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Lillian ("Pauline") Cobb Faculty Travel Fellowships for International Teaching and Service

Academic Year 2011-2012

This program is funded through an endowment that was established from the estate of Lillian ("Pauline") Cobb, who served as the first Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature from 1930 to 1966. It is a competitive grant program designed to promote the active involvement of regular NIU faculty members in international travel that will enhance their on-campus programs.

Goals

The aim of this grant program is to support the strategic priorities of the Division of International Programs for campus internationalization within the overall strategic plan of Northern Illinois University.  Within that plan, the mission of the Division of International Programs is "to lead Northern Illinois University toward comprehensive internationalization by increasing the flow of faculty, students, staff, and ideas across national boundaries.”

Invitational Priorities

Each year the specific invitational priorities of the Cobb Faculty Travel Fellowship program may be adjusted to support particular aspects of the strategic plan and mission.  For the 2012 competition we have identified two invitational priorities: 

International Research Collaboration

We seek to facilitate the initiation or development of international research collaborations by providing funds to faculty to engage with collaborators in foreign countries.  Within this priority, we are particularly interested in facilitating meetings that lead directly either to scholarly products or to proposals for external research funding.  We are also very interested in funding cases where face to face meetings are essential to the collaborative activity and/or where it is germane to the project that the meeting take place in the collaborator’s country or in a third country.

Globally Focused University Honors Course Offerings

We seek to facilitate international travel that would directly support the development of a globally focused University Honors course, to be offered during the calendar year 2013 (spring 2013 or fall 2013).  Possible types of courses include a course for a Themed Learning Community, a new introductory 100-200 level “cornerstone” course, a 300-400 level seminar, and a University Honors-focused study abroad program.  The committee is interested in proposals related to stand-alone Honors courses rather than Honors mini-sections. Further, the committee welcomes proposals that outline a feasible visit abroad that would assist significantly in gathering materials, information, insight, and resources to support the development of such a University Honors course offering. 

Eligibility

All tenured or tenure-track faculty members at NIU are eligible to apply, including faculty members who have no more than a 50% administrative appointment outside their academic department. Faculty who have received a Cobb Fellowship in the past are eligible again, although preference may be given to those who have never received a Cobb Fellowship or who have limited international experience.

The Associate Provost for International Programs, in consultation with the International Programs Advisory Council (IPAC), will make the final determination of which proposals for the 2011-2012 cycle of competition will receive grant support and how much.

Amount of Grant Support

A total of $8,000 is available to be awarded in this cycle.  We anticipate awarding four or more grants with the maximum award to be $2,000.  Except for extraordinary circumstances, a match of 50% is expected from the faculty member's department and/or college.

Deadlines

Proposals for the January 1 – August 15, 2012 awards are due in the Division of International Programs by February 24, 2012. Applicants will be notified whether they have received an award by March 16, 2012.   

Proposal Format

  • A completed cover sheet including signatures from the Department Chair and College Dean
  • A project description (not to exceed 2 pages) that includes the following information:
    • A statement specifying to which invitation priority the proposal responds: international research collaboration or globally focused University Honors course offerings
    • Venue of proposed project, and reasons for choosing that venue
    • Potential to result in outcomes specified in the appropriate invitational priority 
    • Proposed project time lines
  • A budget including the total expenditures, the amount being requested from the grant program, and the amount and source of matching funds. A 50% match from the faculty member's department and/or college up to $500 is expected.
  • Brief CV with a summary of international experiences, if any, and the qualifications of candidate; not to exceed 2 pages.

Grant Recipient Obligations

  • Complete the proposed project within the planned time line
  • Expend grant funds within allocated budget limits and according to agreed upon categories and purposes
  • Evaluate the impact of the project
  • Submit a request for reimbursement within two weeks of the end of the project
  • Submit a report on project outcomes and contacts made within two months of the end of the project.  The report should include an evaluation of the potential for greater collaboration with the cooperating institution and directions for future cooperation.The report will be shared with the Office of the Provost and with the NIU Foundation.

Cover Sheet for Cobb proposal.