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Updated May 5 2009 [ RETURN TO EES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ] Start-up packages for new faculty are determined on a case-by-case basis. However, the following guidelines apply to all new faculty start up packages. Underlying Principles It is in the best interest of newly hired junior faculty and the College of Engineering for these newly hired faculty to move quickly to develop a high level, funded research program. The Engineering Experiment Station (EES) encourages departments to establish start-up packages for newly hired faculty that will provide the critical resources needed to allow them to have established a substantial, high quality, funded research program within two to three years. As part of its role of encouraging new research initiatives, EES will provide a substantial share of the funds required for well designed start-up packages in most cases. These policies and guidelines will be reviewed annually. Scope The following policies apply only to faculty hired for assistant professor, full-time, tenure track positions. Faculty members are eligible to use start up funds provided by EES only while they hold the rank of assistant professor. Start-up packages for other position will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis but funding will be provided by EES only in exceptional cases. Summer Salary Support Subject to funding availability, EES normally provides some summer support for new research faculty. This funding may be used during the first three years in the College of Engineering at KSU. The individual must have a signed contract in effect for the following academic year in order to utilize this summer funding. No more than two months of summer funding may be used in any one summer regardless of the amount of support provided. The purpose of the summer salary support is to aid in the initiation of the faculty member's research program. This time is to be used for writing research proposals, interacting with funding agencies, conducting preliminary research, and conducting other activities that are clearly focused on the development of a substantial, extramurally funded, research program. The commitment to summer funding is to be made at the time an official offer is extended to a candidate. Prior to making the commitment, EES is to be contacted to verify that funds are available. The College of Engineering Recruiting/Offer Form (XLS) must be filled out and all approvals completed. Upon approval, the following statement is to be included in the offer letter and a copy of the letter is to be sent to EES for its records. "In addition to your nine-month contract, you will be supported for a total of xxxxx months of summer at the same monthly rate. Up to a maximum of two months may be received during any one summer and the funding is available during your first three years in the KSU College of Engineering. This summer funding is to be used to conduct activities focused on establishing a funded research program. A detailed policy statement regarding this summer support is available upon request." Funds for Equipment and Related Expenses In order to expedite the development of a funded research program, a start-up fund may be provided for new faculty to purchase equipment and make other expenditures directly related to developing this research program. This funding is not an automatic grant, but rather is based on the needs of the new faculty member and the resources already available in the college and university. A brief proposal describing what funds are needed, why they are needed, and how the funds will be used is required before EES will commit any funds. The proposal should specifically address the issue of how these funds will be used to develop an extramurally funded research program. Faculty members are encouraged to use part, or all, of these funds as institutional matching on research proposals. The commitment to provide a startup fund should be made at the time an offer is made. In general, EES will not provide after-the-fact funding for startup packages. Prior approval from EES is required before committing funds that will be provided by EES. The commitment should be made to the faculty member in writing, with a copy sent to EES, and should reference the proposal described above. Graduate Students Funding for one or more graduate students is often provided for new faculty. This funding is the responsibility of the department and EES does not provide funds for this purpose other than through its normal allocation of funds for graduate student support to the departments. Reporting Requirements At the time of annual performance evaluations, each faculty member that has received summer support from EES during the preceding year is required to submit a brief report to EES describing the status of his or her research program and how the salary support provided by EES was used to develop a research program. No particular format is specified for this report so as to allow faculty members to utilize evaluation documentation required in their home department to the extent possible. Faculty members that have received startup funds for equipment and related expenses are also required to provide a summary of how the funds have been expended to date. These reports are required annually until the expenditure of all funds from EES has been documented. Other New faculty members are expected to use start up funds for summer salary and equipment as institutional matching on research proposals to the extent practical. A copy of this complete policy statement on startup funds is to be provided to each new faculty member at the time she or he begins working for the college, if that person will be receiving startup funds from EES. The Request/Offer Form can be found here (XLS). |
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[ RETURN TO EES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ]