UNIQUE PLACE, SOLID EDUCATION

UNIQUE PLACE, SOLID EDUCATION

v  Literally the gateway to the White Mountains, located in the

scenic heart of the Lakes and White Mountain regions of New Hampshire

v  A Seamless Community: “Oneness” of the Town of Plymouth

and Plymouth State University

v  Medium-size, human-scale campus with historic roots back to

1808

v  A 170-acre, regional comprehensive university offering a rich,

student-focused learning environment for approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students

UT PROSIM…THAT I MAY SERVE

v  Instilling an ethic of service and engagement in the region

v  Class activities are targeted toward students being active, involved

and engaged in working with the local communities, the region and the world

v  Known for regional outreach programs and projects and on-going

historic, collaborative relationships with primary and secondary schools, federal & state parks & historic sites, federal & state fish, game & wildlife agencies, the Hubbard Brooks Research

Foundation, and Dartmouth College

v  Student outreach regionally & nationally is encouraged and

funded for participation in workshops, conferences, and “alternative spring break” programs at NGOs and other institutions and universities

WHO WE ARE

“We can be proud of Plymouth’s people, of what PSU is…” Pres. Sara Jayne Steen

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Our students come from 43 states and 34

countries

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58% of undergraduates are from New

Hampshire

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44% of freshmen are first generation students

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88.2% of students receive Financial Aid

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Yet, PSU’s students persist & graduate at

significantly higher rates than national

averages

WHO WE ARE, CONT…..

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We have offered online MBAs for over a decade, attracting

professionals around the globe

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National Learning Review’s, GetEducated.com, ranked

PSU’s MBA program in the top 20 on its list of “Best Online

MBA Programs” in the US

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PSU’s Global Education Office just recognized for

“innovative work in education abroad” by Center for

International Studies with first “Going Places!

Award” (before 8,500 people from 95 countries)

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Called “…a leader of institutions of higher education for

support of service learning and civic engagement.”

Corporation for National & Community Service

EVEN MORE OF WHO WE ARE!

v  We have a full undergraduate program, a full masters degree program

and offer a doctorate in education

v  Our Art, Music, Theatre and Dance Departments are renowned in the

New England region with an exquisite theatre, galleries, and museums

v  We have a minor in Peace and Social Justice, and Non-violent

Communication Workshops led by one of the world’s leading conflict negotiators

v  We have a nursing school, a department of Atmospheric Science &

Chemistry, a Meteorology Department, an observatory, NASA Space grants, AND Recombinant DNA!

v  And at last spring’s Commencement, we awarded our first doctorates

SEED GRANT FUNDING AT PSU

Four Major Programs (and many smaller ones) to

encourage faculty and student research efforts

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Faculty Research Advisory Council (RAC)

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Student Research Advisory Council (SRAC)

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Crawford Martin Opportunity Grants

ENCOURAGING STUDENT & FACULTY IN

RESEARCH—RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Faculty Research Advisory Council (RAC) is:

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An advisory council to the Provost on all matters

related to research, creativity and scholarly

activity

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Comprised of Faculty, Deans & Staff meeting

monthly throughout AY

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An annual program soliciting competitive

research development proposals

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Intended to support research, outreach,

RAC

RAC (Faculty) Program Specifics:

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One RFP opportunity per year

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Eligibility: only tenured, tenure-track, or

research-track faculty

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Awards limited to 1-year term, July through June

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Project size: $2,000-$10,000, with $50,000 available

RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL,

DOING MORE WITH LESS

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A valuable training process for young investigators

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Targeted to encourage, train, & experience the research

submission process

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Encourages incorporation of student researchers

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For students, a first step toward broadening their horizons

& capabilities

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Utilizes University’s normal internal submission process as

training mechanism

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Several very dynamic research discoveries and innovations

SAMPLE OF RAC FUNDED PROJECTS

PROJECT DATES: JULY 1, 2011 – JUNE 30, 2013

v  Project Description Title: Assessing Beaver Pond Impacts on River

Nutrient Levels

Amount Funded: $9,750

v  Project Description Title: Assessing the Impact of Major Floods on

NH’s Floodplain Forest Soils: Tropical Storm Irene Versus Less Extreme Events

Amount Funded: $9,782

v  Project Description Title: Social Network Effects in Body Image:

(De)Strengthening the Links for a Healthy Tomorrow. Amount Funded: $2,500

v  Project Description Title: Identifying and Determining the Impact of

Factors Affecting the Risk of Falling Among Middle-to-Older Adults Amount Funded: $643

CONTINUED RAC SAMPLING…

v  Project Description Title: Cancer Rehabilitation Collaboration

Amount Funded: $4,900 Major Outcome

v  Project Description Title: North Country Economic Index

Amount Funded: $5,000 Major Outcome

v  Project Description Title: Using Elevation Transects to promote

research and education About Effects of Climate Change on Tree Species Composition in NH’s Northern Hardwood Forests

Amount Funded: $9,870

v  Project Description Title: GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Foster Care Project

STUDENT RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL (SRAC)

Student Research Advisory Council Grant Funding:

v  Faculty-led advisory council, advising VP for Research &

Engagement on matters of student research

v  Start-up: $10,000 internally designated funds from the Provost's

Office

v  Additional funds from PI’s donation of IDC funds

v  Additional funds anticipated from PI and alumni donations

v  Supports research activities for students including travel, stipends,

presentations, and summer undergraduate research fellowships

v  Conference travel grants range from $200-$1000 and summer

stipends/ fellowships are $3000  

A new program funding primarily student travel to conferences and

symposiums. Also contains summer stipends for research.

CRAWFORD MARTIN OPPORTUNITY GRANTS (CMOG)

v  Established by two private donors in 2011

v  Provides degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students

with funding

v  Enabling students to meet ordinary and extraordinary educational

opportunities that allow them to persist in attaining degrees

v  Funds expressly geared toward covering expenses related to

educational activity

v  Accessed after other campus funding resources have been pursued

v  Awards are be between $100 and $1,000

PROVOST STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

v

PSU encourages student travel to conferences &

symposiums to enhance student knowledge as

well as inspire

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A small fund administered by College Dean’s

Office for student travel to conferences,

workshops, seminars, and research forums

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One of several student funding sources within the

university; others are university or student senate

funded.

INSIGHT

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Large institutions have the funds to create Research

Development units, consisting of the brightest and most

adept minds in strategically planning the development and

roll-out of ideas into successful proposals

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Mid-size and smaller institutions do not have this capability

and are generally entrapped within offices of sponsored

research/project/programs

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The only hope of we mid-sized and smaller institutions is

collaboration with you. Please consider incorporating our

strengths into your next effort