation work, and should outline the roles/responsibilities of the student (s) in the project and how their work will contribute to their learning experience.
• Travel required for project implementation( not travel to professional meetings)
• General supplies, materials, services, personnel required for project ( no computers and/or equipment)

1. Proposal Abstract: 150 word statement outlining the proposal’s main goals and activities.
2. Statement of Community Need: Statement describing the community issue or concern to be addressed.
3. Goals and Objectives: Statement of proposed project goals and how these goals are aligned with ATREC focus area and related goal.
4. Methodology and Timeline: Activities that will be undertaken as part of the project and when these activities will occur.
5. Evaluation plan: Statement as to how the intended outcomes of the project will be measured to determine the project's impact and success in accomplishing proposed objectives. Plans should delineate both the short- term and proposed long -term outcomes of the project and should be able to show substantive results in the short-term.
6. Budget:
   a) Please include mention of other sources of funding for your project, such as matching institutional funds and/ or other grant sources.
   b) Please provide clarification for categories such as "other" by outlining activities to be undertaken. For costs related to salaries and assistantships, give duties/responsibilities associated with the position.
7. Communication Plan: How the work of the project will be disseminated to colleagues and the general public.

• Vitaes/short resumes of personnel who will be involved in the project, including both faculty and community partners.
• Institutional Review Board Approval : If applicable, Human subjects forms should be submitted to the IRB for approval. Please contact the IRB coordinator at 656-6460 to determine if your proposal will require IRB review and approval. Attach a copy of your request to your proposal.
• All paperwork required by the Office of International Affairs for study/abroad and foreign travel. All documents can be found under faculty summer study abroad forms at http://www.clemson.edu/IA/IntlPrograms/StudyAbroad/staff.html. Attach a copy of your paperwork/request to your proposal.
• Statement of commitment to require all participants to attend a pre-travel workshop on studying at the Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center in Dominica prior to travel to the site if the proposal is funded.

• Promote partnerships among faculty, staff, students and local community members that support civic and community engagement.
• Engage classes of undergraduate and/or graduate students in collaborative community-based activities that integrate teaching, research and public service into the student learning experience.
• Engage members of local communities, legislators, and state government in the creation of statewide learning communities.

• support of graduate or undergraduate participation in the proposed project (this excludes thesis or dissertation work, and should outline the roles/responsibilities of the student(s) in the project and how their work will contribute to their learning experience);
• travel required for project implementation (not travel to professional meetings);
• general supplies, materials, services, personnel required for project (no computers and/or equipment).

PROPOSAL FORMAT:
Proposals should be a maximum of five (5) pages and should include the following:

1. Proposal Abstract: 150-word statement outlining the proposal's main goals and activities.
2. Statement of Community Need: Statement describing the community issue or concern to be addressed.
3. Goals and Objectives: Statement of proposed project goals and how these goals are aligned with or related to the objectives of the Citizens and Scholars mini-grant program.
4. Methodology and Timeline: Activities that will be undertaken as part of the project and when these activities will occur.
5. Evaluation plan: Statement as to how the intended outcomes of the project will be measured to determine the project's impact and success in accomplishing proposed objectives. Plans should delineate both the short- term and proposed long -term outcomes of the project and should be able to show substantive results in the short-term.
6. Budget:

a) Please include mention of other sources of funding for your project, such as matching institutional funds and/ or other grant sources.

b) Please provide clarification for categories such as "other" by outlining activities to be undertaken. For costs related to salaries and assistantships, give duties/responsibilities associated with the position.

7. Sustainability: Outline a plan for future support, identifying potential future funding sources.

8. Communication Plan: How the work of the project will be disseminated to colleagues and the general public.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Vitaes/short resumes of personnel who will be involved in the project, including both faculty and community partners.
• Institutional Review Board Approval:  If applicable, Human subjects forms should be submitted to the IRB for approval.  Please contact the IRB coordinator at 656-6460 to determine if your proposal will require IRB review and approval.  Attach a copy of your request to your proposal.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE:
Monday, December 10, 2007 with notification by Tuesday, December 18, 2007.

REVIEW PROCESS:
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Clemson University Service Alliance. Recommendations will be forwarded to the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture for final funding decisions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kathy Woodard, Coordinator, CU Service Alliance
214 Barre Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-0124
656-0205
ckathy@clemson.edu

Clemson University
Scholars in Service-Learning Program

PURPOSE:
The Scholars in Service-Learning Program recognizes Clemson students who are selected by faculty or professional staff to assist in implementation of a service-learning class, development of community-based research projects, or completion of a campus-wide service project in and with the community.

SCHOLARSHIP:
Scholars in Service-Learning are awarded a scholarship of $600 per semester to support educational expenses (e.g., tuition and fees) at Clemson for Spring Semester for 2007.

ELIGIBILITY:
Graduate and undergraduate students who have completed 18 credit hours at Clemson and have at least a 2.75 grade point average are eligible.  Students must be nominated by faculty or staff and must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours during the semester in which they receive the scholarship.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Students participate with and/or assist faculty or staff with service-learning classes or community-based research projects.  Recipients also submit a one- to two-page reflection on their experience as a Scholar in Service-Learning and how this experience has impacted their personal and professional development.

FACULTY/STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES:
Faculty/Staff submit a proposal to the Clemson University Service Alliance (guidelines appear below) requesting a scholarship for a Scholar in Service-Learning.  A new or updated proposal is required each semester for each scholarship requested.  Upon notification of receiving an award, faculty/staff select a qualified student to assist in their work as it relates to service-learning or community-based research and submit their name to the Service Alliance Office for scholarship approval.  Faculty or staff receiving awards are expected to:

• provide supervision to the Scholar throughout the semester,
• complete a one-page report on activities,
• send copy of the Scholar's one- to two-page reflection to the Service Alliance Office.
  

PROPOSALS:
Funding for Scholars in Service-Learning is available to support work in the any of the following areas:

• Teaching: A Scholar in Service-Learning may serve as a teaching assistant in a service-learning class, coordinate details on service-learning placements, or assist community organizations in monitoring students.
• Research: A Scholar in Service-Learning may develop or assist on a project on the pedagogy of service-learning or serve as an assistant on a community-based research project with a community organization.
• Service: A Scholar in Service-Learning may serve as a liaison between campus and community organizations or coordinate a campus-wide service initiative such as MLK Day of Service, Campus Sweep, etc.
  

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE:
Proposals should be a maximum of two pages and should include the following information:

• faculty member's background in service-learning, community-based research, or community service initiatives;
• specific details on the roles and responsibilities of the Scholar in Service-Learning, and how their involvement will assist with the faculty member's work;
• description of the supervision and mentoring the faculty/staff member will provide for the Scholar in Service-Learning;
• how the experience will benefit the student, with an emphasis on leadership skills and civic engagement;
• how the work of the Scholar will benefit the greater community;
• how the work of the Scholar in Service-Learning will leverage the involvement of other Clemson students in public service activities.
  

LETTER OF SUPPORT:
Provide a brief letter or statement of support from your departmental chair, dean, or head of department.

CRITERIA:
Proposals will be reviewed by the Service Alliance Office and evaluated on:

• proposed activities and their relation to the program and Service Alliance goals and objectives;
• potential benefits of proposed activities for the Scholar in Service-Learning;
• positive impact on local community or communities;
• evidence of support from chair, head of department and Dean of College;
• past compliance of the faculty/staff member with previous internal mini-grant awards.
  

PROPOSAL DEADLINE
Deadline for receipt of application for Spring Semester is November 30, 2007, with faculty notification of award by December 13, 2007.

For questions or additional information, please contact:
Kathy Woodard
Clemson University Service Alliance
214 Barre Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-0124
864-656-0205
ckathy@clemson.edu