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Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Outreach and Collaboration Grants

In alignment with Rackham’s strategic goals and a broader campus-wide strategy to support and enhance bilateral relationships between the University of Michigan and Minority Serving Institution (MSIs), the Rackham Graduate School will offer six (6) MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grants for the 2022-2023 grant cycle.

Proposals Due: April 29, 2022

Funding Description

MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grants will support U-M graduate and professional programs that are at different stages of relationship development. As a result, these grants are designed to support programs that are cultivating new or strengthening existing relationships with MSIs.

Proposals should center on building institutional rapport, trust, and mutually beneficial collaborations with MSIs with the long-term goal of increasing the number of MSI alumni enrolled in U-M graduate and professional programs.

  • Six (6) grants will be awarded.
  • Awards will be made up to $8,000.
  • Funding period is May 2022 to May 2023.

Eligibility and Funding

All U-M graduate and professional faculty are eligible to apply for an MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grant. Grant applications must include a letter of support from departmental (Chair or Co-Chair) or school (Dean) leadership.

For long-term sustainability and breadth of perspective, applicants are encouraged to apply in teams. Ideally, teams will consist of the department chair, tenure-track faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. We especially encourage the inclusion of individuals serving on a program’s recruitment or admissions committees. Cross U-M unit collaborations are also encouraged. Grant applications should clearly define the roles of each team member.

Allowable Expenditures

All MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grant funds must be used to support activities that directly foster and enhance new and existing relationships between U-M and its MSI partner institution(s).

Examples of what funding may be used for:

  • Travel support for faculty, staff, and students to visit MSI or for MSI faculty, staff, and students to visit U-M.
  • Planning and implementation of collaborative activities such as research talks, colloquia, near peer mentoring, joint courses, etcetera
  • Research collaborations with MSI faculty, staff, and/or students.
  • Consortium development
  • Sponsorship of MSI students (summer or academic year) research.

Funding may not be used for faculty or staff salaries, graduate students stipends, or as a replacement or substitute for existing funding to support current efforts.

Additionally, while traditional recruitment activities are important, MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grants are not intended for recruitment-specific initiatives (in other words, program/departmental preview weekends, conference travel, etcetera). Nor are these funds intended for transactional engagement that does not lead to sustainable relationships with MSI collaborators. For general recruitment activity funds, please consider applying for the Rackham Recruitment Grant. If you are unsure as to whether your proposed ideas or activities align with this funding opportunity please contact Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals submitted for this competition will be evaluated by the selection committee according to the following criteria:

Commitment to MSIs and Mutual Benefit

The demonstrated historical commitment and record of engaging with MSIs and clearly articulated mutual benefit to U-M and MSIs.

Leadership Support

The support of departmental leadership as expressed through the departmental chair, school or college dean, or associate dean’s letter of support.

Potential for Scalability, Sustainability, and Impact

The action plan, plan for scale and sustainability, and potential for impact.

Departmental Engagement

The demonstrated school or college commitment to engage with MSIs, beyond the PI and grant team.

Budget

The justification and cost-effectiveness of proposed activities.

Clarity and Attainability of Goals

The articulation of clear goals and the plan for how those goals can be achieved within the 12-month grant period.

Expectations and Deliverables

MSI Collaboration and Implementation Grant awardees will be expected to:

  • Engage diverse stakeholders representative of faculty, staff, students, and others from U-M and collaborating MSI institutions.
  • Participate in the initial kick-off meeting with other U-M awardees in May 2022.
  • Participate in and share progress in Rackham events.
  • Participate in MSI Community meetings, beginning in September 2022.
  • Create an action plan for sustaining the relationship beyond the grant period, including a partnership exit plan, if appropriate.
  • Create Midterm and Final Narrative Reports summarizing processes and outcomes, beginning November 2022, ending in May 2023.

Proposal Submission

The MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grant application is available on Rackham’s website. The deadline to submit the grant application is Friday, April 29, 2022.

For questions regarding the MSI Outreach and Collaboration Grants, please contact Edmund Graham.

Additional Resources