The Office of the Provost is providing funds to aid programs/departments in the recruitment of graduate students. Proposals that have a high likelihood to recruit new graduate students to Missouri State University will be considered for funding.

Eligibility

Grant proposals from individual Departments or groups, such as Colleges, will be accepted.

Format and Copies

The proposal (not to exceed four double-spaced pages, one side only, 10 point Times New Roman font) should include a cover page (see attached); narrative describing the targeted area of need, recruitment effort (including expected outcomes), departmental initiatives currently in place, departmental contributions to the proposed initiative, budget explanation addressing the resources necessary to support the recruitment effort, and a timeline for completion. An original and nine copies of the proposal should be submitted to the Graduate College office, and these should be marked to the attention of the Graduate Council Executive Committee.

Funding

While proposals for initiatives requesting large amounts will be considered, it is likely that proposals requesting funds totaling $5,000 or less will be the most competitive.

Procedures and Deadlines

Proposals for initiatives to begin in Spring 2008 must be submitted by October 15, 2007. Only proposals conforming to the attached guidelines and submitted to the Graduate College office on or before the stated deadline will be considered by the Graduate Council Executive Committee (the group appointed by the Provost for review of this RFP).

Proposals will be reviewed by the Graduate Council Executive Committee, and applicants will be notified in writing by December 1, 2007.

The committee reserves the right to recommend a funding level that is greater or less than the amount requested; the applicant(s) will have an opportunity to accept or reject such an offer.

Applicants must provide the Graduate College with written notification of their intent to accept a grant award by December 15, 2007. Funds will be made available upon approval by the Graduate Council Executive Committee. All expenditures must be completed by June 30, 2008.

Report from Funded Projects

A written report assessing each funded recruitment effort is due in the Graduate College office by July 15, 2008. This report should include a detailed description of how all funds were used and a statement of the initial outcomes of the recruitment effort.

Format for Proposal

To be considered for support, GSRI proposals must conform to the following guidelines:

1. Cover page (see attached)
2. Narrative (not to exceed four double-spaced pages, one side only), including the following:

a. Description of proposed graduate recruitment initiative
b. Description of targeted area of need
c. Brief statement of relevance of the proposed initiative to university, college, department, and or program mission, priorities, and needs
d. Projected outcome(s)
e. Brief description of current program/department recruitment initiatives
f. Explanation of how proposed initiative will enhance and or extend current graduate recruitment efforts
g. Departmental contribution/involvement, including resources provided, in the proposed initiative
h. Budget explanation including dollars requested and a specific explanation of how dollars will be used
i. Timeline for implementation of initiative

Criteria for Evaluation

The following criteria will be used in determining the appropriateness of the request and the level of funding to be recommended:

• Is the initiative clearly stated, innovative, and attainable?

• Is the initiative appropriate to the mission of the University?

• Is funding targeted to support an area of needed recruitment for a program with the potential for program expansion?

• Does the initiative have the potential for achieving expected outcomes?

• Is the budget reasonable and justified?

Items Not Funded

The following items will not be considered for funding through this RFP:

• Graduate assistant lines (ongoing)

• Graduate student scholarships

• Course development

• New program development