Internal SSHRC Grant (ISG)

Preamble and Purpose

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides funding for the University of Lethbridge Internal SSHRC Grant (ISG) through its Institutional Grant Program. The amount the University receives is based on the number of University faculty members who are eligible for SSHRC funding, as well as our performance in the Council's research grant program.

 

The ISG supports small-scale social science and humanities research projects and activities within the faculties of Arts and Science, Education, Fine Arts, Management and the School of Health Sciences. The intent of the ISG is to provide a competitive edge to newer scholars developing programs of research and/or established scholars investigating new areas of inquiry. The direct, short-term funding provided by the ISG enables both to build upon and enhance existing programs and work towards applying for external funding.

 

It should be noted that the ISG grant is not intended to be considered as start up funding for new faculty.

  

Funding Available 

The ISG is valued at a maximum of $4,500.

  

Funds are dispersed on a competitive basis. Applicants are advised that the demand for funds normally exceeds the funds available.

  

The University SSHRC Committee may not be able to recommend support for all eligible projects/activities and may recommend a reduction in the amount requested.

  

Eligibility  

  • Funding is available to full-time faculty members in their first few years of a term, probationary, tenure track or tenure appointment who are establishing a research program. 
  • Established faculty seeking funding for small projects are also eligible, but they will not be given first priority. 
  • Funding is not available to Academic Assistants, sessionals, lecturers or visitng faculty.
  • Faculty who are co-investigators on external grants are eligible; however those who are principal investigators on any external grants are not. 
  • Faculty members may hold only one ISG at any one time and may not reapply to the ISG program for a minimum of 24 months from completion of a previous ISG grant.
  • Faculty may be principal investigators on more than one other internal research grant (ULRF, ISG or CREDO) but the funding cannot be for the same research/creative endeavour. Faculty cannot apply for an Internal SSHRC Grant and an Internal Artistic/Creative Research Grant at the same time.
  • Previous recipients of an Internal SSHRC Grant must have submitted a final report to the Office of Research and Innovation Services in order to be considered for future awards.  

Evaluation Criteria

Applications for the Internal SSHRC Grant are subject to competitive adjudication and will be reviewed by the University SSHRC Committee.

  

Significant outcomes (e.g. publication, conference proceeding, webpage development, etc.) are an expectation for this award. Priority ranking will be given to proposals of scholarly significance that represent high levels of innovation and meet the following criteria:

  • How will the proposed activity advance work in the field and/or contribute to the training of students?
  • How does the research relate to the larger research goals of the applicant and increase his or her chance of funding from external agencies?
  • How does the project relate to or evolve out of the applicant's past work?
  • What is the demonstrated potential for successful completion of the project within the grant period?
  • What are the plans for dissemination of the results of the project?

Proposals will also be evaluated on the:

  • Academic or artistic qualifications of the applicant;
  • Clarity and scope of the objectives;
  • Quality and innovativeness of presentation;
  • Feasibility and adequacy of the methodological approach; and
  • Justification of the budget relative to the requirements of the proposed project/activity.

The Committee will provide feedback to all unsuccessful applicants in a letter of advice. Recommended changes should be addressed in any resubmission.

  

Application Procedure

The Office of Research and Innovation Services will issue a call for proposals the first week of November each year.

 

Applicants must complete the online application form available through the BRIDGE and include the required attachment. For detailed instruction on the format of the attachment and what must be included, click on this link: Internal SSHRC Grant Application Instructions.doc 

 

NOTE: Do not complete the online form until your attachment is complete and ready to be uploaded as you cannot save the online form to be completed at a later date. 

 

Deadline for submission is 4 p.m. on the first Friday of January. Late submissions will not be accepted and incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible.

 

 Funding decisions will be announced in April.

 

Disbursing Grants 

The University disburses grants by paying or reimbursing proper expenses; it normally does not advance cash. Monies from the award will be deposited into an account to which the grant holder may submit expenses.

 

Grant Period

Grants will run from the opening of the research account (once all necessary approvals have been received) through August 31 of the following year. 

 

Conditions of Grant Award 

Awards must be fully expended by the end of the funding period. 

  

Grant term extensions will be approved only in exceptional circumstances which can be proven to be beyond the control of the researcher. 

   

If a faculty member leaves the employ of the U of L, the unused portion of the fund reverts back to the ISG account.

 

The Committee may stipulate other conditions of award, which will be contained in the letter of award to the applicant. 

 

 

Further Information 

For further information and assistance, contact Mary Butterfield, Research Officer: mary.butterfield@uleth.ca or 403-317-2869.