I would vote for " alternative" myself ;) It seems to me that the problem is rarely just grantsmanship. That's just a set of skills (complex ones, I grant you) and faculty are really good at picking up on those - once they realize that doing so is important. (We've all seen some whopper-bad proposals over the years, I'm sure.) The problem seems to me to be further back in the thought-stream. They need to develop as junior faculty a solid-yet-flexible research arc that will take them to the end of their careers. Solid - because that prevents the research dysfunction of following the money or randomly assisting this person and then that person - and positioning themselves for nothing. And flexible, because this is research. The whole thing could go south. Or someone (else) could prove the whole thing, discontinuing a whole line of inquiry for some people. And developing this arc isn't a skill -exactly. It isn't even professional development, since it's well known that faculty don't make the distinctions between personal and professional that, say, doctors or lawyers do. Their career IS their self-image. So, it's personal development. It's existential, in a way.
Once they have that loose plan, their research proposals become better. THEN, skill-building becomes relevant and even essential. Until that point, we've just taught people to create a biosketch, but they have very little to put on it that would enhance the likelihood of winning the award.
So, to answer your question, I would create groups of your star young faculty and do what you can to enhance their thinking around these questions and to get them access to an enhanced environment for research. THEN, if you need grantsmanship training, I would call either Lucy Deckard or Peg Atkisson.
You may have done that first part already. I get that. But sometimes when I start to see a spate of tragic proposals, I realize we've neglected that early existential work for a small cohort and we get back to work.
Andrea
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Andrea Buford
Director, Office of Sponsored Programs
Oakland University
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-16-2023 09:38
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: Recommended faculty training
This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
Dear Cayuse Community,
We would like to bring in a trainer or offer some sort of education to faculty on grant writing and proposal preparation. Has anyone worked with companies or consultants that they'd recommend? Or alternatives for the best ways to educate faculty on these topics? Thank you