1. Preparing Your Research or Scholarly (ROSA) Application
September 2017
Research, Engagement, and Graduate Studies
Adrienne Chan, PhD

2. Agenda Introductions Research or Scholarly?
Principles for Research Option and Scholarly Activity
Criteria of Merit
Application Review Process
The Application
Where things go wrong
Tips and advice

3. Research or Scholarly? A proposal is RESEARCH if it:
follows recognized research methodologies
generates results which are significant to the discipline
Research includes, but is not exclusive to:
extensive analytical literature review
conducting a research project
data analysis
writing papers for peer reviewed publication as a result of a research project

4. Research or Scholarly?
A proposal is SCHOLARLY if it is a substantial, creative project that:
draws on the faculty member's existing scholarship
produces results which benefit the university and its communities
increases the faculty member's own expertise, or
extends the application of the expertise into new areas.
Scholarly activity includes, but is not exclusive to:
writing an article based on a dissertation or thesis
production of a scholarly artistic and/or creative work (e.g. theatre, art show)
Scholarly activity is not intended to support long term scholarly and academic work.

5. Principles for RO & SA
Four principles were developed by the Task Force to be consistent with UFV's legislative mandate and its strategic goals:
Provide direct and meaningful learning opportunities for UFV students
Applicable or relevant to the economic, social, cultural or environmental development and/or needs of the local region and the communities in it
Supports the mandate to be innovative and entrepreneurial through bringing in revenue which enables other research, scholarship and learning activities
Informs the mandate to deliver the best undergraduate education in Canada.

6. Process for RO & SA Applications will be assessed for scholarly merit.
Then ranked according to the degree to which they meet one or more of the ranked principles. (The principles of prioritization will be applied in the ranked order – see Task Force document.)

7. Principle #1
Faculty scholarship which provides direct and meaningful learning opportunities for UFV students
Students must be involved, contributing, and learning at multiple points in the study (i.e. in data collection, data entry, analysis, synthesis and/or presentation of results). This is about depth of work, not necessarily the number of students.

8. Principle #2
Faculty scholarship which is applicable or relevant to the social, cultural, economic, or environmental development and/or needs of the local region and/or its communities.
Faculty scholarship is not 'geographically delimited’; rather, faculty will identify how it relates to, or informs, regional or community needs, aspirations or development. UFV acknowledges that it is situated on the traditional territory of the Stó:lō peoples.

9. Principle #3
Faculty scholarship which supports UFV’s mandate to be innovative and entrepreneurial through bringing revenue into the university which enables other research, scholarship, and learning activities.
The program of scholarly work would have already obtained a seed grant, established grant, or a response of interest to their work from industry or a funder.

10. Principle #4
Faculty scholarship which informs the university's mandate to deliver the best undergraduate education.
Faculty scholarship that:
reflects broad interdisciplinary opportunities
contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning, and/or
extends the application of the member’s expertise into new areas.

11. Criteria of Scholarly Merit
Criteria are scored out of 10 points each.
Project description and clarity of proposal
Project commitment and requirement
Significance or relevance of the project
Project is feasible and demonstrates adequate planning

12. Criteria of Merit - Guidelines
Project description and clarity of proposal:
Research questions, scholarly goal, or hypothesis posed clearly
Purpose, goals, outcomes or objectives clearly defined
Philosophical and/or methodological approach understandable and clear

13. Criteria of Merit - Guidelines
Project commitment and requirement:
Proposal requires a time commitment that demonstrably exceeds that which can be accomplished as part of the applicant’s regular workload obligations
Application shows that appropriate planning and preparation have been undertaken
Activity is part of an emerging, developing or continuing program of work

14. Criteria of Merit - Guidelines
Significance or relevance of project:
Pedagogical, regional, entrepreneurial, or scholarly impact
Scholarship clearly contributes to the applicant’s discipline(s), or area(s) of study
Impact on the applicant’s own scholarly and/or pedagogical development

15. Criteria of Merit - Guidelines
Project is feasible and demonstrates adequate planning:
Feasible or realistic purpose, goals and objectives
Activity or project has clear timeline of steps or stages in the research process
Strong likelihood of successful completion of the activity or project

16. RO Review Process Advisory Committee Established
Members sought from each Faculty area.
Process Overview
Meet to discuss review process (before receiving applications).
Application Review & Ranking
Each member reviews and scores independently using established criteria and principles.
Scores/Rankings are collated.
Full committee meets to discuss questions and those ranked low or missing information.
Recommendations
Make recommendations to the AVP
Final Approval

17. SA Review Process Advisory Committee Established
Cross section of faculty, JPDC Co-Chairs and AVP
Process Overview
Meet to discuss review process (before receiving applications)
Application Review & Ranking
Each member reviews and scores independently using established criteria and principles
Scores/Rankings are collated
Full committee meets to discuss questions and those ranked low or missing information
Recommendations
Final Approval

18. The Application Project Title Project Summary (250 words)
Reference Information (2 references with expertise in the field)
Project Description

19. B. Summary 250 words Answers: What are the overall purpose and goal?
How does the project advance knowledge or scholarship?
What is the rationale for the project (“so what?”)

20. D. Project Description Separate attachment - maximum 4 pages
Written for a general academic audience

21. D. Project Description Objectives
Methodology, Research Design, and Schedule of Activities
Student involvement (if so, how are they involved?)
Community relevance/ involvement
Is there any social, cultural, economic, or environmental development taking place?
Is there a potential impact on the needs of the region and our communities?

22. D. Project Description Timeline for activities
Proposed outcomes, including:
Significance of the research/ scholarly activity outcomes to the discipline or field (e.g. scientific, professional, artistic)
Relevance or importance to the communities served by UFV
Significance of the research/ scholarly activity as an innovative and/or entrepreneurial activity
Likelihood of success as indicated by:
the applicant’s previous experience
rigour of the design and methodology

23. D. Project Description
Relative importance of supporting the project with a course release based on any or all of the following:
Is part of or could lead to a larger, on-going program of work
Enhances the faculty member’s future ability to obtain funding for related research
Provides a student (s) an opportunity to be significantly involved in research (e.g. research assistant or in class)
Exceeds the regular scholarly activities in which a faculty member is normally expected to be involved
Is part of UFV’s mandate to deliver the best undergraduate education, (e.g. reflects broad interdisciplinary opportunities, contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning, and/or extends the application of the member’s expertise into new areas)

24. D. Project Description Dissemination of Results
Describe how you will disseminate the progress/results of your project (e.g. submission of an article to a peer reviewed journal, preparation of a manual for colleagues, etc.)
Be specific and clear about dissemination (papers, reports, conference presentations, faculty presentations)
There should be a clear description of the expected outcome on completion of the project, including information on the tangible form this outcome is expected to take.

25. Objectives - the details
Defining the objectives of your project is the second most important thing to articulate (after purpose and goals)
Objectives decide the topics that you will explore/examine
Objectives shape the questions you ask, and guide your analysis and reports
Review – are the objectives clear to others?

26. Objectives - the details
Objectives often use verbs such as: explore, examine, define, understand, interpret, synthesize
Identify some of your objectives (as they stem from your purpose and goals)
Think about wording and clarity

27. Outcomes Proposed outcomes should be clear and unambiguous.
What will the results be? (e.g. scientific, professional, artistic)
Relevance or importance to the communities served by UFV.
What tangible form will they take?

28. Where things go wrong
Unclear purpose, goals, objectives, methods, outcomes
Activities/ timeline do not suit the time release requested for the project (unrealistic for one term)
Lack of detail
Assuming that the reviewer of the application ‘knows’ what you are talking about

29. Tips and Advice Start now – do your prep work
Think about the emphasis of your project
Articulate /share with others – this helps with clarity
Read the question on the application and answer the question
Think about connections (to the field, discipline, your program, community, university).

30. Tips and Advice
Be clear about dissemination ( papers, reports, conference presentations, faculty presentations).
Pay attention to the needs of the reader / reviewer. You are writing this for a diverse audience.
Make your case.
You have to convince the advisory committee of your academic peers to fund/support you.
What if you are not funded, does it make a difference?

31. Reporting back
If successful, you will submit a final report at the conclusion of the project, describing the work undertaken during the release, and the outcomes in relation to the approved proposal and outcomes.
Ensure that you report back. Reports are reviewed and may affect your ability to receive a release (or a grant) in the future.

32. Remember to…
Add 2 page CV summary. If your CV is not included, your application is incomplete and will not be reviewed.
Apply by the DEADLINE of October 31, 2017
Submit the applications to
Find forms and other information posted at: ufv.ca/research/faculty/research-option--scholarly-activity/

33. Questions
Contact us!
Contact for all inquiries and for your submission.
Our Office:
(Brad can provide assistance in reviewing your application)
(Yvette can address questions about Research Ethics)