Mini-Grants
2013 Mini-Grants Program for Teaching, Research and Engagement
Background and Purpose: Funds associated with the Warner gift are available to support a minigrant program within WCNR. The grant program enhances the overall quality of the WCNR teaching, research and engagement portfolios by providing funding for innovative ideas to enhance the student learning experience, to create additional opportunities to explore natural resource research ideas, and to expand our capabilities to communicate new knowledge to outside constituencies. For CY 2012 a total of 10 grants out of 27 submissions were funded, ranging from $1,400 to $10,000 for a total grant allocation of $77,000.
1. Grant awards are competitive.
2. Grants are available to both WCNR faculty (tenure and non-tenure track) and research career lines. Multi-PI (collaborative, interdisciplinary) submissions are encouraged. PIs awarded a mini-grant in CY 2012 are not eligible in 2013 except as outlined in (4) below.
3. The award range is generally $1,000 to $10,000 with a pool of approximately $75,000. Large dollar proposals beyond $10,000 might be considered if they represent a significant innovation or opportunity that aligns with the College’s strategic direction.
4. Each award is for one year only, beginning on the award date. However, a follow-up application may be submitted with justification for the additional support if a progress report on the results of the first year award is included in the application packet.
5. Applications should be submitted via https://taurus.cnr.colostate.edu/apps/mini-grants/ to be reviewed by a committee of your WCNR peers under the direction of the Associate Dean for Research ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). The deadline for 2013 is Wednesday, January 9th at 5 p.m. Awards will be announced by February 1st, 2013.
6. The maximum length of the proposal and budget should be no longer than 4 pages (not including cover page and vitae) and must include the following:
- Statement of justification for the request in sufficient detail (but limited to three pages) that reviewers will adequately understand why the requested funding is necessary for this specific request and how it will benefit a particular program in the college.
- An indication of how the proposal contributes to the WCNR mission.
- Justified itemized budget.
- Cover sheet with title, names of PI/Co PI(s). Unit head approval is required before a proposal will be considered.
- Curriculum vitae (1-2 pages) for each co-PI.
7. Applications may include but are not limited to addressing professional development needs (e.g. specialized teaching or research methodology/new technology workshops), equipment needs that cannot be funded otherwise, seed funds to initially explore innovative ideas, or funds to leverage dollars on a currently funded project so long as the proposed activities clearly contribute to the WCNR mission.
8. Applications will be reviewed and scored by an internal selection committee. Review criteria are:
a. Proposal is clearly described and project entails innovative ideas to:
- enhance student learning experiences,
- create faculty/researcher opportunities for further research and/or
- expand capabilities to communicate and engage with outside constituencies
- Proposal clearly states justification for project, including benefit to a particular WCNR program.
- Proposal and project clearly support the WCNR mission.
- Proposed work is collaborative and interdisciplinary.
- Proposal contains an appropriate justified, itemized budget consistent with grant guidelines.
- Proposal is well prepared, including organization and inclusion of all required materials including CVs and budget.
9. Mini-grant funds are not appropriate for use as Principal Investigator salary.
10. A detailed summary report and expenditure summary report is due in the dean’s office no later than January 31, 2014. Additionally, PIs will be expected to collaborate with WCNR media representatives to develop marketing materials that promote their research. Funds not expended are returned to the Dean’s office.
11. Questions should be directed to Mark Paschke, Associate Dean for Research( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), 491-0760.
