Lenfest Grants Summer Lenfest Grant proposals are due January 27, 2023.
The application deadline for a 2023 summer Lenfest Grant is January 27, 2023. Through the generosity of alumnus Mr. H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest, awards were increased from a previous maximum of $4000 to $6500 beginning in 2009. This program, formerly known as "Glenn Grants", was renamed "Lenfest Grants" in Mr. Lenfest's honor. In addition to the Lenfest endowment accounts for most of the funding for these grants, other permanent endowments that contribute significantly include Glenn, Borland-McDowell, Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation, Hewlett-Mellon, Class of '65, Walker, Turner, and Murphy.
Full-time tenure and tenure-track faculty are eligible for funding through this program. Current full-time visitors who have been here at least one year, and who have a school/institutional commitment for continued full-time employment for at least one year beyond the grant period, may apply for a Lenfest Grant. These applications will be considered if there are funds remaining when all of the tenure and tenure-track faculty applications have been decided.
There are two categories of eligible projects:
A) Projects leading to a scholarly or artistic product, textbook, or paper on pedagogy. Approved projects will be awarded a stipend grant of $4500 (with an expected time frame of eight summer weeks). In addition, approved projects are eligible for reimbursable expenses up to $2000 for: a) equipment; b) research assistants; c) economy travel, meals, and living expenses for work outside Rockbridge County (see http://businessoffice.wlu.edu/Forms.htm for reimbursement policies, forms and mileage allowance). An applicant may elect to apply for expense funding in excess of $2000 with concomitant reduction in the $4500 stipend amount, but the total award cannot exceed the sum of $2000 and $4500 ($6500). Also, the stipend grant portion can never exceed $4500.
B) Projects serving to improve pedagogy or expertise in a field, such as attending domestic or foreign workshops or seminars, or studying significant research and cultural sites. Approved projects will be eligible for expenses of up to $2000 as explained under A) immediately above.
Grants may not cover any of the following items: capital improvements to any physical spaces or facilities; computer software; copying; preparation of lectures or other classroom materials; attending professional meetings; University administrative expenses of any sort.
To submit your Lenfest Summer Research Grant, use the online form below. The application will ask for the following information:
1) project title(s), dates, and location.
2) project summary (submit as a word document or pdf, 2 pages maximum): For each project, describe (i) its purpose, (ii) how it will be carried out, (iii) any special material or assistance required, (iv) the expected end product, and (v) how this will contribute to your growth as a teacher-scholar and to your field(s) of teaching and/or scholarship. Also summarize the history of your Lenfest funding over the past five years, including scholarly products resulting from this past funding. Note especially any previous funding for the current project(s) proposed and progress to date from that funding if this project continues.
3) budget information: any external funding sought; type and amount of Lenfest funding (stipend, expenses) requested; details of expenses; total amount of grant.
Your application will be submitted to your department head for endorsement. (This indicates that the applicant's proposed activities can be accommodated, and are consistent with the applicant's ongoing plan for professional development, and are likely to meet the stated goals). The department head will review and then forward the application to the relevant dean (or return to the applicant for further information); the dean will review and then forward to the Provost for Advisory Committee consideration (or return to the applicant for further information).
Applications will be judged on the following criteria:
- Is the application complete and understandable?
- Is the project meritorious, feasible and potentially productive?
- Has the applicant made productive use of recent Glenn / Lenfest Grant funding?
Report:
Every Lenfest Grant recipient must submit, no later than October 15, 2022 (October 15, 2023 for summer 2023 grants), a statement of the project’s achievements and an accounting of expenditures. The report may vary in length according to the nature of the project but in general should be in summary narrative form, one to two pages in length. It should note the amount received and expended, the period of work, the location of the project, and the extent to which the original plan of operation was followed. The report should clearly indicate what the faculty member believes has been accomplished in relation to what was proposed. If the project is not completed, a statement of progress should be included that is definite enough to enable the Advisory Committee to judge the extent and quality of the work done. Please submit the report to LenfestResearch@wlu.edu