Know Indiana
Faculty Student Research Projects

The Know Indiana portion of the Quality of Life in Indiana Grant has funding available for faculty members who wish to develop a better understanding of how culture, history, natural resources, and people in Indiana relate to their teaching or scholarly interests.  These funds can be employed to support research for faculty with disciplinary interests related to aspects of life in Indiana or to support research for faculty who wish to develop a course or course module that relates broadly to aspects of life in Indiana. 

Several faculty members have recently received funding from Know Indiana to support scholarly research and course development.  For example, Professor Tim Lake and his student interns have conducted research on historical markers throughout Indiana which identify significant African American achievements in the state.  David Timmerman on the other hand has used his Know Indiana funding to develop a new module for his Classic Rhetoric course.  The funding provided to Dr. Timmerman enabled him to bring several Wabash alumni attorneys to campus to address his class and to take his class to the Federal Building in Indianapolis to participate in a mock trial judged by Wabash alumni.  These examples provide useful models of the ways in which Know Indiana funding is being used by Wabash faculty to enhance their scholarship and courses.

Faculty interested in developing a research project or pursuing course development should submit a proposal to Laura Conners.  All proposals are reviewed for approval by the Dean of the College and the Division Chairs.   Proposals should include the following sections:

• Purpose
• Project Description
• Research Plan and Timeline
• Budget with Narrative

In terms of budget estimates, faculty research stipends should be budgeted at the rate of $1000/week, generally running no longer than 5 weeks.  For faculty members interested in employing student research assistants, research assistant stipends should be budgeted at the rate of $360/week/student for a maximum of eight weeks.  Meals associated with project travel should be budgeted at no more than $50/day. 

Students are encouraged to develop and participate in research projects along with faculty members.  Students interested in pursuing a research project are asked to identify a faculty sponsor.     

Faculty and student proposals for summer research are typically due in early spring. Questions regarding applications can be directed to:

Laura Conners
Quality of Life in Indiana Grant Facilitator
Armory 112
connersl@wabash.edu
Ext. 6343

The Quality of Life in Indiana Grant is made possible by the Lilly Endowment.