Startup Funding

New faculty often require equipment and other means of support to begin or continue their scholarly work. The college is committed to seeking resources to support new faculty to ensure their success.

1. Departments will cover startup costs for needs such as computers, office furniture, specialized software, summer salary (if offered) and the like.
2. Other startup matters, such as teaching load expectations are at the discretion of departments, and are based on departmental resources. Unless approved by the Dean, Statements of Mutual Expectations (SMEs) should specify 40% research/scholarship activity, 40% teaching/instruction, and 20% service for Assistant Professors working toward tenure.
3. For extraordinary startup expenses, such as those that support the establishment of laboratories or major research programs, the College will request funding from the Provost’s Office.
   1. The Associate Dean for Research and Engagement will review these requests and, after review with the Dean, will submit them to the Provost’s office on behalf of the College. No department will make a direct appeal to the Provost’s office for start-up funding.
   2. The college will, in all cases, seek support from the Provost’s office for startup expenses and space needs relating to Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program (“cluster”) hires, targets of opportunity, and the like.
4. When a new faculty member requires space greater than that available to the department, the department will work with the Associate Dean for Research and Engagement and the college space committee to identify ways to meet these needs. If these needs cannot be met with existing space, the Associate Dean for Research and Engagement will submit a request for space to the University space committee. When significant new space or equipment is needed, the college will collaborate with other departments and colleges to find opportunities for sharing space and equipment, consistent with University efforts to improve space and equipment utilization.
5. If the Provost’s office is unable to cover all or some of the costs that exceed a typical startup package in a department, departments may seek support from the college Research Office. The college’s investments in these packages are made with the expectation that the scholar being supported with these funds will, within the startup period, submit one or more grant proposals to potential funders. This expectation will be made a part of the offer letter unless otherwise agreed upon by the Research Office. Depending on the amount of the request, the available F&A funds in the College, and expectations for future external funding in the department, the College may either provide or loan funds that will be charged against future F&A returns over a reasonable period. This period is typically three years.