What do all the abbreviations stand for?

Below is a list of program abbreviations:

• AHPEG: Arts & Humanities Program Enhancement Grant
• COFRS: Committee on Faculty Research Support
• DRP: Distinguished Research Professor
• DSA: Developing Scholar Award
• DSF:  Developing Specialized Faculty
• DUS: Distinguished University Scholar
• EIEG: Equipment & Infrastructure Enhancement Grant
• FYAP: First Year Assistant Professor
• Seed: Seed Grant
• SGP: Small Grant Program

What happened to the Planning Grant (PG), Multidisciplinary Support (MDS), and Funding Agency Travel (FAT) programs?

The CRC regularly evaluates its programs and the usefulness of those programs in meeting faculty research needs, making adjustments as needed. The MDS and PG programs have been replaced by the new (2022) Seed Grant. Travel funding can be proposed with all CRC programs except the EIEG; travel funding is also available through the Office of the Provost's Faculty Travel Grant program.

Are there any reporting requirements or deliverables for CRC awards?

Yes. The PI of the project will be required to respond to short project outcomes surveys via email at 6-, 12-, and 18-month intervals after the award end date. Surveys will allow faculty to identify the proposals, publications, exhibits, presentations, and/or other external funding outcomes resulting directly from CRC-funded awards.

FYAP award recipients are required to attend the FYAP Grants Workshop immediately following their award period and deliver a poster presentation of their research project.  Failure to fulfill this requirement will render the PI ineligible for all future CRC funding as either a PI or Co-PI.

What are the application cycles for these programs?

Who is eligible to apply for these programs?

1. Participation as a PI or Co-PI is open to all full-time FSU faculty in active pay status who are eligible to apply for external support according to the Investigator Eligibility Policy. 
2. Visiting professors, whose only reason for being labeled "visiting" is the expectation that they shortly will attain permanent residency status, are eligible to apply for these awards. Full-time, active status must be achieved by the award date in order to receive funding.
3. The Honorary Awards (DSA, DUS, DRP, DSF) have specific eligibility requirements for each program, stated in detail in the Request for Nominations for each award.

Can I apply for more than one grant within an academic year?

Yes, although generally PIs will not be awarded more than one CRC grant during an academic year (August - July). If a PI is awarded more than one CRC grant in an academic year, they may be asked to choose which grant they would like to receive. However, there are exceptions in the following cases:

1. During the year that an applicant is eligible to apply for the First Year Assistant Professor grant, that faculty member may also apply as a PI or Co-PI for other CRC programs. 
2. Eligible applicants who have received awards from other CRC programs during this academic year remain eligible to request funding for the Equipment and Infrastructure Enhancement Grant (EIEG) program.

PLEASE NOTE:  With the exception of the EIEG program, only one application from a PI or Co-PI may be submitted to any given CRC program per competition round. If a faculty member submits a proposal as a PI, they cannot be listed as a Co-PI on another proposal within the same round of competition. Faculty members included as a Co-PI on an EIEG proposal may be included on one other EIEG proposal per competition round.

Is there a hiatus period after receiving a CRC grant?

There is a hiatus period for each grant with the exception of FYAP (eligible applicants apply within their first year as a full-time Assistant Professor at FSU) and EIEG (one application may be submitted from a PI per competition round; however, this investigator may be listed as a Co-PI on an additional proposal) programs. 

Principal Investigators (PI) and Co-PIs that have received awards in the fiscal years listed below are ineligible to request funding for the same program during FY 2022 – 2023.

Are there post-award requirements for a First Year Assistant Professor (FYAP) awardee?

FYAP award recipients are required to deliver a poster presentation of their research project at the following FYAP Workshop. Failure to fulfill this requirement will render the recipient ineligible for future CRC funding as either a PI or Co-PI.

What is the process for amending my post-award budget?

It is expected that all awardees will only spend funds as their approved budget dictates. However, if a situation arises where a revision is necessary, changes to the originally-funded budget must be approved by the CRC before any changes occur.

To request consideration of a revised budget, a Budget Amendment Request Form must be submitted via the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Submission page, along with a statement of justification for the requested changes. Here's an example of a completed Budget Amendment form.

A Budget Amendment request may not be submitted after the expense has occurred, and all budget amendment requests must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the award expiration date.  Budget Amendments are limited to no more than 2 per award.  Requests submitted within 30 days of the project end date will be rejected without review.

Am I eligible for the Distinguished Research Professor award if I hold a named and endowed Professorship or endowed Chair?

Faculty who currently hold a named or endowed Professorship may be nominated for this recognition.  If the named or endowed Professorship is funded through an FSU Foundation account, but did not reach the level of an endowed Chair, then the faculty member is eligible. 

Faculty already holding an endowed Chair - the Robert O. Lawton Award or Daisy Parker Flory Award, for example - or have been previously awarded the Distinguished Professor Award are not eligible.

Are there requirements for a time extension on my award?

Time extensions require the prior approval of the CRC. Any request and justification for a time extension should be submitted to the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Submission page at least 30 days prior to the award expiration date; extension requests submitted within 30 days of the award end date will be rejected without review. Only one time extension is permitted per project; if the project budget is in good standing, a 90-day extension will be automatically granted upon request. Time extension requests for greater than 90 days will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

What are the general terms and conditions of a CRC award?

• CRC grant funds can only be used to support research and creative activity.
• Computers and computing equipment purchases are not allowed on CRC grants.
• Equipment purchases are not allowed on CRC grants, with the exception of the EIEG program.
• CRC grants may support a stipend for a student hired on a grant; matriculation and tuition fees cannot be paid for with CRC grant funds.
• Award funds may be used for such expenses as project-related travel, production of a body of work, supplies, etc.; faculty salary is allowable in some programs.
• Project-related travel is allowed; however, travel is restricted to necessary and direct support of the research conducted as part of the proposed work. Conference or workshop attendance for the purpose of presenting research or creative activities is not permitted. Travel to present creative works may be permitted with the AHPEG program. Any travel included in the proposal must be accompanied by a detailed description stating the dates and locations of the travel, transportation and lodging estimates, and justification for the necessity of the trip. 
• Funding for student travel is not permitted on CRC grants.
• Faculty members who receive CRC funds during a sabbatical will be asked to repay those funds if they terminate employment with FSU during the year following the award. In addition, summer funding will not be awarded, or will be terminated if awarded, for faculty planning to leave the university immediately following the award period.

CHANGES TO PROJECT:

1. The CRC approved the scope of work as submitted with the proposal. The written approval of the CRC is required prior to implementing any change to the scope of work. Actions likely to be considered a change of scope include, but are not limited to, the following:
   • Change in the goals or specific aims approved at the time of the award;
   • Any change from the approved use of animals or human subjects;
   • Shifting the emphasis of the research from one area or another; or
   • Transferring the performance of substantive programmatic work to a third party by contract or any other means.
2. Budget or scope of work violations may result in loss of CRC funding eligibility for multiple years.

BUDGET DEVIATIONS:

1. The CRC approved the project budget as submitted with the proposal. Budget deviations greater than 10% per budget line item (cumulatively) require the prior written approval of the CRC.
   • Budget revisions should be requested via a Budget Amendment Form. The Budget Amendment form, which can be downloaded from the Forms Portal, must be electronically signed by the PI and submitted via the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Submission page. Here's an example of a completed Budget Amendment form. Please note that the CRC Budget Amendment form is not the same as the Sponsored Research Budget Amendment form.
   • If the budget revision is approved by the CRC, the OMNI Project Budget will be modified to reflect the newly-approved categories and amounts. 
   • Budget amendment requests must be approved before any changes can occur. You may not submit an amendment request after the fact, and all budget amendment requests must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the award end date. Requests submitted less than 30 days prior to the end of the award period may be rejected without review.
   • Budget amendments are limited to two per award.
2. The CRC reserves the right to withdraw remaining funds from a project if unauthorized spending occurs, and may also require misspent funds to be repaid by the PI/Department.  
3. Budget or scope of work violations may result in loss of CRC funding eligibility for multiple years. Penalties will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

TIME EXTENSIONS:

1. No cost extensions (limit 1 per award) require the prior approval of the CRC. 
2. Requests for a time extension, along with justification, should be submitted to the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Submission page at least 30 days prior to the award expiration date. 
3. The CRC will consider your request and will advise you of the outcome electronically. It is possible that the CRC may need to discuss this request with your Department Chair or Dean before rendering a decision.

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Certain CRC programs restrict the uses of funds in various ways; consult the RFP for your specific award program to be sure you understand these particular restrictions.

Where are the Proposal Transmittal and Budget forms?

For CRC submissions, the Proposal Transmittal form and Budget form are part of the electronic submissions application. Separate forms are not generated or needed. All applicants will complete these forms directly within the CRC program application.  

If I receive a FYAP, is the $20,000 provided to me in a lump sum?

No. The maximum award amount of $20,000 for the FYAP program will be disbursed over the award period through the bi-weekly pay cycle. Deductions and fringe benefits will be paid from the total amount as they would in a typical paycheck. 

Any funds not budgeted for salary will be available on a cost-reimbursable basis as shown on the approved budget summary.

Is advanced spending allowed on my CRC award?

No. Funds cannot be advanced prior to your award's start date. However, if you will be using a portion of your award to book travel, you may create a Travel Authorization utilizing your CRC award's OMNI project number prior to the start date. Keep in mind, though, that travel charges must be incurred within the award period. Similarly, cash advances for participant support are allowed within the award period.

Is "boilerplate" language available for me to acknowledge my CRC award in my publications?

Yes.  Please use the following statement if you wish to acknowledge your award in future publications:

This work has been made possible in part through the support of the FSU Council on Research and Creativity (Proposal Title; Award Program, Award Year).

See Submissions FAQs