Grant Writing Resources

This Getting Started with Research video offers some great tips on developing your research project.

The Data Analysis Lab provides support through all stages of the quantitative and qualitative research projects from study design and methodology to statistical analysis and interpretation.

Learn about internal and external grant opportunities to help fund your research.

Review information about Research Compliance & Policies.

Search the Library Catalog for articles, digital archives, books, and more.

Search the A to Z Listing of Research Databases for more targeted searching.

Library Tutorials and Subject & Course Guides are available to support your research.

Ask A Librarian for research help at any stage of the process.

Scholarly Communication and Publishing

The University's Technology Services provides software for work use and some are also available for personal devices. View more information about the software available to FHSU faculty and staff (including to access programs such as IBM SPSS, Dedoose, and others).

Find resources for APA, MLA, and Chicago Manual of Style through the Citation and Documentation Styles Guide. This guide also references other common styles and provides citation management resources.

Make an appointment with the Writing Center located for individualized consultation to strengthen your writing skills and documentation style.

Free online tutoring and an online writing lab is available to FHSU Online students only for tutoring and academic assistance.

Look for presentation opportunities at FHSU.

• Creating a Research Poster
• The following poster templates are available for you to use (optional) 
• Poster Template 1
• Poster Template 2
• Presenting with Confidence

• Presenting a Research Poster Online with Screencast-O-Matic
• Presenting a Research Poster Online with PowerPoint
• Delivering an Online Oral Presentation
• Easy and free video editing software with tutorials: 
  • Windows 10
  • iPhone, iPad, or Mac
• How to upload videos to YouTube: 
  • Uploading videos to YouTube
  • Uploading videos longer than 15 minutes to YouTube
  • Making videos ‘unlisted’ on YouTube

Sabbaticals
Sabbaticals are paid leaves of absence for one or two semesters to pursue scholarly activity is a competitive process evaluated through the Faculty Development Fund. Contact your Department Chair and the Provost's Office for an application. The current FHSU-AAUP Memorandum of Agreement contains the operational guidelines for the administration of these awards. For more information regarding Sabbatical leave, please see the Faculty & Unclassified Professional Staff Handbook Chapter 5 — Faculty: Leaves, Insurance, and Benefits.

• Track I reassignment occurs within a department and utilizes a one semester shift of faculty time for the equivalent of one course covered by existing resources.
• Track II reassignment is a competitive application in which the university provides funding to cover the reassignment of usually the equivalent of one course. Applications are available to faculty members each semester.
• CIRP or the Cumulative In-load Reassignments Plan is a Reassigned Time fund that offers release time for faculty who mentor students on research projects outside of their teaching load. The process is similar to the traditional reassigned time procedures with an additional expectation that the faculty would provide a report of the time spent with students on their research. Please contact the office of the Provost for the appropriate forms.  

Summer Research and Creative Activity Grant
In lieu of summer teaching, faculty may apply for funds to support work in any of the three following categories: research activity, creative activity, or grant application development. Applications are available through the Office of Research. To compete for funds in this area, discuss your project with your chair and then apply through the online application form when the application is announced.

Reports
Please contact the Office of the Provost for complete Sabbatical, Reassigned time, and Summer grant reports. 

Fringe Benefits

What are Fringe Benefits?

Compensation in addition to your salary to cover things like health insurance, retirement, unemployment, and more.

How do I calculate fringe?

Salary x Fringe Rate + (Insurance x months of support)

Do I always include fringe?

No, some grants don't allow for fringe. Some grants allow for fringe but not insurance. Some grants specify a different fringe rate you should use. Check your guidelines.

Fringe rates:

What health insurance rate do I use for a TBD position?

Use the full family rate

Indirect Costs

What are indirect costs?

Funds to cover related costs of using the University's facilities and administrative support that cannot be claimed as direct costs. This is a fedeerally nbegotiated rate. Some grants specify a different fringe rate you should use. Check your guidelines.

How do I calculate it?

(Salary + Fringe) x Indirect Rate

Indirect Rate

On campus - 32% (If more than 50% of the work will be done on campus)

Off campus - 14% (If more than 50% of the work will be done off campus)

Salaries

Do I include my total salary?

Use base salary only. Don't include overloads.

Do I use the same salary for multi-year grants?

You can assume a 3% inflation rate for each year of the grant. Do not include inflation for student pay. (Double-check grant guidelines.)

What do I pay students doing work on the grant?

Undergraduates are paid at $10/hr or /year stipend

Graduates are paid at $12.50 /hr or $5,000/year stipend

Can I pay someone who is not on FHSU payroll?

Yes. Consultants and similar roles can be included if the grant guidelines allow it. The PI will need to fill out the Contractual Services Form at least 15 days before the grant is due.

Travel

Lodging and Per Diem Rates:

https://www.fhsu.edu/bus-off/Expenses%20and%20Travel/ 

Mileage Reimbursement Rates:

https://www.fhsu.edu/administrative/physicalplant/motor-pool/

Federal Mileage Reimbursement Rates:

https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/standard-mileage-rates

*Travel outside the U.S. must be on an American carrier Please be as specific as possible when including travel in your budget.

Internal Approvals

When do I need internal approvals? All grants and sponsored projects must come through The Office of Research.

Who needs to approve my grant? The Office of Research will enter your grant materials into Workday to be approved by The Provost, The Associate Controller, The Office of Research Director, your Department Chair, and your College Dean.

How will I know when I have all my internal approvals?

The Office of Research will email you to let you know.  

What do I need to submit to The Office of Research for internal approval?

At least 15 days before the grant is due, The Office of Research must have:

• Grants proposal form (under resources)
• Final budget and budget justification
• At least a rough draft Narrative
• Any documentation needing a signature
• Supporting documentation for any matching fund commitments if needed
• Completed contractual services form if needed (under resources)
• IRB/IACUC approval (if grant guidelines dictate it must be done before applying) Can I submit my grant myself? The Office of Research must submit all federal grants and can submit all other grants. PI may submit non-federal grants after they have received their internal approvals.

Contact

Miscellaneous

The purpose of this toolkit is to help faculty, staff, and students identify ways to promote their work to the wider community. Promoting scholarship is a key component of FHSU’s mission. By promoting their scholarship and creative works, faculty, staff, students, and their programs and colleges can showcase the work that people at Fort Hays State University do throughout the year in their disciplines and their communities. This toolkit provides different ways that people can promote their work:

• Within Fort Hays State University
• Within discipline via publishing and/or displaying
• To Western Kansas and the surrounding area
• Through social media and within-unit marketing campaigns Table of Contents Funding

Click the link to download.

Funding opportunities are made available by federal, state, foundation, and corporate organizations. The Office of Research receives information on upcoming funding opportunities but you can explore using Pivot-RP.

Pivot-RP: FHSU has a subscription to Pivot-RP, the world’s largest database of sponsored funding opportunities. Pivot-RP is a comprehensive, searchable database of funding opportunities for research projects across all disciplines. It's a powerful tool that helps researchers, faculty, and institutions find and apply for grants, fellowships, and other funding sources from various sponsors, including federal, non-federal, and international organizations. Faculty and Staff are encouraged to make a profile. 

Get Help Finding Grants

Grant seekers can complete this survey, or contact Aubrey Engel, a_engel@fhsu.edu, to schedule a meeting to discuss in detail.

Innovation and Research Leave for Faculty

FHSU provides several options for development funding for scholarship and creative activity as these incentives are crucial for promoting innovative teaching, advanced research, and meaningful community service.

Sabbaticals
Sabbaticals are paid leaves of absence for one or two semesters to pursue scholarly activity is a competitive process evaluated through the Faculty Development Fund. Contact your Department Chair and the Provost's Office for an application. The current FHSU-AAUP Memorandum of Agreement contains the operational guidelines for the administration of these awards. For more information regarding Sabbatical leave, please see the Faculty & Unclassified Professional Staff Handbook Chapter 5 — Faculty: Leaves, Insurance, and Benefits.

Reassigned Time
By applying for reassigned time, faculty members can periodically reduce their semester teaching load from four courses to three in order to complete projects. More information can be found in the Faculty & Unclassified Professional Staff Handbook Chapter 5 — Faculty: Leaves, Insurance, and Retirement Benefits: Reassigned Time Policy. Please contact your Chair for support and the appropriate forms.

• Track I reassignment occurs within a department and utilizes a one semester shift of faculty time for the equivalent of one course covered by existing resources.
• Track II reassignment is a competitive application in which the university provides funding to cover the reassignment of usually the equivalent of one course. Applications are available to faculty members each semester.
• CIRP or the Cumulative In-load Reassignments Plan is a Reassigned Time fund that offers release time for faculty who mentor students on research projects outside of their teaching load. The process is similar to the traditional reassigned time procedures with an additional expectation that the faculty would provide a report of the time spent with students on their research. Please contact the office of the Provost for the appropriate forms.  

Summer Research and Creative Activity Grant
In lieu of summer teaching, faculty may apply for funds to support work in any of the three following categories: research activity, creative activity, or grant application development. Applications are available through the Office of Research. To compete for funds in this area, discuss your project with your chair and then apply through the online application form when the application is announced.

Reports
Please contact the Office of the Provost for complete Sabbatical, Reassigned time, and Summer grant reports. 

Graduate Scholarly Experience Grant (GSE) required documents:

• GSE Application
• GSE Budget
• GSE Objectives

Undergraduate Scholarly Experience Grant (USE) required documents:

• USE Application