Developmental Disabilities Division, UWO – Talk by Robert Sandieson

Dr. Robert Sandieson
Associate Professor
Faculty of Education
will present:

Differentiated Instruction:  an explicit methodology using developmental theory to  design curriculum for students with Developmental Disabilities

Wednesday, September 30 
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Room 1139 (Community Room) 
Faculty of Education Building

All welcome!

Academic Development Fund (ADF) – Small Grant

The University of Western Ontario Academic Development Fund (ADF) New Research and Scholarly Initiatives Award, Small Grants Competition applications and instructions are now not yet available but if you are planning to apply you should begin preparations soon.

Deadlines:  
Faculty of Education Assoc Dean’s Office: October 1, 2009 (if you wish feedback on your application please submit 2-3 weeks early to Karen Kueneman)
University Secretariat: October 15, 2009 

Value: $8,500 maximum (for up to 2 years)

Description: The ADF’s Small Grants Competition supports the cost of research projects of modest scope. Applications may be made for new research initiatives. Preference will be given to applications that offer a clear rationale for the proposed research, exhibit innovation, and contain a budget explaining fully how the money requested will be spent. In addition, preference will be given to those faculty members striving to get programs of research established and to those who, during the past three years, have not received funds through the SSHRC Internal Research competitions or the Academic Development Fund (ADF).

Eligibility: Researchers in all disciplines are eligible. At the time of application, the principal applicant must be a regular, full-time faculty member at Western OR be a Professor Emeritus at Western with a casual appointment at the rank of Adjunct Research Professor – Independent Research Required.

Full Applications are to be accompanied by a completed RDAF form (bearing applicant and Assoc. Dean Signatures).

Last year’s guidelines and application forms are available at: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/senate/adf.pdf

Updated versions should be available soon.

NOTE: Applications must be submitted electronically in pdf format to the Secretariat’s Office. Please submit your electronic application by Oct 1/09 to Karen Kueneman, kueneman@uwo.ca, along with a hard copy of the signature page bearing your signature.  All applications will be forwarded by the Associate Dean’s Office to the Secretariat by the submission deadline of October 15/09.

SSHRC – Aid to Research Workshops and Conferences in Canada

See updates to this posting below (as of Sept 3/09).

The application form and instructions for SSHRC’s Aid to Research Workshops and Conferences in Canada fund are not yet now available but if you are interested in this opportunity you should start the planning process.  

Deadlines:  
Faculty of Education Associate Dean’s Office: 1 week prior to agency deadline (2-3 weeks if you wish feedback on your application – submit to Karen Kueneman)
UWO Internal: no less than 3 days prior to agency deadline
SSHRC: November 1, 2009 (for a decision end of January 2010)

Value:
Workshops - Up to $25,000 for 1 year
Conferences - Up to $50,000 for 1 year

Description: The broad purpose of this program is to support workshops and conferences held in Canada that will facilitate the transfer of research results within and between disciplines and among Canadian and international researchers. Grants are available to help defray the costs of organizing workshops and conferences. Eligible expenses include administrative costs, travel and subsistence fees (but not honoraria), and the publication of workshop and conference proceedings.

***Workshops and conferences are to be held within 12 months following the announcement of the competition results.

For the purposes of this program, the term conference is defined as a special event that (a) focuses on one or more distinct themes in the social sciences or humanities and that (b) is open to Canadian and international researchers as well as students, both graduate and, where appropriate, undergraduate.

The term workshop is defined as a small, closed invitational event, of 30 or fewer participants, the object of which is to (a) develop a particular research agenda or delineate specific research questions and needs and (b) to produce a concrete deliverable (such as a book or a policy position paper).

Full Applications are to be processed through Research Development Services for institutional signatures, and are to be accompanied by a completed RDAF form (bearing applicant and Associate Dean Signatures).

More information and applications…

Update Sept 3 from Bryde Kelly, Program Officer, SSHRC, bryde.kelly@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

The Aid to Research Workshops and Conference Program materials are now available through the SSHRC website: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/site/apply-demande/program_descriptions-descriptions_de_programmes/conferences-colloques-eng.aspx. The program deadline is November 1, 2009 for hard-copy, signed applications to be post-marked.

 Updates and reminders on features of the application process:

 1.         Conferences with up to 200 participants: The maximum value for this category of conference has been increased from $20,000 to $25,000.

 2.         Signatures: The grant application must bear the original and distinct signatures of (1) the applicant and (2) the president or authorized delegate from the Research Grant Office or equivalent, representing the eligible administering institution.

 3.         Eligibility clarification for SSHRC grant holders: Researchers may be SSHRC grant holders and still apply to this program, but must ensure that their event deals with different objectives from those outlined in any successful earlier application. A workshop or conference must not request duplicate support through another SSHRC program for an event having the same objectives.

 4.         Hospitality expenses: In the case of workshops only, hospitality costs (non-alcoholic refreshments or meals) for networking purposes in the context of formal courtesy between the grantee and guest researchers and research-related activities in the context of assemblies that facilitate and contribute to the achievement of the research objectives, are now allowable expenses. This policy harmonizes with those detailed in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide.

 5.         Facilities: Meeting rooms and basic infrastructure are expected to be provided by the host university per the Tri-Council MOU, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If the host institution cannot provide this in-kind support, costs related to room and facility charges must be explicitly justified.

 6.         Promotion: For workshops, promotion-related costs should be connected to the deliverable(s), given that the event is closed and invitational.

 7.         Budget: Other funds, both confirmed and unconfirmed, must complement those requested of SSHRC to balance with the overall cost of the event. Overall expenditures must be explained in the budget justification. Researchers are encouraged to provide detailed, compelling budget justifications and to have their proposals reviewed carefully by their Research Offices in advance of the deadline.

 8.         Extensions on existing grants: It is no longer a requirement for researchers to request written approval for a one-year extension on their ARWCC grant. There will be an automatic one-year extension for workshop and conference grants. The Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide will be updated to reflect this policy at the first available opportunity.

Early Researcher Award Competition

Representatives from The Ministry of Research and Innovation will visit Western for the launch of Round 6 of the

Early Researcher Award competition

Wednesday, September 16^th  (12:30 to 2:00 p.m.)

Support Services Building Room 4210 

All are welcome to attend the session.

If you plan on making an application to this program, please attend. 

If you are unable to attend please contact Melissa Gordon or Antoinette Martin.

 The Early Researcher Award program is open to Full-time faculty or principal investigators who are:
   – No more than 5 years from having started their independent academic research career, as of July 1, 2009; and
   – No more than 10 years from having completed their first Doctor of Philosophy, Medical Doctor or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, as of July 1, 2009;
   – Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs are not eligible to apply for an ERA.

 For reference, the following are deadlines for Round 6 of the ERA competition:

16 September: Information Session  
17-18 September: Meet with Faculty/Institution  
21 September: Request Letters of Reference  
30 September: NOI due to RD&S  
13 October: First Application Draft to RD&S  
2 November: Letters of Reference, Support Letter & ROLA  
9 November: Final Application Package 

 If you wish to make an early start on your application, further information can be found at http://www.mri.gov.on.ca/english/programs/era/program.asp

Also attached is a Notice of Intent to Propose form,  and an ERA 2009 applicationForm. The ERA budget sheet is also available from Antionette Martin.

 Please contact either Melissa Gordon (mjgordon@uwo.ca; x 84768) or  Antoinette Martin (amartin3@uwo.ca; x 84620) should you need any information or assistance.

Faculty of Education – Internal Conference Travel

The Faculty of Education’s Conference Travel Awards are to support faculty members in their research by providing the opportunity to attend conferences to present their research work and to benefit from interactions with other researchers.

Amount: $1,200 (maximum)

Deadline: (Associate Dean’s Office) October 1, 2009, 4:00 p.m.

Eligibility:Applicants must be tenured or probationary faculty members of the Faculty of Education. A faculty member may apply once to each of the Conference Travel Grant competitions. Pending availability of funds, those who present at more than one conference in a given year (May 1- April 30) may be considered for additional funding as long as the total for all conferences does not exceed the above maximum.

Timing of Conference: There are no restrictions as to when the conference must occur. However, retroactive requests for conferences occurring prior to the application date for a particular competition will receive a lower priority.

Forms must be accompanied by a completed ROLA form.

Applications and guidelines…

The next application deadline for this competition is March 1, 2010.

Tri-Agency Eligible Expenses

Below is a table entitled “Eligible and Non-eligible Expenses for Stationery and Office Supplies”. This table was put together by the Tri-Agencies (SSHRC, CIHR & NSERC) in collaboration with l’Université de Sherbrooke and the University of Ottawa. It was designed to provide clarification on the directives in the “Use of Grant Funds” section of the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide, under the sub-section “Equipment and Supplies”, but not to replace this sub-section. You will find a description of the general rule and examples of what the Agencies consider eligible and non-eligible expenses for stationery and office supplies.

The table will be posted as a link in the sub-section “Equipment and Supplies” in the 2009 version of the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide scheduled to be posted on the agencies’ web sites in early autumn 2009.

Tableofexpensesforstationeryofficesupplies

SSHRC Standard Grants – Signature Requirements

SSHRC Standard Research Grants (SRG) competition has moved to a fully electronic online submission process for October 2009. The process for submitting and obtaining signatures has changed significantly for UWO researchers.

A.  If Western is the LEAD Institution (The Principal Applicant is from UWO)

INTERNAL Deadline Advantages: October 8

• Applications submitted by this date will receive an administrative review to ensure they comply with SSHRC’s application guidelines (formatting, page limitations and inclusion of required information).
• Submission by this date is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

 1)   Upload and Submit Application on SSHRC website 

(Note: If you would like your application returned to you email  trusselo@uwo.ca with the subject line:  “Return SSHRC Application”

 2)    Submit ROLA form:

If before September 17^th; submit Research Data and Approval Form and contact your Chair and Associate Dean Research to approve on ROLA .

NEW: AFTER September 17^th, ROLA II replaces previous system; requires submission of a Proposal. Chair and Associate Dean Research will be notified by ROLA for signature).

Required Sign-offs :

• Principal Applicant  –  Electronic application submission replaces the Applicant’s handwritten signature
• Co-Applicant – Electronic acceptance of PI’s Invitation to participate in application meets signature requirements
• Co-Applicant’s Institution – Required by Western and Lawson before sign-off is granted. Signatures not required by SSHRC
• Institutional Signature – Electronically approved on SSHRC site by Research Development & Services (RD&S contact: trusselo@uwo.ca)

 SUBMISSION Deadline Requirements: October 15, 2:00 pm

• Applications must be submitted by  2:00 pm. Late submissions may NOT receive electronic approval from Western by the SSHRC deadline

 

B. If Western is the CO-APPLICANT Institution:

1)        Send copy of application to Faculty Research Officer AND trusselo@uwo.ca

2)        Submit ROLA form as noted in 2) above.

After submission date, SSHRC will require institution approval of all Applicants and CoApplicants listed on SSHRC Standard grants. This process provides authorization for approval.

 

 SSHRC FAQ Information:  http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/site/apply-demande/application-demande/srg_faq-subvention_demande_foire_questions-eng.aspx

Narrative Inquiry Portal Launched

The University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Education has launched one of the first portals for graduate students who are learning to be narrative researchers (www.narrativeinquiry.ca).

“Narrative inquiry is growing, not only in education, but across the social sciences,” says Dr. Cornelia Hoogland, who supervised the development of the portal. “Since there are many different ways to approach it, there is a need to provide support for students learning to do it.”

The portal offers a FAQ, bibliography, and links to interdisciplinary narrative research centres internationally. What’s innovative is that the site was both constructed for, and by, graduate students. Since 2007,  Hoogland and research assistant Natasha Wiebe have worked with students from the online M.Ed. course, 9576 Narrative Inquiry, as well as a narrative discussion group, to develop content. The questions in the FAQ were not only asked, but also answered, by students. The suggested readings include texts by respected experts in the field, as well as student assignments and publications.

Future plans include adding interactive components so that students can revise the FAQ (a la Wikipedia), as well as discuss each other’s research-in-progress.