1. Effective Strategies for Crafting Proposals for
for the Workload Release program for
Nontenure Line Faculty

2. Workshop Objectives Learn about the application process
Identify what distinguishes a reasonable project idea
Know the audience for this proposal
Develop specific, practical strategies to make your proposal more compelling to reviewers.

3. Application Process
Process

4. Process

5. Eligibility
Eligible nontenure line faculty will hold a full-time teaching appointment at the time of application and during the workload release period, and will hold one of the following titles:
Lecturer,
Senior Lecturer,
Clinical Lecturer,
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Clinical Associate Professor, and
Clinical Professor.
Nontenure line faculty applying for the first time must have had at least 8 long semesters of Texas State service at 50% or more FTE and a 100% FTE appointment at the time of application and during the semester(s) release is granted.
Faculty who have been granted previous Nontenure Line Faculty Workload Release(s) must have had an academic appointment of at least 8 long semesters at Texas State at 50% or more FTE since their last Nontenure Line Faculty Workload Release and hold a current full-time teaching appointment.
Process

6. INELIGIBILITY: Process
Emeriti, Research, and Visiting faculty are not eligible.
Nontenure Line Faculty Committee members are not eligible to apply for release time through this program during their committee terms because they serve as the reviewing body for Workload Release applications.
Process

7. Application Process Process
Discuss proposal and the timing of release request with their chair/director.
Get advice from Nontenure Line Faculty Committee (NLFC) college representatives.
Submit a completed online application no later than Monday, October 9 at 5:00 pm.
Application reviewed by applicant’s chair/director.
Chair/director the chair/director will electronically forward the application to the college dean by 5 pm Oct. 16 .
Application reviewed by dean.
The dean will route the application to the Faculty Senate for review by the NLFC by 5 pm Oct. 23.
The NLFC will review the applications in early November and forward recommendation to the Faculty Senate.
Process

8. Application Process Process
To submit an application, visit the Faculty Requests portal between September 1 and October 9 at 5:00 pm.
The online application will consist of:
1. the requested application information
2. a brief abstract (approximately 100 words) enumerating the specific goals of the workload release project;
3. an 4000 character (approximately two double-space pages) statement providing a brief explanation of
a) the project
b) the merits of that project
c) the project methodology
d) how the project will benefit applicant’s teaching and/or scholarly/creative work
e) how the project supports the goals of the department/school, college, and/or the university;
4. a current curriculum vita using the Texas State vita format that evinces the applicant’s ability to carry out the project; and,
5. a copy of the most recent written final report (and optionally, a one page update to this report) if applicant has previously received Nontenure Line Faculty Workload Release.
The online application will enforce character limits, will not allow additional documents to be submitted, and will not accept applications after 5:00 pm on Oct. 9. Additional information may be found in PPS (8.13)
Process

9. Review by NLFC
Process

10. What makes a Distinguishable Proposal

11. What makes a Distinguishable Proposal
Good Idea
Benefit to mission and goals of
Professional Development
Department
College
University
Time
Available to complete the project
Is the proposal a beginning or ongoing
After the Workload Release Program is completed.
Distinguishable Proposal

12. Art Project
Distinguishable Proposal

13. Share your idea for your proposal.
Group Discussion
Share your idea for your proposal.
Big Idea
Benefits
Timeline
Distinguishable Proposal

14. 100 Word Abstract
Most important… often hardest, most time- consuming to craft
Need to “grab” reviewers, create enthusiasm!
Distinguishable Proposal
NLFC Reviewers

15. Brief Explanation of Project (4000 Characters)
Succinct, compelling descriptions
Problem/need your project addresses and why it is important – situate in the current university climate
If citing literature, don’t over-cite it is a proposal-not a dissertation
How you will conduct the project –goals, design methods, innovation, interpretation and implementation
Significance & impact (so what?) – inform the literature, benefit participants, broader impact by changing policy and practice
Distinguishable Proposal

16. Know your Audience Colleagues from departments across campus.
This is not scholarly writing. Be deliberate in your context, syntax and avoid jargon that may confuse the reader.
Talk with your NLF Rep to ensure they understand the proposal and can be your advocate.
Audience

17. Writing Strategies

18. Do. Or do not. There is no try.*
Strategies

19. Do. Or do not. There is no try.*
Don’t use language that raises doubts about your ability to complete the project
Be confident, positive, and definitive about what you will do, how you will do it, what you will accomplish
will examine…vs We plan to examine….
Project findings will…vs…It is expected that Project findings will…
Avoid conditional words – but, if, however
Use active voice – no forms of “be” (am, is, was, were, are, been)
passive: The project team is planning to…
active: The project team will…
*Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back
Strategies

20. Make Reviewers Job Easier
Follow the Instructions-Follow the layout. Even if you do not like it. Not the time to be creative.
Use heading to direct the reader. Don’t make them look for it.
Strategies

21. Bad/inconsistent grammar, spelling, and punctuation will distract reader from substance of proposal
Have a mentor proof final draft-the author can no longer see any errors at this point
Strategies

22. Questions?