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Northern Illinois University

Division of International Programs

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

Please NOTE:  updates to goals and criteria maybe updated after the IPAC meeting in October 2008.

Academic year 2008-2009

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

  • Support NIU faculty international travel on behalf of teaching and public service activities that are not normally funded by the university (in contrast to international travel on behalf of research which may be funded by research grants or by the NIU Graduate School).
  • Provide NIU regular faculty members with the opportunity to travel internationally on teaching and public service program activities that will have an impact on their teaching or public service efforts at NIU.

The aim of this grant program is to broaden the international experience of faculty members at NIU, whether by assisting faculty members who have limited professional international experience to secure such an experience, or to enable faculty members who have significant international experience to extend their activities into new areas.

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 Executive Director of the Division of International Programs, in consultation with the International Programs Advisory Council, will make the final determination of which proposals for the 2008-2009 cycle of competition will receive grant support and how much.

Amount of grant support

A minimum of four grants up to a maximum of $2000 each will be provided to NIU faculty members from the Cobb endowment under this program. Except for extraordinary circumstances, a match of 20% (or up to a maximum of $500) is expected from the faculty member’s department and/or college. A total of $8,000 is available to be awarded in this cycle.

Deadlines

Proposals for the 2008-2009 academic year (the period of January 1,  to August 15, 2009) are due in the Division of International Programs February 6, 2009. Applicants will be notified whether they have received an award by March 15, 2009.

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 outcomes, link to the faculty member's teaching or public service efforts.
  • A budget including the total expenditures, the amount being requested from the grant program, and the amount and source of matching monies. A 20% match from the faculty member's department and/or college up to $500 is expected.
  • The proposed project time lines.
  • Qualifications of the applicant
  • Brief CV with a summary of international experiences, if any, not to exceed 2 pages.

Grant recipient obligations

  • Complete the proposed project within the planned time line.
  • Expend grant monies within allocated budget limits and according to agreed upon categories and purposes.
  • Evaluate the impact of the project.
  • Submit a report on expenditures and project outcomes within two months of the end of the project. The report on outcomes should include plans for incorporating the impact of the experience on their teaching or public service activities. The report will be shared with the NIU Foundation.

August 2008