Kempf Internal Grant Competition

Kempf Internal Grant Competition

Deadline: November 27, 2023
(Awards will be announced by January)

The School of Education is soliciting applications for the Kempf Trust Grants. Members of the Research and Development Committee evaluate each proposal and determine which studies are to be funded. The current approved interpretation of the intent of the donor for the fund is as follows: “The intent of the Kempf Fund is to support the development of assessment procedures that reflect characteristics of school age children and youth associated with learning in school that lead to a successful and satisfying work life and to appreciation for life-long learning.”

Kempf Internal Grant Competition Guidelines

  1. The project director must hold a regular tenure track academic appointment in the Indiana University Bloomington School of Education at the rank of assistant professor or higher or have an appointment as clinical faculty.
  2. Proposed research studies must be consistent with the intent of the donor (see above) and a brief statement in the proposal should make the relationship clear.
  3. This competition is intended to support research related to developing faculty research programs. Proposals should make clear how the proposed research study is a part of and contributes to a larger research program. Proposals should make clear how the research, if funded, will enhance the likelihood of obtaining external funding to support the continuation of the applicant’s research program or, if external funding is not likely, how the research program could continue without such funding.
  4. Priority will be given to pre-tenure faculty or faculty starting a new line of research.
  5. Each budget submitted should meet the following criteria:
    1. Budgets may not exceed $14,000 and are limited to a maximum funding period of 12 months. Only one proposal will be funded. All projects will begin between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 and end within 12 months of the starting date.
    2. Budget requests may not include salary/stipends to faculty members.
    3. Purchase of equipment is not generally encouraged but will be considered.
    4. Professional travel may be included.
    5. Budget must include printing cost of one poster for internal grants poster session.
  6. Proposals must be concise and must not exceed ten 8 ½ x 11 double-spaced pages with one-inch margins on the top, bottom and sides, using 12 point font (12 characters per inch). Font size does not apply to charts, tables, figures and graphs.

You are required to submit budgets to Sean Price at caprice@indiana.edu in the R&D Office for review and feedback prior to submission of a proposal.

  1. An abstract, bibliography, budget, and budget justification, including a project timeline, should be attached to the proposal but are not counted in the ten-page limit. Other materials may be attached but will be read at the discretion of the reviewer.
  2. Over-budgeted and over-length proposals will be returned to the applicant for prompt revisions. A revision deadline will be announced and must be met in order to qualify for committee review.
  3. If a proposal is concurrently submitted for review by any other funding source(s), the other funding source(s) must be noted on the proposal.
  4. All proposed studies involving the use of human subjects must have a completed "research protocol involving human subjects" approved by the campus committee before funding will be released.

The members of the R&D Committee apply the following criteria in their evaluations of the proposals and look for specific discussion of each criterion in the proposal:

  1. Kempf Endowment Criteria:
    • Is the proposed project related to the development of assessment procedures that reflect characteristics of school age children and youth associated with learning in school that lead to a successful and satisfying work life and to appreciation for life-long learning?
  2. Significance of the Project:
    • Does it seem likely that the proposed project will make a clear contribution to the knowledge base in the relevant field of study?
    • Is attention given to the value of the findings to research in the field of study related to the topic of the project and/or to practical applications?
    • Will the project have potential for leading to external funding to support a continuation of the applicant’s research program?
  3. Project Method:
    • Is the problem statement clear?
    • Are the procedures clear and are they likely to answer the stated problem?
    • Are the analyses appropriate and thorough?
    • Is attention given to reasonableness of time and suitability of locale?
  4. Project Plan:
    • Is the project likely to be completed within the time period?
    • Is the budget consistent with the scope of the project?
  5. What is the overall quality and originality of the proposal?
  6. Is the applicant a pre-tenure faculty or a tenured faculty starting a new line of research?

Submission

Applications must be submitted electronically to randd@indiana.edu. Paper copies will not be accepted.

Reporting Requirements

A final report MUST be sent to the Office of Research and Development (randd@indiana.edu) no later than six months after the conclusion of the award period. The final report form can be obtained from R&D. Failure to complete the final report will make the grant PI ineligible to compete for any internal grant program. You will be expected to present your research at an upcoming School sponsored event.