Eligible faculty members can apply for funding to cover a month summer salary to support their research or scholarly activities. The funding is intended to enable recipients to dedicate their time to research without the need to teach during the summer sessions.  Faculty who are supported by summer salary will only be able to teach in one summer session.

Eligibility

This program is open to all full-time faculty members at DSU including visiting faculty. Applicants must be in good standing with their department and the university.

Application Process

Applicants deadline is May 18 at 5 pm. Late applications will not be considered. The application package must include:

1. Project Description (1-2 pages): A short description of the research or scholarly project, including objectives, a summary of the methodology, and expected outcomes. The description should clearly outline the significance of the project and its contribution to the field. Applicants must also specify their intended outcomes, such as the submission of a grant proposal or a scholarly publication. Applicants should identify possible funders or potential journals for their output.
2. Letter of Support: A letter or email from the applicant's department chair endorsing the project and its importance for the applicant's research agenda.
3. Current and pending support – a list of the faculty member’s other grant support including the amount and source of funds and effort devoted to the projects.
4. List of scholarly publications or creative works

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Rank of faculty member (with a preference for early-stage faculty)
• Level of other funding for the faculty member
• The potential impact of the research or scholarly activity and for the faculty member to achieve the proposed outcomes.

Award Notification

Selected applicants will be notified by May 26, 2026. All funding decisions are final.

Obligations of Recipients

Recipients are required to submit a final report summarizing their research findings or scholarly activity, including progress towards the proposed outcomes, by the end of the fall semester (December 18, 2026)

Contact Information

For questions or further information about the Summer Research Support Program, please contact Brittany Maday at bmaday@desu.edu