Peter White Scholar Program
In order to facilitate significant enhancement of scholarly research at Northern Michigan University, the Peter White Fund annually supports the Peter White Scholar Award. The Peter White Scholar Award is intended to support faculty and department heads with a proven scholarly record who are undertaking a project that would significantly advance their work. Thus, projects funded by this award are intended to go above and beyond those funded under the Faculty Grants program.
The Peter White Scholar will:
- Engage in scholarly research and/or creative activities
- Prepare one or more works for publication or presentation and
- Develop applications for external funding.
In addition, the Scholar is expected to present an open colloquium on the results of the year’s work and submit a Final Report within one month after the end date of the award.
DEADLINE: Friday, March 5, 2027 (11:59 p.m.)
MAXIMUM AWARD: $17,500
BUDGET JUSTIFICATION TEMPLATE
SAMPLE CV
SAMPLE PROPOSALS *Note that the guidelines may have changed since these proposals were awarded
All full-time faculty and department heads who will be teaching during the next academic year (those who have an employment contract such that they would normally teach the year after the application year) are eligible to apply for the award. Part-time, contingent, or adjunct faculty; administrative or support staff; and students are not eligible. Faculty and staff who believe that a colleague is especially qualified should submit a nomination to the Dean of Graduate Studies & Research at least one month prior to the application deadline. The Dean will contact the nominated individual to notify them of the nomination.
A faculty member or department head who has received a Peter White Scholar Award is eligible to reapply for the same award after a five-year interim period. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Dean of Graduate Studies & Research.
Applicants must complete their application through the Cayuse platform. You will find instructions for submitting on this linked Cayuse platform page.
Department head and dean signatures approving the submission will be collected by the Cayuse system after submission. The submission is due by the deadline; the approvals can come afterwards.
Each Peter White Scholar must file a Final Project Report by June 30 following the 12-month grant period. All funds must be encumbered on or before the end of the one-year award period.
The Scholar is also expected to present a colloquium on the year’s work to the university community at the annual Peter White Award Banquet.
FINAL REPORT GUIDELINES FOR NMU INTERNAL GRANTS
If a PI would like to request a No-Cost Extension, this No-Cost Extension form must be submitted at least 15-calendar days prior to the end of the project period.
The evaluation rubric used by the Faculty Grants Committee can be downloaded here. The Committee will make recommendations to the Dean of Graduate Education and Research. It is within the Committee’s purview to recommend that no award be made. Proposals from eligible applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Scholarly significance
- The soundness of the project plan
- Impact of the anticipated outcomes
- Research productivity of the investigator
- Appropriateness of the budget justification.
Voting Policy: Each proposal must be read and evaluated by a minimum of five (5) voting members of the Faculty Grants Committee. In the event that less than five committee members are available for grant assessment, alternate committee members will be called upon to fill in. Committee members who have a grant under consideration will be excluded from any deliberations concerning the Peter White Scholar Program. Alternates will take the place of these members. Ex officio committee members may contribute to discussions, but will not take part in the actual ranking of proposals.
Contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (grants@nmu.edu) for assistance with budget development.
- Salary: Remuneration for faculty time may be requested. Applicants may request up a maximum of four credits of reassigned time per semester, throughout the time period of the grant activities. Reassigned time during the fall or winter semester is calculated as the cost needed to hire an adjunct to replace the faculty member for the appropriate number of credit hours. Proposals planned for fall or winter semesters must contain a detailed description of how any request for reassigned time will be handled within the department. The department head and appropriate dean must approve requests (letter must be attached to proposal) for reassigned time when the proposal is submitted.
Remuneration requested during the summer session must not exceed the maximum amount per the AAUP master agreement exclusive of fringe benefits. Remuneration should be justified based on the estimated effort to be spent on the project. Fringe benefits must be listed at the current blended fringe rate (Contact the Office of Sponsored Programs or Kathy Frazier for additional budget information).
- Student Research Assistants Salary: Students not enrolled must be paid fringe benefits at temporary labor rates. Fringe benefits should be included in requests for student assistants where appropriate. Payment to graduate and undergraduate research assistants should be based on the current pay rates as defined in the Student Employment Handbook.
- Supplies and Services: Reasonable supplies and contractual services may be included. Office & lab supplies, postage, educational supplies, rentals, printing and duplicating, telephone, and professional services should be itemized. These are expenses over and above normal departmental support of the faculty member.
- Travel and Living Expenses: Travel and living expenses are allowable, but cannot exceed current University established rates. They must be itemized.
- Equipment: Each grant should justify the need for and cost of equipment relative to the project's objective and methodology. Any equipment purchased through a Faculty Grant is the property of the University and must be registered with the Inventory Control Department.