CHHS Collaborative Quick Turn-Around Grants
Funding Opportunity: Collaborative Quick Turn-Around Grants (C-QTAGs) are the secondary internal funding mechanism in the WKU College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Research Pathway for internal funding (Figure 1). These are grants of $5,000-$10,000 to support the mission and vision of WKU and CHHS as a student-centered applied research university. These grants may support faculty, staff, and students to conduct pilot research and participate in research related travel for data collection and project execution. C-QTAG applications should follow QTAGs in the order of internal funding mechanisms (Figure 1). This funding opportunity is designed to build a collaborative team’s research portfolio to transition from internal to externally funded research and projects. Ideally, the outcome of a C-QTAG will be pilot research data that can be used to apply for external grants and contracts and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
Basic Requirements: C-QTAGs require that two or more faculty from two or more CHHS units participate on the project team. There must be at least three collaborators on all C-QTAGs. Proposals are encouraged that include faculty and staff from outside of CHHS. A basic requirement of a C-QTAG is that a CHHS tenured or tenure track faculty member must be on the grant application in the role of Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), at a minimum. For example, an instructor or staff member may serve as the PI, if a tenured or tenure track faculty member serves as a Co-PI on the C-QTAG application. A faculty or staff member may serve as the PI on only one C-QTAG application each academic year. However, an individual may be a Co-PI or Co-I on a maximum of three C-QTAG applications. To apply for a C-QTAG the research team will complete the application document and budget then submit these items to chhs.research@wku.edu. Each application must be accompanied by a budget template spreadsheet, available at the CHHS C-QTAG link on the CHHS Research website or from the CHHS Research Office. Please email chhs.research@wku.edu to request the application and budget sheet if it is not available on the CHHS Research website. C-QTAG project funds will be managed by the PI and Co-PI of the grant and spent by the end of the academic year (July 1 to June 30). The project team will decide the timeline within the academic year for project implementation.
Source of Funding and Purpose: The C-QTAG program is funded by the CHHS Dean’s Office and/or CHHS research indirects funded through Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs accrued through the external grants process. A total C-QTAG funding limit will be set for each academic year. The total funding available for FY (Fiscal Year) 2024 is $60,000. Once these funds are expended the C-QTAG grant opportunity will be closed. The primary purpose of C-QTAGs is to develop collaborative research teams within CHHS that can transition their research to externally funded grants and contracts, and work with a CHHS Applied Research Center or look to develop such capacity.
Supported Research Activities and Costs: Examples of C-QTAG funded activities are further development of collaborative pilot research projects, funding for research equipment or materials, purchase of lab supplies to further existing research, costs associated with research surveys, and/or incentives for quantitative/qualitative human subjects-based research. Funds may also be used to support research assistant(s), materials and supplies, travel/shipping/other expenses to conduct research/creative activity, or the dissemination of research/creative activity. Requests for conference travel should not be included in the C-QTAG application. This expense should be requested in a standard QTAG application or other funding mechanism through the Department/School and/or College.
Funding Limit and Cycles: C-QTAG applications will be accepted each month beginning July 1st of each academic year until November 30th of the Fall semester. Applications must be submitted by the last day of the month. Awards will be made by the 15th of the following month. This is a rolling application period beginning July 1st and ending November 30th each academic year. No C-QTAG applications will be accepted after November 30th within the academic year. All funds must be spent by May 15th of the academic year. A maximum budget for C-QTAGs will be set by CHHS for each academic year. Once this budget is met the C-QTAG funding mechanism will be closed.
Status Report and Project Completion: A three-page status report of the C-QTAG-funded project is due to the CHHS Office of Research via email at chhs.research@wku.edu by June 30th of the academic year. The report must include a summary of results, outcomes, impact, and the timeline for submission of a proposal for external funding of research that identifies the funding agency and funding mechanism. All funds for the project must be spent by May 15th of the applicable academic year. Please work with the CHHS Research Office to set the final timeline for the project.
Proposal Review Process: A team of at least two faculty members from the CHHS Research and Creative Activities Council and/or directors of CHHS Applied Research Centers will review each C-QTAG application. The CHHS Faculty Fellow for Research will review and score the application, as well. Each C-QTAG application will be reviewed using the C-QTAG scoring rubric. The PI will be provided with the average rubric score, recommendations for the project, and the decision to fund or not. Applicants can edit and resubmit applications that do not meet the minimum rubric score.
Budget Tracking and Spending: It is the responsibility of the PI to track spending and ensure all expenditures are documented on the C-QTAG Budget and Spending Request Form. Please be aware that you will be required to submit this form to the Department/School Office Coordinator for every purchase/expenditure and to track each purchase/expenditure. Note that no purchases or expenditures can occur until you have IRB approval, if needed, and the letter has been submitted to the CHHS Faculty Fellow for Research at chhs.research@wku.edu. Otherwise, purchases will be denied if the purchase/expenditure is not tracked on the form. Track each purchase or expenditure to the awarded budget. Refer to your C-QTAG proposal budget for your total amount. Also, if you have questions regarding expenditures please collaborate with your Office Associate and you may contact the CHHS Budget and Grants Manager.
Figure 1. CHHS Research Pathway
CHHS C-QTAG Standard Operating Procedure
C-QTAG Budget and Spending Request Form
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