The Graduate School
Instructions for Preparing the FRA or SRA Application
FRA and SRA Application Forms
PAGE 1 - Please complete all items. The numbered items on the forms are linked to the bracketed numbers that follow:
In the top section include your name and contact information.
[1] Type of Award for Which Application is Made (check one only): Select if you are applying for an FRA or SRA.
FRA Eligibility: Tenured faculty members (associate and full professors) who satisfy the following standard eligibility condition may apply for an FRA: by the beginning of academic year 2009-2010 the faculty member must have completed at least four full academic years of service in residence at UT Austin since any previous FRA award. (Example: a tenured faculty member who was supported by an FRA at any time during the academic year 2004-2005 would be eligible to apply for another FRA to be held during the academic year 2009-2010 provided the faculty member had fulfilled his or her normal duties at UT Austin during all the intervening four academic years.) If there is no previous FRA award, then by the beginning of academic year 2009-2010 the faculty member must have completed at least four full academic years of service in residence at UT Austin.
PLEASE NOTE: In the past, a tenured or tenure-track professor who did not fulfill the above eligibility requirements could apply for a supplementary, or "reconsideration" FRA if he or she was simultaneously applying for a prestigious external award that would provide a semester or more of support. This type of FRA is no longer available. Supplements to external awards are now handled via supplementary Dean's Fellowships, if funding is available. Please contact your department chair and college dean if you are planning to request supplementary support for an external award. Assistant professors may apply for Summer Research Assignments, which provide 2 months of summer salary.
SRA Eligibility: Only tenure-track assistant professors are eligible for 2009 SRA awards. Applications from others will be returned.
[2] Review Committee Selection:
A Faculty Review Committee appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies will evaluate each proposal. Complete lists of the current members of the Faculty Review Committees will appear by June.
COMMITTEE A -- Humanities, Fine Arts,
Communication, and Creative and Performing Arts
COMMITTEE B -- Social Sciences, Business, Education, Law,
Public Affairs, and Policy Studies
COMMITTEE C -- Engineering and Natural Sciences
Each application is assigned to the Faculty Review Committee that the faculty member has designated on page one of the application. Each committee identifies applications that merit an award. Since available funding limits the number of awards that can be made, this is a competitive process and it may not be possible to support all worthy proposals. The prime criterion in judging applications is perceived merit--both the merit of the applicant and the merit of the proposal are important. The merit of the applicant is largely judged on the basis of the vita and the letters of recommendation. Judgment of the merit of the proposal is strongly dependent as well on the applicant's summary statement and description of the proposed research. Factors in judging the merit of the proposal include the expected benefit to the applicant, evidence of the investigator's ability to carry it out, importance of the proposed work, soundness of the work plan, and necessity of the FRA or SRA to accomplish the proposed work. The applicant's record of previous support from the Faculty Development Program (formerly the University Research Institute) and the Dean's Fellows Program will also be taken into consideration.
[3] Previous support:
If yes, please complete page 3 of the application form, "Uses and Results of Previous Support from the Faculty Development Program (FRAs and SRAs) and the Dean's Fellows Program." Instructions are provided at the top of the form. Please be brief, but use an additional page if needed.
[4] Location of Research:
Provide locations and approximate length of stay (e.g., Smithsonian - 2 months; Rome - 6 weeks)
[5] Human Subjects:
If yes, please attach your IRB approval notice to the back of the application. The online application is available at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/vr/IRBapp.WBX.
[6] Reference letter:
Each FRA and SRA application must include one letter of reference. Please provide only one letter; additional ones will not be accepted. It should be written by an individual (either external or internal) who is thoroughly familiar with your work, and able to discuss authoritatively the scholarship and research in your field of study. Please choose your recommender carefully. Committee members pay attention both to what is written and who wrote it. Try to get the letter from a strong researcher. The recommendation letter must be submitted separately by the referee along with the reference letter form included in this application. The form should be completed by the applicant on the top and then forwarded to the referee. The letter must be in English or include an official English translation. It should be sent directly to the following address:
Letters may also be faxed to the Faculty Development Program at 512-471-7620. If a letter is faxed, the original should follow in the mail. It is the responsibility of the applicant to request this letter and ensure that it is received in the Faculty Development Program office on or before the following deadlines:
FRA reference letter: September 19, 2008
SRA reference letter: October 10, 2008
[7] Signatures of the Chair and Dean:
The original signatures of the applicant's department chair and academic dean. These signatures are required only on the original copy of the proposal.
[8] Signature of the Applicant:
By signing the application form, the applicant acknowledges the Policy (HOP 3.10) requiring Faculty Research Assignment and Summer Research Assignment recipients to return to full time normal service at The University of Texas at Austin for the academic year immediately following receipt of the award, or to reimburse the university for funds expended in support of the FRA or SRA if the recipient elects not to return for the required period.
[9] Abstract:
Not exceeding the space provided (approximately 150 words), write an abstract of your proposed project for someone who is not an expert in your field. You may identify your audience by looking up the names and fields of the members of the Faculty Review Committee who will evaluate your application.
PAGE 2 - Grant Support:
Please list your (a) current, (b) pending, and (c) recent (last 2 years) of grant support, both external and internal, excluding FRAs, SRAs, and Dean's Fellowships. Use additional pages as needed.
PAGE 3 - Uses and Results of Previous Support from the Faculty Development Program (FRAs and SRAs) and the Dean's Fellows Program:
This page is required if you answered "yes" on Page 1 under Previous Support. Instructions are provided at the top of the form. Please be brief, but use additional pages as needed.
PAGE 4
Optional waiver of right of access (under the Provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974) to evaluations (ratings) of the Review Committee members. Page 4 also lists the required and optional attachments for your application listed below:Curriculum vitae (required):
2-page limit to show progress and trajectory. It should include education and employment history; awards, administrative service, and any other information relevant to the application; an indication of the total number of publications should be given, as well as a complete list of publications for the past 7 years. If there is insufficient space to list all your publications for the last 7 years, list the most significant ones. View a sample c.v.
Proposal (required):
Description of the proposed research - Limited to 3 pages, single-spaced in 10 point text or greater. It is recommended that the proposal include sections on background; significance and relationship of the proposed project to long-term research plans; and clearly state any expected results or outcomes if awarded (e.g., paper, book, chapter, etc.).
View copies of successful FRA proposals
View copies of successful SRA proposals
IRB Human Subjects Approval (if indicated):
The online application is available at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/vr/IRBapp.WBX
Bibliography (optional):
The bibliography, if used, should be a short list of primary materials and publications that have the greatest relevance to the project.
Please submit the original plus six copies of your application. The original needs to be signed by your chair and dean.