Winona State University
Long Range Planning And Assessment Committee
1998-1999 Performance Funding Challenge Grants
$75,000 to be awarded in grants to academic and nonacademic Department, Programs and Units. Grant awards will range from $500 to $5000.
Purpose
These grants will provide funding for departments, programs or units (DPUs) to develop or implement their assessment plans.
These grants will provide funding for DPUs to develop or implement their assessment plans.
• Level One grants are to assist DPUs who have not yet developed department level assessment plans. (Maximum Grant Award: $1000).
• Level Two grants are to assist DPUs who have previously developed assessment plans, but whose plans require significant revision prior to starting data collection. (Maximum Grant Award: $500).
• Level Three grants are designed to provide assistance for DPUs to collect data on identified measures related to specific indicators in their assessment plans. (Maximum Grant Award: $1500).
• Level Four grants are designed to help DPUs implement carefully considered new practices and to achieve performance goals. (Maximum Grant Award: $5000, to be paid in an initial award of $2000, with additional $1000 awards upon demonstration of the achievement of the performance goals over the following three years).
(return to best practices index)
Eligibility
Academic and non-academic DPUs are eligible to apply for Performance Funding Challenge Grants.
DPUs who have received previous challenge grants through the pilot program, acceleration grant program or challenge grant program but have not filed midterm and final reports on those awards are ineligible. DPUs uncertain of their eligibility status may contact Susan Hatfield (x5244) to confirm their eligibility.
The same DPU may submit different grant proposals for both Level Three and Four grants, if the targeted indicator is different. DPUs submitting a Level Three or Level Four proposal may not also submit a Level One or Level Two proposal.
DPUs receiving a Level Four grant during the 97-98 academic year will only be eligible for another Level Four grant if funding remains after the initial round of grants are awarded.
Level One Eligibility: Development of DPU Assessment Plans
All academic and non-academic DPUs who have not completed assessment plans (indicators / goals and measures). Units that have been awarded funds under the pilot program or under previous challenge grants for the development of quality indicators are not eligible to apply for this grant.
Level Two Eligibility: Revision of Departmental Assessment Plans
All academic and non-academic DPUs who have submitted completed departmental assessment plans (indicators / goals and measures) or who have been awarded previous funds for the creation or revision of assessment plans.
DPUs who have received Level One funding in the 1997-1998 or who have received Level Two funding in 1997-1998 are ineligible.
Level Three Eligibility: Baseline Data Collection
Academic and non-academic DPUs who have developed assessment plans (indicators / goals and measures).
Proposal must outline a new project and not an existing initiative or project.
DPUs may only submit one grant proposal in this category.
DPUs submitted proposals in this category are ineligible for funding in Level One and Level Two grant categories.
Level Four Eligibility: Quality Incentives
Academic and non-academic DPUs who identified departmental quality indicators / goals and measures AND have collected data related to at least one indicator. (** It is assumed that each indicator uses multiple measures).
Proposal must outline a new project and not an existing initiative or project.
DPUs may only submit one grant proposal in this category and may not submit proposals in Level One or Level Two categories.
DPUs who were awarded grants in this category during the 97-98 academic year will only be eligible for a second round of funding should that occur. (i.e. there are funds remaining after the funding of grants to DPUs who have not received funding in this category previously).
Submission :
Three printed copies of each proposal and a copy of the proposal on a 3.5” computer disk (formatted in Microsoft Word) must be submitted to the Assessment Coordinator (Susan Hatfield, Soms 211) by November 15, 1998.
Proposals submitted by individuals must include a statement of DPU support.
Level One proposals (Creation of Assessment Plans) must include:
1. Identification of the DPU members developing the assessment plan.
2. Process and timeline for developing indicators/goals and measures.
3. Strategy for implementing systematic assessment of the indicators.
4. A discussion of the impact that the project will have on students.
5. An evaluation plan for the project.
6. A budget narrative and justification, indicating how each budget item relates to the activities outlined.
Eligible expenses include:
a. Professional development for faculty and staff to learn about assessment and the development of indicators.
b. Purchases of equipment and materials in support of DPU assessment activities.
c. Time for persons to organize the work of the department and communicate their proposals throughout the campus. (NOTE: Any release time for persons involved in this project must be part of the grant budget. Maximum individual stipend is $500).
d. Collection of information to establish benchmarks by site visits, purchasing materials and communicating with other institutions.
e. Expenses related for retreats for faculty, staff, students and/or alumni to work on the development of the plan.
f. Expenses related to evaluation of progress toward objectives.
Level Two proposals (Revision of Assessment Plans) must include:
1. A cover page indicating the title of the project and the proposal level.
2. A project abstract of no longer than 150 words.
3. Identification of the DPU members revising the assessment plan.
4. Rationale for revision of existing plan: A critical evaluation of the current plan's strengths and weaknesses and the goals for the revised plan.
5. Process and timeline for revising indicators/goals and measures.
6. Strategy and timeline for implementing systematic assessment of the indicators.
7. A discussion of the impact that the project will have on students.
8. An evaluation plan for the project.
9. A budget narrative and justification, indicating how each budget item relates to the activities outlined.
Eligible expenses include:
a. Professional development for faculty and staff to learn about assessment and the development of indicators.
b. Purchases of equipment and materials in support of assessment activities.
c. Time for persons to organize the work of the department and communicate their proposals throughout the campus. (NOTE: Any release time for persons involved in this project must be part of the grant budget. Maximum individual stipend is $500).
d. Collection of information to establish benchmarks by site visits, purchasing materials and communicating with other institutions.
e. Expenses related for retreats for faculty, staff, students and/or alumni to work on the revision of the plan.
Level Three proposals (Baseline Data Collection) must include:
1. A copy of the DPU's assessment plan including goals, activities and measures.
2. A cover page indicating the title of the project and the proposal category.
3. An abstract (no longer than 150 words).
4. The completed form (attached) outlining
a. the targeted indicator and its related Leadership Emphasis area.
b. related processes
c. measures
d. method of data collection
5. A timeline for the project.
6. An evaluation plan for the project.
7. A budget narrative and justification, indicating how each budget item relates to the activities identified.
Eligible expenses for this grant include
a. printing
b. postage
c. software to assist in data collection and analysis
d. stipends for development, compilation and analysis of data (note: maximum individual stipend is $500)
e. Expenses related to faculty, staff, students, and /or alumni data gathering activities.
Level Four proposals (Quality Incentive) must include:
1. A copy of the DPU's assessment plan including goals, activities and measures.
2. A cover page indicating the title of the project and the proposal category.
3. An abstract (no longer than 150 words).
4 . The completed form (attached) outlining
a. The targeted indicator and its relationship to a Leadership Emphasis area.
b. the current related processes / activities.
c. measures collected and the methods used to collect the data.
d. data for each measure.
e. benchmarks (may be other departments or other universities).
f. an analysis of current processes in relations to the data collected.
g. the processes to be changed or developed along with a timeline and cost for each.
h. targets for each measure for one year, two years and three years.
5. A budget narrative and justification, indicating how each budget item relates to the activities to be revised/ developed. (Reminder: the initial grant amount is $2000).
Eligible expenses for this grant include
a. expenses related to retreats for faculty, staff, students and/or alumni to develop new processes or procedures.
b. printing
c. postage
d. software directly related to implementation of revised processes
e. hardware directly related to implementation of revised processes
f. stipends (note: maximum individual stipend in $500)
g. student help
6. In order to receive the additional $1000 during the second, third, and fourth years of the grant, the recipients must submit an annual report to the Assessment Coordinator by September 15 1999, 2000, and 2001 outlining
a. the progress that the department has made toward the achievement of the goal
b. a description of the changes made or development of activities to support the goals
c. the methods and timeline of ongoing data collection
d. a comparison of current data to projected goals
e. a discussion of what current activities appear to be successful in helping the department / unit / program achieve the goal, which activities still require revision, and what revisions are still required.
Additional requirements for all grant recipients
Level One, Two and Three Grant recipients must submit a final report outlining the results of the grant project to the Assessment Coordinator by September 15, 1999. For Level Four Grants, future funding will be contingent upon receipt of the required reports. Reports should be submitted on 3.5” computer diskette formatted in Microsoft Word.
This report must contain:
a. goals of the grant and the rationale for any changes made in grant goals.
b. methods used to achieve each goal.
c. progress made toward achieving each goal utilizing the evaluation plan as identified in the grant proposal.
d. remaining work to be completed (if any) and a timeline for completion (if the project is not complete, an additional report will be due upon completion).
e. the impact of the grant on WSU students, faculty, staff/administration, community/ alumni and/or other constituent groups.
f. report on budget expenditures.
Questions? Contact Susan Hatfield at 457-5244.