Q: Is there anything new or different for 2009-2010?
A:  Yes. New Frontiers has a new component called New Directions that specifically supports collaborative, multidisciplinary projects.  Visiting Visionary Scholars has been eliminated as a separate component, and proposals of that nature should be submitted to the New Frontiers component.

The expected grant period has been extended from 12 months to a maximum of 18 months. No-cost extensions that bring the grant period up to a maximum of 24 months may be requested, but any funds that have not been expended at the end of 24 months will be returned to the program.

Starting this year, the funding for New Frontiers comes from the Office of the President, not the Lilly Endowment, Inc.  Accordingly, there is a change in the way New Frontiers support should be acknowledged (see below).

Q: Where can I find help to complete the online application form?
A: At the top of the online application form, click "Click here for detailed instructions for this application." This will provide line-by-line instructions for the application form.

Q: May I exceed the page limits for my project description and c.v.?
A: Page limits for project descriptions and c.v.'s will be strictly enforced.

Q: May I request a grant for a period of time exceeding 12 months?
A: Yes, you may request up to 18 months of support.

Q: Does the program provide support for Academic Year course release?
A: The program will provide support for Academic Year course release up to $11,000, but the normal figures for applicants' campuses or schools will prevail if they are lower than this maximum.

Applicants from the College of Arts and Sciences on the Bloomington Campus who are requesting course release must budget $11,000. This amount will support ONE course release, provided that the applicant would otherwise be teaching a full load (four courses) during the year. Applicants who already have course release for other reasons may NOT request course release through New Frontiers.

Q: Are fee remissions for graduate students available?
A: Graduate student support is provided as a lump sum. It is up to the PI, chair and the dean to determine the distribution. It is best to discuss this part of the budget with the chair and/or the dean prior to submission.

Q: Are Librarians eligible to apply for New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities Program grants?
A: Yes.

Q: Are Lecturers eligible to apply for New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities Program grants?
A: Yes.

Q: Are Adjunct and Visiting Faculty eligible to apply for New Frontiers grants?
A: No.

Q: Are Post Doctoral Fellows eligible to apply for New Frontiers grants?
A: No.

Q: Are Part-time Faculty eligible to apply for New Frontiers grants?
A: No.

Q: Are Emeritus Faculty eligible to apply for New Frontiers grants?
A: Yes, but there are conditions. Emeritus applicants should be still actively engaged in the life of their campus, as evidenced in the letter of support from the chair or dean. Furthermore, there are financial restrictions. Salary or anything that looks like payment for services to an emeritus faculty member can jeopardize his or her retirement benefits, especially under 18/20, and should not be included in the budget. Only expenses directly incurred in carrying out the research or creative activity should be included in the budget. [According to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs: During their 18/20 years, Emeritus Faculty can get support for direct research expenses without jeopardizing their retirement benefits. There can't be anything that smacks of a back door way of sweetening their retirement salaries, however.]

Q: Are Co-PI's from other institutions (e.g., Purdue) acceptable on New Frontiers grants?
A: Only IU faculty members may be PI's on New Frontiers proposals. Support for research collaborators from other institutions is one of those expenses that aren't prohibited but needs to be justified. The rationale for collaboration with colleagues at other institutions should be discussed in the project description narrative. The need for specific expenses related to outside collaborators and the method of cost computation should be provided in the budget explanation.

Q: Can the same PI apply for more than one grant? For example, could I apply for both a “New Frontiers” grant to support my individual research and a  "New Perspectives" grant to support the organization of a conference?
A: Faculty members may not submit more than one proposal to the same competition (e.g., New Perspectives), but they may submit a proposal to more than one competition. There are cases where submitting multiple applications makes the most sense. However, competition is intense, so the committee may be hesitant to fund two awards to the same faculty member, especially in the case of time-consuming projects.

Q: Are support letters from department chairs or unit heads required for all collaborators listed on the grant proposal?
A: The principal Investigator submitting the grant proposal must provide a letter of support from the department chair, dean, or unit head. Faculty members who are listed as collaborators don't need letters from their chairs unless there are budgetary implications or time commitment issues that the chair needs to address. Then the letter should specifically address those issues rather than the significance of the proposed work.

Q: Are more than the specified number of letters of support (in addition to the recommendation from the chair or unit head) recommended?
A: If you think there's a compelling reason to get an additional letter, go ahead, but too many letters can be distracting.

Q: Is there a timeline for completion? Is one year okay?
A: It is expected that the project will be completed  within 18 months. If that is not the case, a no-cost extension that brings the grant period to a maximum of 24 months may be requested. After 24 months, accounts will be closed, and any unexpended funds will revert to the program. A progress report is required twelve months after the funds are awarded and a final report is required within three months of the project's completion.

Q: If the proposal is for a collaborative project involving researchers from more than one department, should the funds be broken down by department they will be received in?
A: No, the PI will be responsible for financial matters and the primary contact for OVPR. Requests for funds that go to the units other than the one the PI belongs to should be directed to the PI and his or her unit fiscal officer.

Q: Do you want references included in the proposal? If so, will the reference page constitute one page of the 3 4 pages for the proposal itself? Or can a bibliography page be included with the 3 4 page proposal?
A: You don't need a bibliography. Keep these proposals brief.

Q: A New Frontiers grant won't cover the entire cost of my project, and I have other sources of support. Should I include those other funds in my budget spreadsheet?
A: No, please don't. If you have or are applying for support from other sources, you should  discuss them in your budget explanation, but do not include them in the “Budget Total” box on your cover sheet or in your budget spreadsheet. Your Budget Total box and budget spreadsheet should list only the expenses that will be covered by the New Frontiers grant.

Q: My budgetary requirements are not as high as the limits stated on the call for proposals. For example, can I ask for a New Perspectives grant of less than $20,000?
A: Certainly. If your budget is a lot less than the limit, however, I think the committee will ask whether there isn't someplace else you could find the money. In the committee's eyes asking for a New Perspectives grant of $2,000 would be quite different from asking for $15,000.

Q: What time is the application due on the deadline date and can letters from outside supporters (Non IU) be submitted on the following business day?
A: The application is due by 5:00 on the deadline date. As long as we get the application itself in time, the following business day will be okay for the outside letter.

Q: Does the evaluation criterion for non tenure track faculty imply an annual evaluation? In my case, to be advanced to adjunct associate, research would be one criterion, but my evaluation is not annual.
A: A letter from your chair addressing the requirement of research as a criterion for your evaluation is all that is necessary.

Q: If a dean is the grant proposal applicant; does it require a letter of support from the applicant's superior? I report directly to the campus chancellor, but do not think he should be burdened with reviewing grants.
A: The way New Frontiers is set up, the letter of support buck really stops with the dean. So...you needn't ask the chancellor. All you need is the one letter of support from an expert in the field.

Q: How do I acknowledge receiving New Frontiers funding for publications, etc.?
A:"This project was supported [or “partially supported,” if appropriate] by Indiana University’s New Frontiers in the Arts & Humanities Program, funded by the Office of the President and administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.”