Equity supplementary grants

Background

The Faculty of Education Equity Supplementary Grants (ESG) support activities in line with The University of Auckland’s Strategic Plan (2006-2012) and the faculty’s Annual Plan, particularly in relation to:

Excellent People:
15. Create a culture that encourages academic and general staff to reach their full potential
- Ensure that resources are available to enable staff from EO target groups to study, attend conferences and attain training as specified in performance reviews.

Guiding principles and practices

The ESG is intended to complement but not duplicate existing grants including the faculty and University research grants, ASTE funding, and School-based research and conference support.

The ESG is available for all members of general and academic staff in the Faculty of Education (.5 FTE and greater in the year of the application) who are tenured or who hold at least a two-year contract or who have had two years continuous service.

The ESG can be for individual and collaborative activities, for part and whole funding.

The ESG should link with performance review and career and professional development planning undertaken by general and academic staff.

EO target groups for ESG reflect University target EEO groups as well as those identified by the faculty’s Equity Committee, namely:

• Māori general and academic staff
• Pasifika general and academic staff
• women general and academic staff
• general and academic staff with disabilities
• general and academic staff from the Rainbow network
• general and academic staff whose participation is limited by financial constraints
   

The categories for ESG target groups are reviewed continuously and may be amended during the annual planning process for the Faculty of Education.

The 2009 application rounds will help provide data on demand for and outcomes from ESGs. Recipients will report on funds received and spent, activity, and outcomes.

In 2009 a broad range of initiatives will be considered for funding. Future approaches may include the prioritization of ESG funding for particular target EO groups, where strong need is identified.

Support for the completion of applications and reports will be provided by the ESG Sub-Committee of the Equity Committee.

Each ESG will be entered into Faculty finance records as a special project. If your application is successful you will be notified of your special project code which is to be used for all claims against the ESG fund.

Please note for travel and accommodation expenses to be paid on invoice HRG Travel must be the provider. However, the ESG may be used to reimburse travel and accommodation already purchased.
 

Please note that the following will not normally be funded:

• computer software freely available to staff
• equipment purchases (eg, computer hardware of any type)
• research support for activities related to the applicant’s pursuit of a research qualification
• buying out a staff member’s teaching or other duties such as practicum visiting
• meals that are already covered by the event’s costs (eg, conference dinner, lunches), or per diem expenses.

Consideration of applications

The decision to fund applications will be based on the overall quality of each particular project. When considering an application, the following will guide the decision about whether to fund the project:

• provision of a clearly explained complete proposal;
• the significance of the proposed activity and the potential impact on obj. 15;
• the care taken in specifying, justifying and costing the funding requirements;
• successful completion and outputs of previously funded projects by the same staff member (reports of previously funded projects should be included in the application);
• the relevance and importance of the project/ conference for the institution as a whole, including the way in which the project supports the creation of a culture that encourages academic and general staff to reach their full potential, and enables staff from EO target groups to study, attend conferences and attain training as specified in performance reviews;
• the degree to which projects promote a culture of collaboration in achieving equity-related goals, and the generation of measureable outputs

Staff are also encouraged to seek University of Auckland and external funding for research projects. Details of any efforts (successful or unsuccessful) to gain other funding should be indicated on your application. Successful efforts do not count against you and can enhance your application. You can apply for a grant from the committee for "top-up" funding but applicants should be aware that Faculty/School Funds cannot be used to subsidize research that is externally funded by government agencies such as Marsden, FRST, HRC and Ministry of Education contracts.

Funds should only be used for the purposes specified in the application. Any proposed change in the use of 20% or more of the funds awarded should be notified to the committee granting the funds.
 

Standard operating practices for the Faculty of Education ESG 2009

The Faculty of Education ESG Sub-Committee will meet to allocate funds for the purposes outlined in the Guidelines for ESG at the Faculty of Education.

Closing dates for the ESG 2009 funding rounds

• Round 1 deadline: 20 March
• Round 2 deadline: 7 August

NOTE: Allocated Funds need to be spent in the 2009 Calendar Year.

Applications will be reviewed by at least three people. The ESG Panel can provide advice on the completion of an ESG application. Any Panel member who does assist will not contribute to decision-making about that application.

Faculty Sub-Committee decisions will be reported to the Head of School or Service concerned as the School or Service will be responsible for managing the project accounts and approving spending. If ethical approval is required (see U of A guidelines) funds for research costs will not be approved by the Head of School until proof of ethical approval is provided to the Head of School.

Applications for a Faculty of Education ESG should be made electronically on the attached application form Supplementary Grant Form. E-copy should be submitted to Dr Allen Bartley, by 4pm on the closing date for any particular round. Please note a signed hard copy is to be submitted to the Faculty of Education Secretariat.

Email: a.bartley@auckland.ac.nz

Successful applicants will be required to complete a final report. This accounts for their activities and expenses and will be sent out at the time of notification.

Download 2008 Equity Supplementary Grant Application form

The Faculty of Education has created a booklet that has useful information for Academic Staff around University processes such as Continuation, Promotions, Research and Study Leave etc.
It also contains direct links to Application forms and Policies on the University Staff Intranet.

This booklet can be found on the Faculty of Education Staff Intranet.

This is accessible to staff only. Go to Human Resources =>Staffing Procedures and Guidelines=>Promotions/Career Path=>Academic Career Planning Booklet.

For more information, go to the Education Staff Intranet homepage.