2:10—two articles with a read time of 10 minutes—is a communication series by Deputy Provost Renée Cramer sharing important scholarship, teaching, and development news and opportunities.

The office of the deputy provost has restricted and endowed funds available to help support faculty research, faculty enrichment, and project-based hiring of undergraduate assistants.  The deputy provost’s office also administers the process by which university-wide professorships are named – such as the Troyer Research Professorship, as well as the Madeline Levitt Mentor and Teacher of the Year awards.

Drake Research Grants are intended to support research and creative activity that is not already funded by other sources, to jumpstart proposals for external grant seeking and to provide supplemental funds to ongoing projects, as necessary.  Drake Research Grants offer up to $3,000 per project to underwrite the direct cost of faculty conducting advanced research or creative activity, including expenses like: travel, materials, services, and student research assistants.  Applications for these grants are accepted on a rolling basis; an interdisciplinary group of Drake faculty, in consultation with the deputy provost, make determinations on these proposals.

Faculty Development and Enrichment grant proposals are also accepted on a rolling basis; determinations are made at the discretion of the deputy provost.  These grants are available to support a variety of development and enrichment activities related to teaching, professional development, leadership development and collaboration.  We prioritize funding that benefits teaching and pedagogy, involves community partners, or engages faculty in developing skills and capacities.

Drake Undergraduate Student Assistantships facilitate departmental and faculty-led hiring of undergraduate student assistants.  These paid student assistants receive mentorship from faculty, while contributing in significant ways to departmental and faculty projects.  These assistantships are funded through matching funds – half comes from your department or college/school, the other half is provided by Student Financial Aid.  Applications for these assistantships are due to your college/school Dean by March 18; the deans will rank these applications and forward them to the deputy provost for collaborative determination (with Student Financial Aid) of funding.

Finally, please begin thinking of nominating your colleagues for our distinguished university-wide research, teaching and mentoring awards: the Troyer Research Fellowship, the Madelyn M. Levitt Teacher of the Year Award, and the Madelyn M. Levitt Mentor of the Year Award.  The deadline for nominations for the Teacher and Mentor Award, as well as for applications for the Troyer Award is Friday, February 17.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost