Research Development

Grantwriting Training and Resources Overview

Researchers in all disciplines face a dilemma: grant funding is increasingly necessary for fueling research advances while grants keep getting harder to win. The competitiveness of the grantseeking landscape means that funders can be more selective about funding the projects that most closely align with their goals and mission. It also means that most funders can have a lower tolerance for proposals that distract from the research/scholarship proposed by not following grantwriting best practices.

The good news? There are skills and techniques that faculty can learn that will make their work more attractive to funders.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is pleased to provide a number of training opportunities, resources, and services to help our faculty build these skills and to assist them in producing grant applications that are as compelling as the research activities they propose.

Our Training Calendar lists upcoming workshops and webinars addressing grantwriting-related topics. Most require registration and some require approval from your school/college, so please read the description of each event carefully. You can contact research@uconn.edu or call 860.486.6378 with any questions about listed events or to request that a University-sponsored grantwriting training be added to the calendar.

Our Resource Library is a NetID-protected repository, accessible to UConn Faculty, Staff, and Students, that contains handouts, slide decks, even videos from past OVPR-sponsored grantwriting training events and webinars. Our goal is to continually add to and update these offerings in order to build a rich collection of resources that address all aspects of the grantseeking process.

Research Development Contacts

Name	Title	Focus Areas
Matt Mroz, PhD	Interim Director, Research Development	Research Strategy Team Formation CLAS (Humanities) School of Fine Arts School of Business School of Law
Anna Gault Galjan	Senior Research Development Specialist	Research Strategy Large & Complex Proposal Management Business Development Special Projects
Quinn McAdam, MA	Research Development Associate	CAHNR (Health) Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing Neag School of Education School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Development Training and Events
Jordan McMillan, PhD	Research Development Associate	CAHNR (Agriculture and Natural Resources) CLAS (Physical Sciences and Social Sciences) College of Engineering School of Social Work Federal Research Appropriations
Caitlin O'Connell, PhD	Research Development Associate	CLAS (Life Sciences) School of Dental Medicine School of Medicine Proposal Writing Resources
Charlotte Nelson, MPA, M.Ed.	Internal Funding Coordinator	Internal Funding
Kaylei Arcangel, MS	Limited Submission Coordinator	Limited Submissions
RDS Support	Shared Inbox	General inquiries and requests

Limited Submission Competitions

Limited Submission Frequently Asked Questions

When the OVPR becomes aware of an upcoming limited submission, a message announcing a competition will be distributed to notify the university community.
New limited submission competitions are generally posted and announced once per week through the OVPR website, Daily Digest, UConn Health Lifeline, key grant administrator listservs, and the Research Development Services listserv. Exceptions may be made for high-priority opportunities or opportunities with very short sponsor deadlines that require announcement outside the regular weekly schedule.
If you become aware of a limited submission opportunity, please check the OVPR website for program specific details and internal deadline dates. If the opportunity is not listed, email research@uconn.edu with the program announcement link so we can assess how to proceed.
Additionally, we recommend staying connected with relevant departments and faculty members, as they may have insights into upcoming opportunities.

New limited submission competitions are generally posted and announced once per week through the OVPR website, Daily Digest, UConn Health Lifeline, key grant administrator listservs, and the Research Development Services listserv. Exceptions may be made for high-priority opportunities or opportunities with very short sponsor deadlines that require announcement outside the regular weekly schedule.
The table below outlines how OVPR generally determines competition timelines. These guidelines apply to most opportunities, but OVPR may adjust a timeline when needed to best meet the University’s needs.

If OVPR identifies or is notified of the opportunity...	...Then
As part of a recurring or anticipated cycle	The OVPR will typically post the opportunity around three to four months in advance of the submission deadline.
At least one month before the sponsor deadline	The OVPR will generally have sufficient time to conduct an NOI period and internal competition, if needed.
Between two and four weeks before the sponsor deadline	The OVPR may conduct an expedited internal competition or handle the opportunity on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on timing, interest, sponsor requirements, and resources.
Two weeks or less before the sponsor deadline	The opportunity will generally be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The OVPR aims to provide enough time for interested applicants to prepare relevant internal materials, for reviewers to complete a fair review if needed, and for the selected applicant(s) to develop a strong proposal. However, competition timelines depend on when the OVPR identifies or is notified of an opportunity and how much time remains before the sponsor’s submission deadline.
When time permits, the OVPR generally allows approximately two weeks for Notification of Intent to Submit (NOI) submissions and an additional two weeks for invited applicants to prepare and submit pre-proposal materials. However, timelines may be adjusted based on the sponsor deadline, opportunity requirements, available resources, and the amount of advance notice available to OVPR.

The limited submission process usually starts with a brief Notification of Intent to Submit (NOI), where investigators let the OVPR know they are interested in applying.
Once the NOI deadline passes, the OVPR determines whether the number of interested applicants exceeds the sponsor’s institutional limit.
- If there are enough available slots, eligible applicants are generally approved to move forward.
- If there are more interested applicants than available slots, OVPR will hold an internal competition and invite applicants to submit pre-proposal materials for review. After the review is complete, applicants are notified of the outcome, and selected applicants may proceed with a submission to the sponsor.

The questions below walk through each stage of the process in more detail.

Most limited submission opportunities begin with a Notification of Intent to Submit (NOI). The NOI is brief and allows faculty to indicate interest in applying while helping OVPR determine whether interest exceeds the sponsor’s institutional limit. Information from the NOI may also be used to identify appropriate internal reviewers if a competition is needed.
An NOI is required for all limited submission programs unless otherwise specified by the OVPR.
Interested applicants should submit an NOI through the Quest Portal by the internal deadline listed in the announcement(s) and/or limited submission opportunities table, or contact research@uconn.edu if the opportunity is not listed.
After the NOI deadline, one of the following outcomes typically occurs:

If…	…Then
The number of NOIs received exceeds the sponsor’s institutional limit.	The OVPR will proceed to Stage 2 and conduct an internal competition.
The number of NOIs received does not exceed the sponsor’s institutional limit.	Eligible principal investigators (PIs) who submitted an NOI by the deadline are typically approved to move forward without internal competition. If any slots remain available, the opportunity will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until the remaining slots are filled or the sponsor deadline passes, whichever comes first.
No NOIs are received by the deadline.	The opportunity will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until all available slots are filled or the sponsor deadline passes, whichever comes first.

If an internal competition is needed after the first step, all NOI applicants will be invited to submit a pre-proposal through the Quest Portal.
Submission deadlines are provided in the limited submission opportunity announcement and on the limited submission opportunities table.
Pre-proposals are evaluated by an ad hoc review committee organized by the OVPR and composed primarily of faculty members, with staff reviewers included when appropriate. Reviewers are selected based on their grant experience and expertise relevant to the proposal topic.
Pre-proposals will be reviewed according to program eligibility and sponsor criteria.

Unless the limited submission announcement provides different instructions, pre-proposals should include the following materials:
- Project Summary (maximum 2 pages) – Describe the proposed project, its objectives, significance, and anticipated outcomes. Explain how the project aligns with the sponsor's program goals and review criteria, why the proposed team is well positioned to carry out the work, and how the project contributes to the research, educational, or strategic priorities of the sponsor, if applicable.
- Budget & Justification (maximum 2 pages) – Provide a preliminary budget and budget justification, or a summary of anticipated project costs. The budget is intended to help reviewers understand the project's scope and resource needs and does not need to represent a final proposal budget. Include any cost-sharing commitment required by the solicitation. If sponsor-required cost sharing is proposed, a letter of support from the dean or department head is required describing how the commitment may be met.
- Investigator List – Summarize the qualifications, relevant expertise, and proposed role of each key investigator. Brief CVs or biosketches are also acceptable.
- Supplemental Information (Optional) – Any additional information relevant to the proposal, such as sponsor comments or reviews from a prior submission.
The pre-proposal materials, deadline, and any program-specific requirements will be provided to applicants after the NOI deadline, typically via email.

Final selections are made by the OVPR based on the results of the review committee's evaluation.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome at the conclusion of the review and will receive reviewer feedback when available.
Selected investigators may then proceed with the development and submission of a proposal in accordance with sponsor guidelines.
Final proposals must be submitted to Sponsored Program Services at Storrs or UConn Health at least five business days before the sponsor deadline to allow time for institutional review and submission guidance.

UConn offers free proposal development services to support faculty in crafting competitive funding proposals. Provided by OVPR, these services include:
- Consultation & strategy – Guidance on proposal planning
- Proposal review & editing – Enhancing clarity and impact
- Grantsmanship support – Strengthening funding applications
- Project management – Assistance for large and complex proposals
These services are designed to help UConn/UConn Health investigators maximize their success in securing funding.

The OVPR recognizes that many funding mechanisms require more than one submission attempt for a proposal to be successful. Principal Investigators often need the opportunity to respond to sponsor feedback and strengthen a resubmission. At the same time, the limited submission process must also provide fair access for investigators with new projects.
The table below is intended to help explain how resubmissions are handled. While most competitions are expected to follow these guidelines, the OVPR reserves the right to select the applicants that best meet the needs of the University.

If the opportunity...	...Then
Allows more than one UConn/UConn Health applicant.	Each PI who submits a proposal may resubmit the same project at least one additional time within two years of the original submission without being required to re-compete for a submission slot, provided that: The sponsor allows resubmissions. If reviews are provided by the sponsor, the PI receives promising feedback. The application was not rejected because of missing elements or eligibility questions. The PI communicates their desire to resubmit to OVPR in a timely manner.
Allows only one UConn/UConn Health applicant.	Resubmitting applicants must re-compete for a submission slot. An exception may be considered if: A previously submitted proposal received very strong sponsor feedback. The PI contacts OVPR about resubmission before a new internal competition is opened.
Is evaluated primarily on the PI's record of accomplishment.	Resubmitting applicants must re-compete for a submission slot.
Includes applicants selected outside an open competition.	Applicants nominated by deans, department heads, or other senior administrators are not guaranteed resubmission.

Additional Consideration: In limited circumstances, the OVPR may allow strong applicants who were not selected because an institutional slot was used for an approved resubmission to submit in a future competition cycle without participating in another internal competition.
Resubmission intent should be communicated promptly to the Limited Submission Coordinator (research@uconn.edu)

A funding opportunity is limited if the sponsor restricts the number of applications that can be submitted by an institution. These opportunities require an internal selection process before submission to the sponsor.
To check if an opportunity is limited:
- Look for specific submission restrictions in the funding announcement.
- Check the limited submissions opportunities page, which tracks limited opportunities.
- Watch for internal competition emails from OVPR notifying faculty about selection processes.
  - If interested, sign up for the listerv.
If you’re unsure, contact research@uconn.edu for clarification.

Limited Submission Opportunities

The OVPR is pleased to announce these limited submission funding opportunities/awards.

PIs who wish to be considered for these opportunities must submit a notification of intent to submit form through the UConn Quest Portal by the due date listed in the NOI deadline column in the table below. If the NOI deadline has passed, the opportunity is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. PIs must be selected and approved by the OVPR to be eligible to submit.

Questions? Check out our FAQ Section.

Limited Submission Overview

Limited submissions are funding opportunities that restrict the number of applicants an institution can submit. To manage these opportunities, UConn has a policy in place to ensure a fair and competitive selection.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) oversees the management of limited submission opportunities and is responsible for selecting the official applicants from UConn and UConn Health, which may involve conducting an internal competition when necessary.

For details on the process and other related questions, visit our FAQ page. To explore current opportunities, visit the limited submissions opportunities page.

For further assistance, contact the limited submission coordinator, Kaylei Arcangel at research@uconn.edu

Research Development

The goals of the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) Research Development programs are to:

help faculty in all disciplines move into a better position to generate external funding for their scholarly and creative activities
enhance the research climate at the University of Connecticut by promoting faculty research

The OVPR provides Research Development Services through:

proposal development services
grant writing seminars and workshops
internal funding seed programs
limited submission funding opportunity management
research communications

Research Excellence Program (Storrs/Regional)

NOTICE as of 5/05/2025: Due to the need to reserve funds for the EMERGE emergency funding program, all OVPR Internal Funding Programs are on hold-we will provide updates as more information becomes available.

The primary goal of the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) Research Excellence Program (REP) is to provide seed funding to fuel innovative research, scholarship, and creative endeavors with strong potential for:

Significant extramural funding from federal and state sponsors, corporations, industry partners, and foundations.
Achievements consistent with the highest standards of accomplishment in the discipline.

What is the REP Funds:

The REP is focused on facilitating projects that have a strong potential to stand out as excellent, both within their disciplines and beyond, adding to UConn’s reputation for innovative research, scholarship, and creative activities.
Proposals for research or creative projects in all areas and for a wide variety of purposes are encouraged. We recognize that scholarly excellence comes in many forms.
Emphasis will be given to projects for which REP funding will make a crucial difference in making a significant accomplishment feasible or make a project substantially more competitive for external funding. REP funding should be a “game-changer,” not an add-on to an already competitive project.
Multi-PI, interdisciplinary projects are encouraged. Faculty are encouraged to use Lincus, a search engine that will assist in identifying specific faculty expertise at all UConn campuses, including UConn Health.
Proposals addressing opportunities for technology commercialization may be submitted to the REP competition.
No preference will be given to proposals based on academic rank of the PI or Co-PIs.
We encourage resubmissions of proposals that have not been funded in the past, provided that review panel summaries are provided and PIs explain how they are addressing feedback in the new submission. Previous comments must be addressed whether the PI agrees with them or not.

Funding Period

Awards will be made for approximately one year, unless a compelling justification is made by the PI(s) for an alternate funding period. Standard award period will be May 1 to June 30 of the next fiscal year (ex. May 2025-June 2026).

Deadlines

There will only be one REP competition per year. Full proposals must be submitted by 12/16 at 12 noon via the UConn Quest Portal (you may be prompted to first log in and then to click the link again to access the application) for the Research Excellence Program (REP) at UConn Health, the stimulus and convergence overview, guidelines and application submission instructions can be found at the UCH REP website.

Notification of results will be made to all applicants in May. Awardees will be announced publicly on the OVPR website and through UConn Today.

Two broad categories of REP support have been established to meet the differing funding needs of various disciplines. Each category in turn has funding caps in place for single PI and multi-PI, interdisciplinary awards.

Proposals should be submitted to the category that best represents project goals and methods rather than the PI’s home department.
Multi-PI, interdisciplinary proposals in either category must include PIs across multiple academic units/disciplines, and must target external funding opportunities as the central reason for a REP award.
Each faculty member serving as a PI must be making a significant contribution to the development and direction of the project.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Social Sciences

Single PI awards capped at $25,000
Multi-PI, interdisciplinary awards capped at $50,000

Proposals should emphasize how the research will advance knowledge in the Sciences (basic and applied life science, physical sciences, mathematical science, social and behavioral sciences), technology, engineering, or society (applied research, interdisciplinary research).

Fine Arts, Humanities, Business, Law, and Engagement

Single PI awards capped at $10,000
Multi-PI, interdisciplinary awards capped at $25,000

Proposals should emphasize how the research, project, or scholarship will advance the arts, humanities, business, law, education, creative endeavors, or engaged scholarship (community partnerships, evaluation research, or participatory research).

The Storrs/Regional Research Excellence Program is available to UConn faculty members, within the following parameters:

Primary Appointment:
- PIs must be faculty whose primary appointment is at UConn/UConn Health.
- Faculty with primary appointments to CCMC, Jackson Labs, or TIP companies are not eligible to apply.
- Individuals who are not eligible to apply as a PI may be able to serve as a collaborator/consultant on an eligible PI’s project.
Effort and Salary:
- Although no minimum effort level is required for REP projects, a PI/Co-PI must have institutionally-funded research time available during the award period.
- Research Professors / those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions) must include details about their institutionally-funded research time as part of the budget justification to confirm eligibility.
- PIs/Co-PIs must each make significant and distinct intellectual contributions to the design and direction of the project.
Eligible Faculty Ranks:
- REP awards are available to tenure-track, tenured, Clinical, Research, and in-Residence faculty with Assistant Professor rank or higher.
Eligible faculty may only submit one proposal per year as lead PI. Investigators may serve as collaborator on multiple projects.
Faculty who have received two or more REP awards in the last five years, as PI or Co-PI are not eligible to apply as PI. (They can continue to serve as a co-PI on future awards).
Each distinct project should be submitted only once per program year. Cross-campus teams should decide which program (Storrs/Regional or UCH) they want to apply for. The same project will not be considered multiple times per program year.
Lead PIs for Storrs/Regional REP and UCH REP awards must have a primary affiliation with those campuses.

Proposal Guidelines

Please be sure to read all the guidelines thoroughly. Each item/section should be prepared, labeled, and ordered as indicated below. Some information will need to be entered into a form on the application site. Other documents will need to be uploaded. See below for details.

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the UConn Quest Portal by 12/16 (if 12/16 falls on a weekend, a grace period in the system will allow applications to be accepted beyond the deadline until 9am of the next business day) and will require the following information:

Faculty Applicant Information Form (some information may pre-populate into the form):

Submitting PI Name
Home Department
School/College
Email
Phone
Faculty/Academic Rank
Primary Employer
Question - is your position contingent on grant funding?

REP Application Form:

REP Category: (1) Science, Engineering, Math, Technology, Social Science; or (2) Arts, Humanities, Business, Law, Engagement. Form will also contain choices for applicants from UCH.
Project Type: Single PI or Multi-PI
Discipline (for reviewer selection purposes--please select the review group that best represents the work you are proposing):
- Arts / Humanities / Business / Law / Community Engagement
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry / Material Sciences
- Earth Sciences / Environmental Sciences
- Engineering
- Math / Physics / Statistics
- Medical Research (includes research on the diagnosis and treatment of human disease)
- Social Sciences
- Social Sciences, Behavioral/Psychological focus
- UCH Stimulus
Special Reviewer Expertise (optional): If your project requires reviewers to possess specific expertise within the context of your discipline (i.e. familiarity with a specialized approach or methodology), please specify.
Size of Team: 0-8
Key Personnel: Co-PIs, department affiliation, role on project
Project Title:
Project Abstract / Lay Summary: Succinctly state (for a non-specialist audience) the objectives, methods to be employed, and the significance of the proposed activity to the advancement of knowledge, pursuit of scholarly activity, or contribution to creative work.
Future Funding and/or Activities: The applicant should specify where extramural grant proposals will be submitted and/or the high level disciplinary accomplishments that will result from this REP funding.
Results from prior OVPR-funded projects: If you've received funding in the past from OVPR internal seed grants or commercialization grants, please give a brief account of the outcomes of those projects and any research products generated.
Keywords: List 4-5 keywords relevant to project

Project Plan (PDF upload):

The Project Plan should be 3-5 pages in length (12-pt font and 1” margins). The Project Plan should address each of the areas below in sufficient detail using the headings provided. Proposals should be written in straightforward language, keeping in mind that reviewers will possess general content knowledge but not necessarily specific expertise in the area of study. Proposals should avoid the use of technical or discipline-specific jargon. Acronyms that are not universally understood should be spelled out the first time they are used. References should be included in the project plan document, but they do not need to be counted against page limits

Significance/Importance: Provide a clear and compelling rationale for why the proposed project, scholarly activity, or creative work matters. Indicate how the proposed project will advance knowledge, address an important scientific or scholarly problem, demonstrate intellectual or creative significance, and/or benefit society in meaningful ways. If applicable, include hypotheses to be tested, specific goals/aims, and relevant background/information or preliminary data in support of the project.
Approach and Timeline: Describe the plan for carrying out the proposed activities, including research design, work plan, and methodological approach. Describe the timeline projected for completing this work. If funding is requested for more than one year, provide a rationale and justification for the request.
Innovation/Novelty: Outline the ways in which this project’s proposed work is new/innovative in its approach, methods, or techniques in comparison to previous work in the field.
Feasibility and Resources: Explain the feasibility of the work proposed, describing the availability of necessary resources and other factors that may impact the completion of the project.
Investigators/Collaborators: Describe how the PI and/or collaborators are well-suited to carry out the proposed project. For Multi-PI proposals, indicate how the project brings together individuals from different disciplines and how the collaboration will advance the proposed project. For single PI proposals, indicate how the proposed work enhances and/or advances the PI’s scholarship or creative products.
Impact and Outcomes: Indicate the value or impact of the proposed project, once complete? How does the project reflect institutional, state, national, and/or global priorities? In what ways will the results of this work be transformative within its discipline and beyond? What broader societal benefits does it promise? What is your plan / mechanism for assessing the project’s success and evaluating outcomes? For Multi-PI, interdisciplinary proposals, indicate the external funding opportunity that will be targeted as a result of the REP.
Resubmissions: If the proposal is a resubmission from a previous internal or external grant competition, Summarize the feedback received and provide responses to reviewers’ comments. Indicate how and where the reviewers’ comments were addressed. Full text of reviewer comments must be included as an appendix if the project has been previously submitted to external sponsors.

Proposed Budget (excel upload):

List and justify each budget item. Please see Internal Funding Budget Guidelines for instructions and a budget template to list the items and their respective costs. Please provide a justification for each budget item in the appropriate column in the spreadsheet. If additional space is needed, you may include a budget justification document as an appendix.

Biosketches/CVs (PDF upload, single document):

Please include biosketches/CVs (formatted as appropriate for your field) for all PIs/Co-PIs. Include your most recent publications or those most relevant to the work proposed. Also include current/pending support from external sponsors and UConn sources (including start-up funding). This may be appended to the end of the CV/biosketch or integrated within it, if your discipline’s format already provides space for current/pending.

Appendices (PDF upload, single document):

Past reviewer comments, and extra budget justifications may be included as appendices. Additional information may be included when it is truly essential for adequate peer review of the proposal.

Review Process

All proposals will be evaluated by a peer-review team composed of the University of Connecticut faculty and overseen by the OVPR.

The Internal Competitions Advisory Board (ICAB) faculty Co-chairs are assigned for each discipline area, to provide reviewer suggestions for proposals to the OVPR.
The OVPR in turn will invite and select reviewers based on disciplinary areas consistent with the proposal category, scholarly reputation, and whenever possible expertise and specialization consistent with the proposal topic.
ICAB Co-chairs will review the recommendations by the reviewers, identify the strongest proposals for funding, and make their recommendations to the OVPR, keeping the review criteria in mind.
The OVPR leadership will review all the recommendations and scores for award consideration. Final awards are made by the OVPR leadership based on the ICAB recommendations, program objectives, equity factors (including disciplinary representation), recent internal funding history, and alignment of projects with other institutional priorities or investments.

Review Criteria

Using a 5-point rating scale from 1 (Excellent) to 5 (Poor), reviewers will rate and evaluate 6 criteria (Significance, Approach/Timeline, Innovation/Novelty, Feasibility/Resources, Investigators/Collaborators, and Impacts/Outcomes. In addition, reviewers will evaluate the budget and provide funding recommendations.

Significance/Importance

Does this study address an important scientific / scholarly / creative problem or gap?
How well articulated are the project's hypotheses, aims, and/or goals? Are these goals well-reasoned and adequately supported?
If the aims of the project are achieved, will scientific knowledge, technical capability, clinical practice, and/or social conditions be advanced in meaningful ways?
Does the proposed project significantly contribute to the concepts, theories, methods, technologies, applications, treatments, outcomes, services, and/or preventive interventions that drive the field/discipline?

Approach/Timeline

To what degree does the proposal outline a clearly articulated and well-reasoned plan of action?
Are the conceptual, theoretical, or clinical frameworks and research methods adequately developed and clearly articulated? To what degree are they appropriate to the aims of the project and reflective of intellectual rigor?
Is the timeline adequate for achieving goals and meeting the project aims? For proposals requesting funding to exceed one year, is the request justified and supported?

Innovation/Novelty

Is the project original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms, methods, approaches, applications, theories, practice and/or barriers to progress in the field(s)?
Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, technologies, applications, treatments, tools, and/or interventions?

Feasibility and Resources

To what degree is the project, as described in proposal, achievable? Are there any concerns about feasibility?
Are the resource and time available for this project adequate to ensure success?
Does the environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?
Does the proposed project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements?

Investigators/Collaborators

Are the PI, collaborators, and other personnel well-suited to carry out the project?
Do the collaborators have complementary and integrated expertise?
For Single-PI proposals, does the proposed work advance the PI’s scholarship or likelihood of obtaining an external award?
Does the PI (and collaborators for Multi-PI proposals) demonstrate an ongoing/emerging record of accomplishments that have advanced the respective field(s)?

Impact and Outcomes

Is the proposed project compelling and if successful, would it make a meaningful disciplinary or interdisciplinary contribution and/or advancement?
Does the project address institutional, state, national, and/or global priorities?
Does the project have strong potential for producing valuable societal benefits?
Does the project have high potential for national or international recognition and achievement?
Is the proposal high quality and appropriate for the REP?
Does the project have high potential for extramural funding or disciplinary achievement?
Does the PI provide evidence from a previous external review that the current proposal would address a weakness and/or strengthen resubmission (e.g., previous feedback suggested additional pilot data was needed or work would be strengthened by more in depth archival analysis, etc).
Does the proposal contain an adequate plan or mechanism for assessing success and evaluating outcomes?
For Multi-PI proposals, was an external funding opportunity identified?

Budget Evaluation

Is the project budget appropriate and sufficient to carry out the proposed work?
Are the budget requests adequately justified, clearly articulated, and necessary for the scope of work and timeline?
If requested, are course buyout and/or summer support vital to the project?
Would you recommend any reduction in the budget?

Funding Recommendations

Reviewers will be asked to make funding recommendations based on the merits of each proposal and funding cutoffs. Funding cutoffs will be determined by the OVPR.

Review Criteria for Arts, Humanities, Business, Law, and Engagement Proposals

Significance

Does the project demonstrate intellectual significance and/or creativity including value to scholars, general audiences, and society?
Does the proposed project address an important scholarly problem, social condition, and/or creative endeavor?
Is the project’s intellectual rationale clear and persuasive?
Does the project engage important and critical topics and/or advance the respective field(s) in meaningful and significant ways?
Does the project’s conception, definition, organization, and description reflect the highest quality and excellence?
If applicable, is artistic excellence demonstrated by the quality of artists, arts organizations, arts education, works of art and/or services reflected in the proposal?
If applicable, were the hypotheses, aims, and/or goals clearly articulated, well-reasoned, and adequately supported?

Approach/Timeline

To what degree does the proposal outline a clearly articulated and well-reasoned plan of action?
Are the conceptual / theoretical frameworks and methods adequately developed and clearly articulated? To what degree are they appropriate to the aims of the project and reflective of intellectual rigor/artistic excellence?
Is the timeline adequate for achieving goals and meeting the project aims? For proposals requesting funding to exceed one year, is the request justified and supported?

Innovation/Novelty

Is the project original and innovative? Does the project challenge existing paradigms, methods, approaches, applications, theories, practice and/or barriers to progress in the field(s)?
Is the project distinctive by offering fresh insights and new value for the field(s) and/or public through unconventional or innovative approaches, theories, discourse, interpretations, controversies, and/or methods?

Feasibility, Resources, and Timeline

To what degree is the project, as described in proposal, achievable? Are there any concerns about feasibility?
Are the resource and time available for this project adequate to ensure success?
Does the environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?
Does the proposed project benefit from unique features of the environment such as subject populations, archival resources, special collections, technical assistance/tools, geography, translational expertise, and/or facilities support?

Investigators/Collaborators

Are the PI, collaborators, and other personnel well-suited to carry out the project?
Do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise?
For Single-PI proposals, does the proposed work advance the PI’s scholarship, creative products, and/or likelihood of obtaining an external award?
Does the PI (and collaborators for Multi-PI proposals) demonstrate an ongoing/emerging record of accomplishments that have advanced the respective field(s)?

Impact and Outcomes

Is the proposed project compelling and if successful, would it make a meaningful disciplinary or interdisciplinary contribution and/or advancement?
Does the project address institutional, state, national, and/or global priorities?
Does the project have strong potential for producing valuable societal benefits?
Does the project have high potential for national or international recognition and achievement?
Is the proposal high quality and appropriate for the REP?
Does the project have high potential for extramural funding or disciplinary achievement?
Does the PI provide evidence from a previous external review that the current proposal would address a weakness and/or strengthen resubmission (e.g., previous feedback suggested additional pilot data was needed or work would be strengthened by more in depth archival analysis, etc).
Does the proposal provide a mechanism to assess success and provide an adequate plan for evaluation of outcomes?
Where appropriate, does the project provide a sound dissemination and/or access plan?
For Multi-PI proposals, was an external funding opportunity identified?

Budget Evaluation

Is the project budget appropriate and sufficient to carry out the proposed work?
Are the budget requests adequately justified, clearly articulated, and necessary for the scope of work and timeline?
If requested, are course buyout and/or summer support vital to the project?
Would you recommend any reduction in the budget?

Funding Recommendations

Reviewers will be asked to make funding recommendations based on the merits of each proposal.

Faculty Travel Funding Guidelines

Before You Apply

Before making travel arrangements or traveling, all faculty must submit a Travel Request via Concur in order to:

Obtain pre-approval from their department or unit head (per UConn AAUP contract)
Obtain pre-approval from Global Affairs if traveling internationally to a Level 3 or 4 destination
Obtain written pre-approval from OVPR Export Control before booking travel to embargoed regions
Obtain written pre-approval from dean, director, or department head if destination is subject to State travel ban

If you are participating virtually, you do not need to submit a Travel Request via Concur, since no travel is taking place.

Receiving an AAUP/OVPR Faculty Travel Award does not infer that such travel has been approved by the University, only that the awardee has funding available to reimburse expenses from approved travel. Failure to follow appropriate policies and procedures related to University travel may result in unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses for individuals. The following guidance can ensure all faculty and staff avoid such situations.

Reminder: Any activity related to your faculty position for which you receive outside compensation, honorarium, or other form of payment (including payment of expenses) may require review and approval by the Faculty Consulting Office. Travel or other Professional Development costs relating to or overlapping with outside consulting activities are not eligible for reimbursement under the AAUP/OVPR Faculty Travel Funding Program.

Due to the popularity of this program and demand exceeding supply of funds, faculty are encouraged to apply as soon as they are aware of the travel opportunity. Funds are limited, and awards are not guaranteed.

Requests for reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days of travel ending. Failure to submit reimbursement within 60 days may result in travel costs being assumed by the traveler/department.

Once all funds for the FY are fully committed, the OVPR reserves the right to close down the request portal so that no new requests may be submitted.

It is strongly recommended that all University travel is booked through UConn's travel agent, Anthony Travel, using the University-sponsored Travel Card (T-Card). Anthony Travel has a dedicated UConn agent. Travel can also be booked online within the Concur system where you can search for flights similar to the Expedia application.

If you book travel independently and have to cancel this travel, you will be responsible for any resulting costs that will not be reimbursed by the University. For instance, if you book a non-refundable flight on Expedia and then have to cancel this travel due to the pandemic, you will not be reimbursed for the ticket. Anthony Travel will support any cancellation or postponement of travel that they have booked, including obtaining credits for the unused tickets. There are no booking fees or agent fees charged back to the department when using Anthony Travel.

Request Windows

Common Request Portal

Fall travel = Trips occurring July 1 – Dec. 31, 2024
Request Window Opens May 1

Spring travel = Trips occurring Jan. 1 – June 30, 2024
Request Window Opens Nov. 1

Trips spanning funding periods or fiscal years will be considered part of the period or year in which the greater number of travel days occur.

Requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the popularity of this program and demand exceeding supply of funds, faculty are encouraged to apply as soon as they are aware of the travel opportunity. Funds are limited, and awards are not guaranteed.

Funding Sources and Criteria

This program unites two sources of faculty travel funding under a common set of guidelines and through a common request portal.

Funding pools run on the fiscal year (FY) cycle (July 1 – June 30).

Award funds cannot be transferred in part or in whole to other trips.

AAUP Professional Development Fund

Per UConn AAUP contract (applicable to Storrs and Regional Campus), “each eligible full-time faculty member shall, upon request, receive up to $2,200 from the Professional Development Fund for any academic-related travel expenses…
…so long as such funds are available” (Article 19.6, Sec. F, Item iii).
Academic related travel
- Related to research and teaching-focused conferences, academic workshops, and other professional development opportunities
- Includes transportation, lodging, registration, per diem, etc.
1^st source of funding for all requests (regardless of type of participation)
Per UConn AAUP contract, 30% of AAUP Professional Development Fund will be reserved until February 1 for “junior” faculty (defined as terminal degrees earned within past 7 years; Article 19.6, Sec. F, Item iv).
Sole source for non-active participation (aka Attendance Only)

OVPR Faculty Travel Fund

Augments the AAUP funding
Added requirement that funds only support dissemination of research results (active participation as a speaker/presenter) at conferences/professional workshops
Awarded only when AAUP funds are expended or otherwise not available

Faculty Eligibility

Eligibility varies based upon funding source.

Individual maximum of $2,200 is inclusive of both AAUP and OVPR funds and runs on the fiscal year (FY) cycle (July 1 – June 30).

Per UConn AAUP contract, 30% of AAUP Professional Development Fund will be reserved until February 1 for “junior” faculty (defined as terminal degrees earned within past 7 years; Article 19.6, Sec. F, Item iv).

AAUP fund

Full-time UConn faculty
Members of the UConn AAUP
- Includes regional campuses, full-time Lecturers, Adjuncts
  teaching 2 or more courses now and each semester for the past two years
- Excludes faculty in Law, Medicine, Dental Medicine, visiting faculty, Emeritus Faculty

OVPR fund

Full-time UConn faculty
Members of the UConn AAUP
- Includes regional campuses, Law School
- Excludes faculty in Medicine or Dental Medicine, lecturers, adjuncts, visiting faculty, Emeritus Faculty

Covered Expenses

All awards are made for the reimbursement of travel expenses only.

All expenses reimbursed must adhere to UConn Travel policy.

Award funds cannot be transferred in part or in whole to other trips.

Request Process

Common Request Portal

One trip per request

Submit at least 10 days prior to departure to ensure adequate processing time.
- Requests submitted fewer than 10 days before departure may not be processed before your travel begins.
- Requests cannot be funded once travel has commenced.

Before making travel arrangements or traveling, all faculty must submit a Travel Request via Concur in order to:

Obtain pre-approval from their department or unit head (per UConn AAUP contract)
Obtain pre-approval from Global Affairs if traveling internationally to a Level 3 or 4 destination
Obtain written pre-approval from OVPR Export Control before booking travel to embargoed regions
Obtain pre-approval from dean, director, or department head if destination is subject to State travel ban

Trips spanning funding periods or fiscal years will be considered part of the period or year in which the greater number of travel days occur.

Requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. The amount awarded will be determined by the qualifying amount providing all budgeted funds are available, individual fiscal year allotments have not been reached, and all of the submitted information is accurate.

Need to make changes? Please email your detailed request to research@uconn.edu.

Did you cancel your trip? Please email research@uconn.edu to let us know.

Award funds cannot be transferred in part or in whole to other trips.
Unused funds will be returned to the funding pool for redistribution.
Value of unused funds will be returned to the traveler’s annual fair share maximum

Status Markers

Pending: Your request was successfully submitted and is awaiting review
Approved: Your request was funded
Not Funded: Your request was not funded. Some, but not all, possible reasons are listed below. Reviewers often make notes which can be found near the top of the notification email.
- You have already reached your $2,200 limit for the fiscal year
- All monies from the AAUP and/or OVPR funding pools are fully committed for the travel period (i.e. Fall or Spring)
- You did not submit 10 days prior to departure, allowing reviewers sufficient time to process your request, and funds cannot be awarded once travel has begun
  - It may be the case that committed travel funds will go unused. Unused funds will be returned to the appropriate pools from which they originated, and applications previously Not Funded due to drained pools will be reconsidered in the order in which they were originally submitted, provided the proposed travel dates have not yet come to pass.

How to Change/Cancel

Need to make changes? Please email your detailed request to research@uconn.edu.

Did you cancel your trip? Please email research@uconn.edu to let us know.

Award funds cannot be transferred in part or in whole to other trips.
Unused funds will be returned to the funding pool for redistribution.
Value of unused funds will be returned to the traveler’s annual maximum

Post-Trip Requirements – Reimbursement Process

Please collaborate with your department’s staff to request reimbursement of expenses upon completion of travel.

All awards are for reimbursement of travel expenses only.

Reimbursements from OVPR award funds must include evidence of active participation.
See also “Covered Expenses” above.

Requests for reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days of travel ending. This mirrors UConn Travel policy.

Awards expire after 90 days

Awards will be closed after this period
Award funds cannot be transferred in part or in whole to other trips.
Unused funds will be returned to the funding pool for redistribution
Value of unused funds will be returned to the traveler’s annual fair share maximum
Exceptions only in special cases and with significant justification
Exceptions must be requested before award expires
Travel costs related to expired awards (that haven't been granted exceptions) will be assumed by the traveler/department.

Reminder: Per UConn Travel Policy "reimbursements submitted over 120 days after travel is complete will not be reimbursed even with the approval from a Dean, Director, or Department Head."

Staff members: When charging the travel award account in Concur, please include the award number in the line item description. Also, please include in a Note the AAUP/OVPR Faculty Travel Award # and attach it. If not all award monies were used, you are also encouraged to note this, and by how much.

Welcome to the Limited Submission FAQ page. This resource is designed to help faculty and staff navigate the limited submission process, including eligibility, timelines, internal review procedures, and proposal development support.

At UConn, the OVPR coordinates internal competitions to ensure compliance with sponsor-imposed submission limits and to support the strongest possible submissions.

What is a limited submission?

How are opportunities announced?

When does OVPR typically announce/post opportunities?

How much time will applicants have once a competition is announced?

What is the overall process?

How do I get started?

What happens if an internal competition is required?

What documents are needed for the pre-proposal?

What happens after the internal competition is complete?

What proposal development support is available?

What if a limited submission opportunity is not listed?

What if I want to resubmit for a limited submission opportunity?

What happens if I miss an internal deadline?

How do I know if a funding opportunity is limited?

Who should I contact if I have questions about limited submissions?