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Frequently Asked Questions

About
The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) is accepting proposals for projects that will contribute to and enhance UC Merced’s campus climate as a more equitable and inclusive place to study, research and work.  
 
All current UC Merced students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to submit a proposal for projects that will create and sustain a campus climate in which all UC Merced students, staff and faculty feel respected, included and valued.  Successful proposals will address one or more findings from documented climate surveys, findings or statistics. For more documentation on climate information, please visit the most recent data reports page on the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion website. 
 

What is the goal of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Grant?

The main goal of this request for proposals is to inspire high impact, collaborative, experimental and sustainable ideas.  Since the ideas are being proposed from community members themselves, there is a high probability that the efforts will be naturally integrated into the activities of teaching, research and public service. The grants provide modest resources, with a preference for projects with the greatest potential for sustainable success. 

What is the award amount?

Maximum award is $5,000/year

Black Excellence award is $2,000/year

What is the grant proposal submission process?

Please follow the process outlined at http://ejie.ucmerced.edu/application-process.
 

When are the grant proposals due?

Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 9, 2021. Proposals will be reviewed by a committee consisting of students, faculty and staff members. Proposals accepted for funding will be notified by April 30, 2021.
 

What is the timeframe to implement the project?

Project implementation must begin in the 2021 fall semester and reach completion by May 14, 2022. 

Who is eligible to apply? 

The EDI Grant process is open to all UC Merced students, faculty and staff members. All projects must be coordinated and administered with an official UC Merced organization or university account. Funds will not be awarded to individuals. Project managers must be good standing with the university. Previous recipients are eligible to apply.  

What do grant funds cover?

All requested funds are to be used for new programs or services.  Funding may not be used for fundraising events, debt reduction, grants or scholarships to individuals, basic academic research or travel to present at conferences or for general operating costs for existing programs, organizations, units or departments or any other exceptions to policy.  Funds cannot be used for alcohol, salaries, stipends or lobbying.

What if my program involves human-subject research?

All human-subject research and all other activities that in part involve human-subject research, regardless of sponsorship/funding, must be reviewed and approved by the UC Merced Institutional Review Board before initiation. For additional information, please visit: https://rci.ucmerced.edu/irb

What are the grant proposal criteria?

Successful proposals will specifically describe and include supporting data on how the program will contribute to and enhance UC Merced’s campus climate as a more equitable and inclusive place to study, research and work and will specifically include one or more findings from documented climate surveys, findings or statistics. Documentation regarding climate information at UC Merced is available on the Office of Campus Climate website. All proposals will be considered on the following criteria:

  • Institutional and Grant Alignment: Proposals will: (1) specifically describe and include supporting data on how the program will contribute to and enhance UC Merced’s campus climate and (2) describe and include supporting data from documented climate surveys, findings or statistics. 
  • Innovation: Proposals will describe a new, high impact, collaborative, experimental and/or sustainable approach to enhancing and/or addressing an area of campus climate. 
  • Impact: Proposals will (1) detail the expected difference(s) the project will make on the issues addressed, the audience(s) it will serve, and the number of people it will affect and (2) include supporting impact data from documented climate surveys, findings or statistics.
  • Collaboration: Proposals will identify how the project will bring together two or more campus entities, advance mutual goals and/or share knowledge and specifically identify how the project will be integrated into the activities of teaching, research or public service. 
  • Project Leadership: Proposals will detail the leadership, capacity and qualifications of the individual or group to implement the project and will specifically describe how each individual will implement the components of the project. Project managers must be in good standing with the university.
  • Sustainability: The project is likely to be continued and incorporated or replicated by other organizations on campus. Demonstration of likelihood is supported with facts.
  • Budget Justification: The Budget form is complete, detailed, data driven and provides specific information about why each item is requested.
 

Where can I learn additional information?

To learn additional information about the DEI Grant application process, please attend one of the following Information Sessions:

  • TBD
  • TBD

 

Who can I contact for assistance with project proposals and questions?  

Please contact Onar Primitivo at oprimitivo@ucmerced.edu with any questions about the proposal process.