University Research Grants

The College of Education University Research Grant (URG) Program is governed by the associate dean for Research and the College Research Committee.

Illinois State University defines research as "a formal procedure which contributes to the expansion of basic knowledge or applies such knowledge to the solution of problems in society or exemplifies creative expression in a specific field of study. The results of research must be communicated to professionals outside the University through a peer review process in a manner appropriate to the discipline" (University Research Committee, 1984).

The College of Education University Research Grant (URG) Program is designed to:

• encourage and support research in the College
• stimulate development and submission of external grant proposals
• support development of the research agendas of pre-tenured faculty

URG Guidelines, Application Information, and Review Criteria

All URG applications and Professional Outcomes forms have moved to Formstack. We do not accept paper applications or outcomes forms. There is one application and outcomes form for First-Year, Research Fellowship, and External Grant Development URGs. There is a separate application and outcomes form for Small Grant URGs. The links to applications and outcomes forms can be found below.

If you submit an application that requires a signature, your application will be routed to your Chair/Director for approval. If you have any questions or issues with the Formstack applications, please contact Jennifer Dodson at jndodso@ilstu.edu.

• 2019-2020 URG Guidelines and proposal components for Research Fellowship, External Grant Development, and First-Year Faculty Grants (last updated 3/18/20)
• URG Proposal Review Criteria for Research Fellowship, External Grant Development, and First-Year Faculty Grants (last updated 10/7/19)
• URG Small Grant Guidelines
• APPLICATION LINKS (applications accepted from September to April; see timeline below for exact dates):
• Application for Research Fellowship, External Grant Development, and First-Year Faculty Grants
• Application for Small Grants

URG Training

In place of face-to-face workshops to assist with URG submissions, please review the URG Training PowerPoint for explanations of each type of URG along with suggestions on submissions. Examples provided below.

• URG Training PowerPoint (last updated 10/7/19)
• Approved URG examples: One, Two, Three, Four

URG 2020-2021 timelines

• September 2020: FY21 URG funding is available pending funding from the University.
• March 2021: FY22 URG Research Fellowship and External Grant Development applications are due to Chairs/Director for review (deadlines vary by dept./school, please check with yours for exact date).
• April 6, 2021 at 11:59PM: FY21 First-Year Faculty Midyear and Small Grant applications due via Formstack.
• April 6, 2021 at 11:59PM: FY22 Research Fellowship and External Grant Development applications due via Formstack.
• April 7, 2021 at 11:59PM: Chair/Director approvals on all URG applications are due. If you submit an application just before the deadline, please contact your Chair/Director to make sure they are able to approve your application by this deadline.
• April 8-30, 2021: College Research Committee reviews FY22 URGs and selects recipients.
• May 3-7, 2021: College Research Committee announces FY22 Research Fellowship and External Grant Development awards.
• June 30, 2021: Small Grant reports for FY21 Small Grant URGs are due.
• October 1, 2019 and October 1, 2020: Professional Outcomes reports for FY19 URG projects are due.
• October 1, 2020 and October 1, 2021: Professional Outcomes reports for FY20 URG projects are due.
• October 1, 2021 and October 1, 2022: Professional Outcomes reports for FY21 URG projects are due.
• October 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023: Professional Outcomes reports for FY22 URG projects are due.