7.D Resources for the Support of Scholarship, Research, and Other Creative Activity

Much scholarship, research, and other creative activity is supported by the everyday use of resources such as libraries, computing technology, office space, and departmental administrative support. However, additional funds are often needed to support specific projects. These funds may come from sources internal to the University or from external sponsors, such as government agencies, foundations, and private business in the form of grants or contracts.

A number of central administration offices as well as schools, colleges, and departments provide funds to support research, scholarship, and other creative activity. Support is most often available to seed projects in the early stages of development, encourage interdisciplinary work, help purchase equipment, provide bridging support between periods of externally supported work, offset some costs of publication and artistic productions and performances, and provide cost-sharing funds that sponsors may require. Online guides list internal sources of support, one at the UM Research website <www.research.umich.edu> under "Sponsored Projects/Funding" and two others at the Rackham website <www.rackham.umich.edu/Faculty/Funding.html> under "Faculty Grants and Fellowships" and under "Dean's Discretionary Funds." The unit administrator in most schools and colleges also has information about sources of support.

Faculty members are urged to contact their unit administrator and DRDA project representatives for assistance with identifying potential sponsors of research, scholarship, and other creative activity. In addition, a library of guides to sponsors, fellowships, and other kinds of support is maintained at the DRDA offices in Wolverine Tower and on the "Funding Opportunities" portion of the website. Note that the U-M Research website provides access to several databases maintained elsewhere: Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN), several Community of Science databases, Grants.gov <www.grants.gov>, and other non-Federal funding opportunities. DRDA also maintains several e-mail "alert" groups. Members of these e-mail groups include faculty and administrators with interests in specific federal agencies or, in a few cases, broad subject area. DRDA project representatives can arrange to add a faculty member to the appropriate groups.

The U-M also provides access to an international database maintained by the Community of Science to help identify potential collaborators at the U-M and nationally. Details are on the UM Research website under "Funding Opportunities" at <www.research.umich.edu/funding/funding.html>.

OVPR and DRDA's column, "Research Reporter," appears in each issue of The University Record and in an expanded form on the UM Research website. The column features notices about funding opportunities, updates on University and sponsor policies, and other information related to research and scholarship.

Computing support for scholarship and research comes from many sources. Information Technology Central Services (ITCS) has primary responsibility for a wide range of services and infrastructure requirements. For more information, see Chapter 20, "Technology and Communications," or the ITCS website at <www.itd.umich.edu>.

The Center for Statistical Consultation and Research (CSCAR) reports to the Vice President for Research and is available to assist with study design, selection of statistical methodology, and interpretation and presentation of results (764-STAT).

OVPR’s website also provides information about proposal preparation and submission at <www.research.umich.edu/proposals/proposals.html>.