Collections purchases allow faculty and departments the opportunity to acquire a specific collection (books, videos, data sets or other library materials), in order to further the research opportunities not otherwise available. Purchases may include (but are not limited to) general reference and research resources such as large digital archives or microfilm collections; bibliographies and catalogs; information on multimedia; rare or out-of-print books; and back issues of serials to which the library currently subscribes, and data sets (either direct holding or through subscription access).

Material purchases (such as books, catalogs, or serials) must be held in a manner that allows the widest possible use. Where possible, materials should be purchased through the University Libraries, to be held in circulating collections. Faculty must coordinate library-held purchases through the collections librarian (discipline bibliographer), and secure a commitment from the library on cost share, as collections grants share purchase costs with the library and are capped at 66% of the total cost. In cases of very expensive collections, the Research Support Committee will entertain proposals that seek multi-year commitment of Taft funds. Such proposals, however, must contain commitments of substantial non-Taft funding and will be the exception, rather than the rule. Library materials typically purchased with general funds by university libraries will not usually be funded. In particular, serial subscriptions will not be funded.

Applications

Applications must account for the current Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support balance and commitments. For purchases above $2,000 or where the Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support fund has been exhausted, faculty may apply to the Collections Purchase competitive program without additional departmental commitment. A department which has not yet otherwise committed its current Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support is expected to contribute to the purchase.

Applications must include the following:

• A narrative of no more than 1000 words, which explains the potential uses of the materials for research purposes in the applicant's discipline and related Taft disciplines. Details should be given concerning:
  • The likely use of the material for research by faculty members or students. When appropriate, list other faculty who would benefit specifically and explain the connection between the material and their research, (additionally the proposal may address secondary use for course work by graduate or undergraduate students);
  • How the material would complement existing holdings at UC libraries or in the department;
  • The location of the nearest library containing the requested materials, if applicable;
  • Indicate where the materials will be located and the rationale for that location.
• All applicants requesting material purchases (books, data sets, etc.) must address the current availability of that material. Due diligence in determining whether or not the material is currently available is expected and should be reported. Applicants requesting library purchases should provide documentation that the library does not currently own the material in any format, including Ohio-link or other access; or document that the proposed format will greatly enhance their ability to use the materials; and
• Budget with justification for the cost of the purchase, the cost advantage of ownership, and also specify non-Taft resources that have been committed, if any. Library-held purchases should be supplemented with Library funds. Alternative funding levels or payment plans may also be suggested; and
• The Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support balance and commitments for each sponsoring department must be provided; and
• Applicants must include a letter from a library bibliographer, which speaks to the anticipated use of these materials in research (and teaching) and the value of the material to the collection at the University of Cincinnati; and
• An abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae for each faculty researcher supporting the application; and
• Copies of any relevant supporting materials, e.g. descriptive information from a book publisher or a software vendor.

 

DARS Cover Sheet (doc)

Taft provides departments with research support funds to enable faculty research on small-dollar (below $2,000 per) projects. Where a specific project requires $2,000 or more in financial support, faculty may apply for research support. Where the research support required is less than $2,000, faculty must use department allocated research support (DARS) funds.

The following guidelines should be used in seeking funding for projects:

• Each funding request must be accompanied by a project name and short description;
• DARS funds may only be used to either directly support a faculty research project, exclusive of other funding opportunities, or to improving the research infrastructure of the department. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to the following:
  • Purchase of books, videos or other research materials not held by UC libraries or available through OhioLINK;
  • Purchase of software or data sets;
  • Payment for technical or consulting services such as video-taping, laboratory analysis, etc.;
  • Expenses involved in conducting interviews or distributing surveys;
  • Professional memberships or conference costs, where these support a specific research project;
  • Purchasing a small research collection, not supported by UC libraries or services through UC libraries;
  • Material purchases (books, data sets, software) must be purchased and held in a manner that allows the widest possible use. Whenever possible, such materials should be purchased through the University Libraries, to be held in circulating collections.

Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received, both inside and outside the university, is required. The Taft grant may not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when a deficit in the project budget is anticipated even with such non-Taft funds.

Other rules guiding the expenditure of monies under the DARS program include:

• Items that support faculty research only obliquely, e.g. computers, are not an eligible expense under DARS.
• Expenses eligible under other Taft programs, irrespective of support limits for these programs, are not eligible expenses under DARS.
• DARS funds may not be used to support Departmental Operating Expenses.
• All grant funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the grant and all expenditures of grant funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters.(University Rule 3361:10-17-03(D); http://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/trustees/docs/rules_10/10-17-03.pdf
• Independent student projects are not eligible expenses under DARS, except where these projects directly support a specific faculty research project.
• Each department shall, in a democratic fashion, determine the procedure and distribution of Departmental Allocated Research Support funds.
• Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft grants should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Research Center. Copies of such publications should be sent to the Chair of the Taft Executive Board.

DARS balances will be sent to each department at the start of the fiscal year. It is incumbent upon the departments and faculty to track their DARS balances and expenditures. Purchases are to be made by Taft faculty and will be reimbursed by Taft, following the submission of the following:

• A project name, a short description of the project, and how this purchase relates to said project;
• Original, itemized receipts and proof of payment
• Documented approval of the expense by the department and/or reimbursement authorization from the appropriate supervising agent (typically the department head);

Failure to meet the above requirements will result in a reimbursement delay as materials are sent back to departments for additional processing.

Department Chairs are responsible for reporting the intended distribution of DARS funding for the forthcoming fiscal year by including this information in the Department Head Annual Report submitted to Taft at the beginning of each year.

In the spring of 2015, the Taft Faculty executive board voted to allow the carryover of DARS funds into a second year, and by special permission a third year. Implementing this policy requires that we observe the following rule, stated on a yearly basis to make it clear:

• Year 1: The department is provided with monies from the DARS program.
• Year 2: The department is provided with monies from the DARS program and the previous year's unexpended DARS monies are rolled over to be used within this fiscal year.
• Year 3: The department is provided with monies from the DARS program, the previous year's unexpended DARS monies are rolled over to be used within this fiscal year, and by special permission Year 1 DARS funds may be carried over.
• Year 4: The department is provided with monies from the DARS program, the previous year's unexpended DARS monies are rolled over to be used within this year, and by special permission Year 2 DARS funds may be carried over, though unexpended DARS funds from Year 1 are reallocated and no longer available to the department.

Taft offers research support to faculty working on individual research projects, with a priority given to those that have or will seek external funding. Applications may include but are not limited to direct research or research collaboration costs and cost-share grants.

Applications
Applications must include the following:

• A narrative of explaining the proposed project’s focus, contributions to the applicant's field, methods and sources; and
• An itemize budget, explanation of costs; and
• Reasonably expected outcomes, including publications, fellowships, performances, and/ or grant sought; and
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae; and
• Where applicable, the proposal should also include the following:
• Request for proposals from the external funding source;
• The completed grant proposal submitted to the external funding source; award letters from external sources, which clearly indicate what support is being offered, and any contingencies placed on the support;
• A schedule, indicating when proposal(s) will be submitted, when responses are expected, and when the funded activities will take place;
• Distinct from what is contained in the outside grant proposal, please provide a separate budget sheet that clearly indicates how the budget will be apportioned between Taft funds and other funding sources.
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae of investigators involved in the project.
• Recent (5 years) external funding history, indicating the purpose of the grant, funding source, amount requested, amount awarded, your status on the grant, and other investigators, duration of the grant, and the outcomes (i.e., papers or books published, conferences attended, etc.).
• An account of the current Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support balance and commitments, from either the applicant or the department head.
• For purchases above $2,000 or where the Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support fund has been exhausted, faculty may apply to Research Support without additional departmental commitment. A department which has not yet otherwise committed its current Taft Departmental Allocation Research Support is expected to contribute to the project.

Selection criteria

• Conceptualization, organization, and description of the proposed project.
• The current state of the research, the proposed schedule of research, and the timeliness of the grant in ensuring project completion.
• The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project, if funded, based upon scholarly record and accomplishment following other grants.
• The quality or future promise of the applicant's work as a scholar or creative writer and teacher.
• Evidence of productivity generally, as well as that stemming from previous Taft grants.
• The significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to thought and knowledge in the field of the project.
• The nature of external grants and the likelihood of external funding.

Terms of the grant

• Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received for the proposed project, including those from within the university. A Taft grant may not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when project costs exceed outside awards.
• Where deviations from the approved application occur, the grantee must notify the Taft Faculty Chair in writing and receive written approval for the changes. Failure to comply with this rule will nullify the grant and require return of the award.
• Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft grants should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center.
• A travel authorization request must be submitted via Concur and approved prior to travel.

Reimbursement procedures
The following procedures should be followed in order to insure timely reimbursement:

• Per university policy, receipts and travel reimbursement request must be submitted via Concur, within 30 calendar days of the conclusion of the trip. Reimbursement for travel will not occur after 30 days except where funding is received only after travel has occurred.
• Taft will not reimburse expenses for alcohol.
• Where deviations from the approved application occur, the grantee must notify the Taft Faculty Chair in writing and receive written approval for the changes. Approval must be submitted with reimbursement request.
• In cases of collaborator travel the grantees departmental business personnel will assist with the submission of expenses.
• Per diem reimbursement is based on the federal rate for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and may be claimed without receipts, except for lodging, which requires an itemized receipt and proof of payment.

 

Taft underwrites faculty, graduate student, and advanced undergraduate development by offering support for a visiting scholar’s participation in a semester-long seminar that enables faculty and students to focus on a particular research agenda, problem, or theme related. Invited scholars should work in areas with demonstrated interdisciplinary appeal.

Seminars should afford significant, sustained interactions between the visiting scholar(s) and UC faculty and students. Proposals may include a single sustained engagement for a visiting scholar or several shorter engagements, with multiple scholars; and may also include (though not exclusively) remote participation. Seminars must not be a mere series of lectures.

Applications must specify the proposed use of the $25,000 award, including honoraria, accommodations, food, and other possible hosting costs.

Applications
Applications must include the following:

• Seminar name, proposed date, brief description of the proposed seminar, justification of the seminar as an important intellectual exercise of discovery set in the context of disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary trends, including a statement on the relevance of the seminar to advancement of departmental and/or interdisciplinary goals (e.g., programs, research focus, grant-writing); and
• A list of the committed UC participants and an explanation of the relevance of the seminar for specific seminar participant’s research agendas; and
• An organizational plan of meetings; how the seminar will be conducted; and, how the release money will be apportioned based on college adjunct rates; and
• Anticipated outcomes of the seminar; and
• Syllabus for the seminar; and
• The name, title, and a brief description of each invited facilitator, and a letter of commitment; and
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae of each invited facilitator; and
• A letter of support from the applicant’s department head, assessing the merits of the proposal project and the department’s commitment; and
• A budget indicating how the grant is to be used, including honoraria, accommodations, food, and other possible hosting costs.

Selection criteria
Seminars should afford significant, sustained interactions between the visiting scholar(s) and UC faculty and students. Proposals may include a single sustained engagement for a visiting scholar or several shorter engagements, with multiple scholars; and may also include (though not exclusively) remote participation. Seminars must not be a mere series of lectures. Seminar proposals will be evaluated according to the following:

• Seminar design, length of stay, likely outcomes; and
• The contribution of the proposed seminar to participating faculty and student research and professional development, and the field; and
• The conceptualization and organization or the proposed seminar; and
• The scope of the seminar in terms of participants, impact on disciplinary or interdisciplinary activities in the Taft departments, and interdisciplinary appeal of the visiting scholar; and
• The proposed visiting faculty and their likely contribution to the seminar, UC, and the Cincinnati community.

Terms of the grant

• Each award category for Research Support has distinct funding caps. Cumulatively, no faculty member may receive more than $100,000 in Research Support awards during a five-year period. If several faculty members submit a joint request, they may apportion the cost of the award among themselves in any manner they choose. If they do not indicate an apportionment, it will be assumed that the cost is to be apportioned equally among all faculty listed on the proposal.
• Faculty organizers are responsible for securing any needed accommodations for the visiting scholar, including food and temporary insurance, for the duration of their stay in Cincinnati.
• Taft Research Seminars are not to be used as a means of creating an adjunct position for the department.
• All grant funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the grant and all expenditures of grant funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. University Rule 3361:10-17-03 (D).
• The designated convener will be responsible for organizing and running the seminar on a regularly scheduled basis.
• The convener is the principal liaison with the facilitator and is responsible all aspects of the facilitator’s stay in Cincinnati.
• Publications and creative works generated by faculty organizers, as a result of the funded event(s), should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center.
• Should the visiting guest stay with a family member or a UC faculty member, the guest is eligible to receive up to $25 per day, reimbursed to the visitor, provided that a note of explanation is submitted at the time of the initial payment.