National Science Foundation GRANTED Application
This fall, Lincoln Memorial University and the Appalachian College Association will pursue a planning grant from the National Science Foundation's GRANTED program. This initiative aims to empower researchers at universities with limited access to federal research grants by enhancing research support and service capacity nationwide. To achieve this, the Primary Investigators (PIs) for this grant—Natalie Sweet, Executive Director of the Office of Research, Grants and Sponsored Programs at Lincoln Memorial University, and Alexa Arndt, Project Director for the Appalachian College Association—will assess the state of research administration across the ACA.
As part of the planning grant, the PIs aim to recruit five ACA institutions interested in securing federal research funding. These universities may already have a sponsored projects office or be in the early stages of developing one. If awarded the grant, participating institutions will be asked to have at least one member hold a National Council of Research Administrators (NCURA) membership, which costs up to $190. In return, the grant will fund a visit from an NCURA Peer Review team to evaluate the institution's strengths and identify potential areas for improvement in sponsored projects, or to assist in the development of a sponsored projects office. This service will remain confidential and will only be shared with the institution and the named PIs.
In addition to the NCURA membership cost, participating institutions should be prepared to provide ground transportation between the airport and hotel, daily transport between the hotel and meeting locations, and on-site lunches for the reviewers. The grant will cover lodging for the NCURA reviewers.
Importantly, all assessments generated from this process will be kept private, shared only with the institution and the PIs. The PIs will utilize the assessments to ascertain the state of research administration within the ACA and identify opportunities for training, policy development, and resource allocation that could enhance the region’s capacity for securing federal research funding. Subsequently, the PIs will apply for a full GRANTED application to propose solutions to these shared challenges. Please contact Natalie Sweet at natalie.sweet@lmunet.edu with any questions.
Appalachian College Association Summit
The ACA’ Summit is open for registrations, and the full schedule of speakers and presentations are now available on our special website. We are anticipating nearly 80 presentations during Summit on Thursday and Friday. Additionally, a three day-long workshops during Pre-Summit will be held on Wednesday: 1.) AI and the classroom; 2.) Inclusive leadership practices (especially for chair/director levels but open to all); and 3.) training sessions for campus behavioral crisis teams.
2024-2025 Faculty Fellowships
The 2024-25 cycle for ACA Faculty Fellowships is now open; deadline for fully completed applications is October 31. Faculty, please consider application. Note: pre-doctoral applicants, may now apply in their first year of full-time service to LMU. If you are still working toward degree completion, take advantage of this revision in policy!
Graduate Tuition Discount
Updates are available for 2024-25 for the ACA’s Graduate Tuition Discount Program. We now have 20 schools and nearly 170 discounted program options available to our ACA students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
Call for Proposals: CTL Fall Webinar Series:
The ACA’s Center for Teaching & Learning seeks proposals from ACA faculty or staff for its Fall 2024 Webinar Series. Specifically, we desire proposals emphasizing the theme of Engagement regarding teaching and learning practices, opportunities, and/or challenges (in or out of the classroom). Presentations may focus on issues related to cultivating greater student engagement in class, on campus, and/or in the broader community; similarly, they could emphasize opportunities or challenges regarding faculty and staff engagement in their many roles teaching and mentoring our students. Review of proposals will begin after Friday, August 31. To learn more and/or submit a proposal, visit the ACA's special CFP webpage.
The ACA
seeks study away programs from participating Network members to share with students at other
ACA schools. If you plan to direct study away programs over the coming 12 months, please consider sharing in the Study Away Network.
Visit the Network site to learn more or to submit a program.
October 16: 1:00 – 2:15 pm, eastern (Followed by a facilitated discussion session at 2:30-3:30 pm)
Register here
We Are Non-Renewable Resources and other Inconvenient Truths: What It Means for Today's Instructors to Teach Today's Students
Presented by: Lindsay Masland, Professor of Psychology and Interim Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Student Success, Appalachian State University
