The application process is simple and straightforward: after you have completed the application form and have prepared your narrative proposal, send these to the RPC Chair by email attachment. Applications may be submitted at any time, and there are no final deadlines for submission; however, priority for funding is given to tenure-track faculty in the fall semester.
The committee meets regularly to review funding requests for a wide range of research projects. By providing peer review of proposed research, RPC helps faculty members devise appropriate conceptual structures and methodologies. Many research expenditures are eligible for support, including:
- Research travel (domestic and international) –
Note: the Campus Research Board is also often a source for travel funding. - Hourly graduate student assistance wages
- Hourly undergraduate student assistance wages
- Online database searching
- Survey design and administration
- Data analysis
- Translation
- Oral history interviews
- Equipment for checkout
- Editing
- Photographic services (slides, illustrations, photographs)
Specifically excluded items include: (see Policies for Award Approval, for more details)
- Non-research travel — e.g., funds to attend a meeting. If you’re presenting at the meeting, you may apply for funds from the UIUC Scholars’ Travel Fund
- Graduate assistantships
- Prolonged research spanning years of investigation
- Computer time on UIUC computers
- Postage, telephone costs, and ordinary office supplies
- Additions to the collection, including research material and computer software
- Retroactive expenses
The Application Form and Guidelines for the Narrative Proposal and Policies for Award Approval are available through this site.
Applicants are encouraged to seek the assistance of committee members in preparing their proposals.
Also consider whether your proposal might be eligible for full/partial funding by other campus resources.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research has created a new fact sheet, which provides investigators summarized information about the various ethical and regulatory requirements for the responsible conduct of research. Please read Responsible Conduct of Research.