Tag Archives: workshops

CFD Updates: Internal Grants, Writing Support, & Grant Writing

by Amy Strage, CFD

1. Internal grants. As we announced last week, the Provost has reaffirmed her commitment to supporting research and scholarship on our campus, and her office is funding RSCA and Undergraduate Research Grants once again.  All tenured and tenure-track faculty are eligible to apply.   We are also delighted to announce funding, through the Provost’s office, for Innovations in Teaching-Course Re-Design grants.  All instructional faculty (lecturers as well as tenured/tenure-track faculty) are eligible to apply. Application procedures and forms all of these programs are available on the Internal Grants section of the CFD website.  Deadlines to apply for these grants are as follows:   RSCA grants: April 2nd;  Innovations in Teaching – Course Re-design grants: April 12th; Undergraduate Research grants:  April 22nd.

2.  Collegial conversations and showcases. Our next Tea and Talk hour (Wednesday, March 20th, 3-4pm, in IRC 101) will feature two colleagues from the College of Education – Professors Colette Rabin and Grinell Smith.  Their topic, “Modern Education: A Tragedy of the Commons” , should be of interest to us all.  They will explore the idea that current accountability practices exploit students in a way that opens the door for a pernicious set of predictable outcomes, known collectively as ‘tragedies of the commons.  I hope you can join us, as we discuss their work and strive to articulate more positive trajectories.

Another not-to-be-missed event is the screening of a film entitled “Just a Piece of Cloth” produced and directed by Professor Rosemary Henze, from our Linguistics and Language Development department.  In this documentary, Bay Area Muslim women share their stories about wearing (or not wearing) hijab.  We hope you will be able to join Rosemary on Tuesday, April 2nd, from 6:30-8:00pm, in MLK Jr.  Library 225/229.

3.  Support for student writing.  we are delighted to invite you to a working lunch, on Tuesday, April 16th, from 12-1, in Engineering 285/287, to explore the possibilities of the Criterion on-line writing tool. At this luncheon event, you will have the chance to talk informally with colleagues who are using Criterion in their courses now, and to hear first hand what they find most useful – to them and to their students. The Center for Faculty Development is interested in identifying additional faculty who are willing to test the efficacy of this writing tool by implementing and then assessing whether or not the tool assists students and professors in improving student writing. To that end, the CFD will provide $300 in professional development funds to faculty who incorporate the tool into their teaching and who are willing to assess, evaluate and share the outcomes with the campus community. Please indicate whether you will be able to join us by clicking on the RSVP link.

4. Grant writing support:  Please join Professor Marc D’Alarcao, from our own College of Science, at the next session of the SJSU Research Foundation spring 2013 series.  The topic will be “Proposal Review Sessions Revealed” – Wednesday, April 17th, 11:30-1:00, in MLK Jr. Library, 225/229. You may reserve lunch if you rsvp to nancy.riley@sjsu.edu by April 10th.

5.  The next Writing Marathon is coming up soon – April 18, 19 and 22nd (Thursday, Friday and Monday).  Please submit your application by April 12th.  Marathoners are welcome for one, two or all three days.  

CASA CARHS Announcements for Spring 2013: Programs, Research Support, & Networking

by Amy D’Andrade

If you’re anything like me, you’re returning to the campus hoping that you get a bit more writing and research done this term than you did last semester! In this month’s Update from CASA CARHS, we have information about a unique webinar from NCFDD that can help you further develop your time management skills, details about several peer-based writing supports that are just starting up for the term, and an invitation to our new “First Fridays at Flames,” where you can reward yourself for your scholarly accomplishments, or just vent about the challenges of academic life. Here’s the latest from CASA’s Center for Research on Human Services (CARHS).  Welcome back!

Free on-line workshop on “Aligning your time with your priorities” 

The National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, to which SJSU has an institutional membership, is offering a webinar bon “Aligning your time with your priorities.” Too often we say we want to focus on our scholarship, but then, for a variety of reasons, weeks go by and little writing has been done. In this webinar/workshop you will learn (and practice) skills to align your limited time with your priorities. NOTE: You must be registered with NCFDD to participate! It’s free, but we need a few days advance notice to sign you up. Contact Amy D’Andrade at amy.dandrade@sjsu.edu with questions or to register.

CARHS writing supports starting up this for Spring semester

The Writing Room: 

Research suggests that people who write for short periods of time on a regular basis are much more productive than those who do “binge writing” –who write in big chunks of time spaced far apart. But finding the time to write is difficult when we have so many other demands competing for our attention. Several of your CASA colleagues are solving this dilemma by meeting on Wednesday mornings from 9-11 to create a regular space in their week to devote to writing. The first session is 2/6/13, meeting in the MLK Library lobby to start. Virtual participation welcome. Contact Danielle Harris at danielle.harris@sjsu.edu with questions or for more information.

Writing Accountability Group:

Research also suggests that writers who have to be accountable to others write much more than those who don’t. Another group of faculty members are using this strategy to help them move forward on scholarly projects. They’ll meet every two weeks to set specific goals, report progress, and just check in about the writing process. Virtual participation is welcome at this group as well. Contact Lori Rodriguez at lori.rodriguez@sjsu.edu with questions or for more information.

Introducing CARHS First Fridays at Flames

With all the stress of the academic life, you might be feeling the need to debrief and unwind. We propose a solution! Please consider joining your colleagues at the CARHS ‘First Friday at Flames’ – a space to relax, chat about research, check in with colleagues about writing goals, vent about grading, or simply forget all about work if you’d rather! Held the first Friday of the month at Flames, from 4PM to whenever: 2/1/13; 3/1/13; 4/5/13; 5/3/13. All are welcome. Contact Ted Butryn at theodore.butryn@sjsu.edu  with questions or for more information.

CARHS research supports

Software support: Struggling with SPSS or NVivo? We have users groups available for NVivo (contact Amy D’Andrade, amy.dandrade@sjsu.edu to sign up) and SPSS (contact Ed Cohen, edward.cohen@sjsu.edu to sign up); also available is one-on-one support for NVivo from a faculty member with special training (contact Amelie Pedneault, amelie.pedneault@gmail.com).

Statistical consultation: We have two excellent statisticians who are available to consult with you on your research. This service is free for CASA faculty members (up to five hours per individual per semester). Contact Kathy Lemon, kathy.lemon-osterling@sjsu.edu for a referral.

Campus research supports

There are a number of valuable supports for research and scholarship offered on campus. SJSU ResearchFoundation workshops this semester from the Office of Sponsored Programs focus on federal grant writing skills, including the upcoming session on 2/20/13 by Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research Jerry Flanzer on strategies for working with federal program officers. RSVP to Nancy Riley at nancy.riley@sjsu.edu. Through the Center for Faculty Development, there are a number of terrific opportunities to talk informally with researchers and scholars across campus about their work and its implications. In February, Dr. Kevin Jordan from Psychology – who has received millions of dollar of grant funding – will be speaking at the “Tea and Talk” program on Wednesday at 3PM in IRC 101.

Got ideas for other supports you could use? Offer them on our anonymous feedback form.

Dr. Jerry’s Flanzer’s Third Annual Grant Writing Series to Resume

by Cheryl R. Cowan,

Dr. Jerry’s Flanzer’s Third Annual Grant Writing Series will resume next Thursday, January 31 at 3:30 p.m. in IRC 212. This is an opportunity for faculty members to work both individually and collectively through the entire process of writing a grant.  In addition to the dynamics provided by the group’s input and evaluation, a variety of other assistance is available including methodological and statistical consultations,  budget and pre-award technical assistance, and dialogues with funding sources and their program officers. It is anticipated that the group will meet every other week through the semester.

Interested faculty should contact Cheryl R. Cowan.  Dr. Flanzer will call faculty and confirm attendance and goals.  If unable to attend on Thursdays, but remain interested, please let Cherly know what days of the week and times work best for you, and possible alternate arrangements will be made for a second group.

Current Series participants shoud re-confirm continued participation.