To facilitate the conduct of research, scholarship, and creative projects by its faculty and students, the University has numerous on-going initiatives which are designed to seed-fund competitive projects/proposals. If you need additional help in identifying funding in your discipline or need some individualized support to develop a competitive grant proposal, please do not hesitate to contact us by visiting this webpage CONTACT or by calling the ORSP at 898-5005.

FOR FACULTY:

Faculty Research and Creative Projects Committee:
Supports research and creative projects of individual or collaborative groups of full-time faculty through academic year support, summer salary, or both.

Research Enhancement Program:
The purpose of this initiative is to foster selective research collaborations between faculty who are involved in interdisciplinary research and graduate programs.

Dissemination and Service Fee :
Supports production and distribution costs of scholarly material such as publication of a peer-reviewed article, CD’s, DVD’s, etc.

Distinguished Creative Activity Award:
Each year, faculty members at MTSU nominate their peers for this distinguished award. This award recognizes creative achievement defined as “original, imaginative works of artistic merit as distinguished from empirical/analytical works of scholarly research.” This award also carries a monetary honorarium from the MTSU Foundation.

Matching Funds:
The University provides generous funds to support matching requirements of extramural funding agencies. PLEASE CONTACT THE ORSP TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

Public Service Awards:
These awards are given to faculty to support activities that provide service to the community, region, state, or nation, within the bounds of the University mission as executed by its departments. These activities are commonly included under the headings of extension, continuing education, community service, adult education, and consultation.

Graduate Faculty Travel Awards:
Supports travel of graduate faculty to present abstracts at regional, national, and international meetings and conferences.

Distinguished Research Awards:
Each year, faculty members at MTSU nominate their peers for two Distinguished Research Awards. This award recognizes research achievement defined as “original creative scholarly activity, which generates new knowledge, product or application.” This award generally represents the combined results of a systematic research program. This award carries a monetary honorarium from the MTSU Foundation.

Technology Access Fee Funds:
Supports enhancement of instructional infrastructure in the University.

Faculty Development Grants:
Supports professional development of faculty.

Instructional Evaluation and Development Grants:
Grants are awarded to faculty to support projects related to the assessment and improvement of instructional effectiveness.

Non-Instructional Assignment Grants:
These grants relieve faculty members from all teaching assignments for one semester or half-time for the academic year in order to pursue research and publication opportunities.

Outstanding Teacher Award:
Each year, faculty members at MTSU nominate their peers for this distinguished award which recognizes outstanding teaching. This award carries a monetary honorarium from the MTSU Foundation.

Career Achievement Award:
This award recognizes one faculty member each year who, during the course of his or her career, has exhibited profound, sustained, and high quality contributions to the university and the profession in a variety of areas.

Outstanding Achievement in Instructional Technology Award:
This award honors three faculty members each year who have demonstrated excellence in the development of technology-based teaching materials and in the integration of instructional technology into the classroom. This award carries a monetary honorarium from the MTSU Foundation.

Special Projects:
Each year, The Middle Tennessee State University Foundation grants up to $15,000 to fund a special project pursued by a full-time faculty member at the University. The object of the award is to provide seed money for a project that brings acclaim to the University.

FOR STUDENTS:

Graduate Assistantships:
Awarded to over 250 graduate students each year who meet stringent criterion for continued academic excellence.

Graduate Student Travel Awards:
Supports travel of graduate students enrolled at MTSU to present abstracts at regional, national, and international meetings and conferences.

Mary W. and Chester R. Martin Graduate Academic Fellowship:
Supports graduate students from the State of Tennessee or Kentucky who meet or excel defined academic standards.

Graduate Minority Scholarships:
Awarded to qualified African American Tennesseans on a competitive basis.

Albert L. and Ethel Carver Smith Scholarship for Graduate Students:
Awarded to graduate students based on scholarship and financial needs.

Walter O. Warren Graduate Scholarship:
Awarded to a teacher or an administrator in the Tennessee’s public school system who is a resident of this state, has over four years of service in the Tennessee public school system, and has planned a career in the Tennessee public school system.

Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects Committee
Administered by the Undergraduate Research Center, this program encourage MTSU students to get involved in research/creative projects at all stages of their undergraduate careers. A competitive stipend is provided to support this initiative.