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DR. L. RENE "BUD" GAIENNIE GRANTS
SUPPORT FOR PH.D. RESEARCH

 

Application Deadlines: There will be two cycles of grant awards each year. To be considered in any cycle an application must be submitted on or before the last business day of the first month of the fall or spring semester.

 

HISTORY: Bud Gaiennie served as a senior executive with the Singer Corporation and later as a Distinguished Lecturer in Management Policy in the College of Business at the University of South Florida. When he passed away in 1992, he named the College of Business as a beneficiary of his estate. Dr. Gaiennie's wish was that earnings from the gift be expended for Ph.D. level research programs specifically created to advance principles, techniques and methodologies designed to advance the efficiency and effectiveness of the private enterprise system.

Combined with State of Florida matching funds and interest, the Gaiennie Fund now totals more than $800,000 and provides earnings available for grants of approximately $35,000 per year.

 

PROGRAM GOALS: The Gaiennie Grant Program is designed to promote, develop and disseminate the research of U.S.F College of Business doctoral students by providing support and encouragement for student research activities and the preparation, presentation and publication of student research products.

 

ELIGIBILITY: All U.S.F. College of Business Ph.D. students in good standing (defined in the USF Graduate Catalog) are eligible, subject to the restrictions outlined below:

1. Applicants who have previously received a Gaiennie Grant that is not yet complete and who are behind the proposed time schedule for the first Grant are ineligible.
2. Ph.D. students not in residence at U.S.F. are ineligible.

 

FUNDING: Normally, the maximum grant award for dissertation research will be $5,000. Proposals requiring less than this amount are encouraged. Proposals for more than this amount will be considered, but the applicant must specify a source of support for the difference if the Committee elects to fund a lesser amount. Awards for travel expenses are limited to $500. The cost of travel and per diem allowance cannot exceed the University's guidelines. Total awards of $15,000, and perhaps more, are made available twice in each year for funding grants. Awards totaling less than this may be made and the excess carried forward to the next cycle. In addition, a small reserve of $5,000 will be maintained for extraordinary requests that can be made on an emergency basis at times other than the posted deadlines.

The Doctoral Policy Committee reserves the right to make awards for amounts less than requested and to make any stipulations they wish, subject to the applicant's acceptance. The acceptance of an award, a partial award, or an award with stipulations forms a contract between the Doctoral Policy Committee and the applicant for the completion of the entire project as it was proposed and/or amended by stipulation of the Committee. If the proposal cannot be completed with partial funding or with stipulations imposed by the Committee the applicant must decline to accept the award.

 

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES: Research and dissertation grant proposals should describe project requirements that go beyond the normal level of dissertation support provided to all Ph.D. students by COBA or the student's sponsoring department. Proposals for research activities or travel normally supported by the College of Business or the student's department will not be funded. Funds are to be used for project expenses and are not available as a student stipend. Attempts by the student applicant to secure outside funding will be viewed favorably. Priority will be given to dissertation-related expenses. Other grant requests and second requests from the same student will be given lesser priority.

 

REVIEW PROCEDURES: Each proposal will be reviewed by the Doctoral Policy Committee. External reviews may be solicited to help the Committee in its deliberations. The Doctoral Policy Committee is solely responsible for the final determination of awards.

 

RESEARCH AWARD APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Research grant applications should contain a cover sheet, a brief narrative description, a budget proposal, and letters of support as described below. Submit seven copies of the proposal to your Department's representative on the Doctoral Policy Committee prior to the deadline for submissions.

Cover sheet: Include your name, department, phone number, the number of years you have been in the doctoral program, the amount requested, the starting date of the project, and a project abstract (100-150 words summarizing the narrative description and budget proposal that follows).

Project Narrative: Limited to five single-spaced pages, the narrative should describe the research project and include: a time line for completion, the project's relation to the goals of the Gaiennie Grant Program as stated above, the project's impact on the student's advancement, and the uniqueness of the project vis-a-vis activities normally sponsored by the college and thedepartment.

Budget Proposal: Include an itemized budget for the requested amount. Avoid estimates whenever possible by securing quotes, listed prices or bids. Stipends are not permitted.

Letters of Support: Include two letters of support, one each from the applicant's major professor or another member of the student's dissertation committee, and the sponsoring department's chair.

 

TRAVEL AWARD APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Travel grant applications may be submitted in the form of a letter to the Committee. The letter should contain a description of the need for travel and a budget summary. Program participants should attach a copy of the program acceptance letter or other supporting documentation. Submit seven copies of the proposal to your Department's representative on the Doctoral Policy Committee prior to the deadline for submissions.

 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: On the expected completion date of a research project funded by a Gaiennie Grant (as reported in the time line) the awardee must submit either a final report stating the outcome of the project, or an interim report of progress with an amended time line to the Doctoral Policy Committee. If an interim report is presented, these reporting requirements are repeated for the amended time line. Following travel funded by a Gaiennie Grant a letter detailing the outcome of the travel should be submitted to the Committee. No awardee is eligible for further Gaiennie Grant funding until a final progress report is submitted.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For additional information or clarification see your department's representative on the Doctoral Policy Committee.