The Research Facilities Development Fund supports the improvement, renovation and construction of research facilities at the University, as well as the acquisition of major items of equipment used in support of research. The Fund is designed to assist schools to develop new research initiatives or to renew important existing research programs. Priority is given to projects that advance the academic priorities and strategic plans of the School and University.

Applications to the Fund are made by Deans. Where feasible, Deans are requested to have applications made for external funding simultaneously with their requests to the Fund. The Fund would prefer to guarantee funding, rather than make outright grants, in the expectation that some projects for which funding is requested will attract outside support. Preference will be given to schools actively engaged in sponsored research.

Proposals (original and 5 copies) should be submitted by November 1 of each year to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (118 CH/6303). They should be concise and must follow this outline.

1.School/Resource Center/Administrative Division

2. Project identification

3. Location

4. Relevant background information

5. Scope, including

• A summary statement of what will be done;
  
• Rationale for project;
  
• Programmatic description of research activities to take place in facility;
  
• Impact on research potential of school

6. Relation to School's Strategic Plan and Academic Priorities, and value added

7. Documentation of feasibility and estimated cost (see below)

8. Proposed alternative or shared source(s) of funds if any

9. Timing

10. Contact person

Planning, implementation, and followup

Primary criteria for review will include the following:
The School's active commitment to the development of Sponsored Research.

• The contribution of the proposed project to the research and academic priorities of the School, as indicated in the Agenda for Excellence or strategic plan. Emphasis will be given to new or renewed research initiatives in contrast to routine plant maintenance.
• The impact of the proposed project on the rest of the University.
• Assurance of funding for operation of the facility on an ongoing basis, and the amount of external funding currently available.
• Projected amount of matching funds and/or School contribution for the proposed project.
  
  

Other considerations include:

• The distribution of RFDF grants by school during the last 5 years, and the use of that prior funding by each school.
• The availability of other funding sources for each School.
• The relationship between the application and capital budget plans for the School.
• The fiscal scale of the application, ie, whether it can be implemented by a budget of the order of $250,000. This suggested cap on individual awards has been set in order to maximize the number of grants that can be awarded each year.
• The support of under-represented minorities and women.
• The use of an open participatory process, involving consultation with the faculty and the "Reseach Dean" within the School, in identifying priorities and developing applications.