Faculty Funding

CLACS invites informal proposals from faculty for events or speakers on Latin America and/or the Caribbean at any time. Proposed events may be either in-person or online. We encourage suggestions for speakers/topics that will bring multiple faculty members into conversation and/or enrich your courses. We also invite you to present your own research! If you aren't sure who else might be interested in your topic, contact CLACS Director Laurie Medina for introductions to others on campus who share your interests.

To support selected events, CLACS will:

• Work with faculty to develop the best format for the event
• Invite speakers and arrange travel, if required
• Seek matching funding from relevant departments/colleges to cover an honorarium and travel costs, if required
• Manage technology/logistics
• Promote the event

Submit ideas or requests to Laurie Medina.

Seed funding is available to support the development of strategic partnerships with researchers from institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. Proposals should involve faculty from multiple MSU departments or colleges interested in pursuing collaborative research with colleagues from institutions in Latin America or the Caribbean. CLACS Strategic Partnership grants should result in the submission of research proposals to external agencies; they may also include preliminary research activities to lay the groundwork for proposal development. Collaborative publications are expected to follow. Funding may be granted for continued support to develop these partnerships, depending on the outcomes of the initial grant.

Strategic Partnership Funds will support travel by MSU faculty to collaborate with international partners or travel by partners from institutions abroad to MSU. The Departments and/or Colleges in which MSU faculty applicants are appointed are expected to contribute a 20% match to demonstrate their commitment to the partnership.

Target dates for submission of proposals are October 15 and March 1. However, we will continue to accept proposals and make awards for any remaining funds on a rolling basis until all funds have been expended.
If you have any questions as you consider developing a proposal for these funds, please contact Laurie Medina, CLACS Director.

How to apply for Strategic Partnership Funds

Proposals for Strategic Partnership Funds should include:

1. A narrative that explains:
   • Proposed activities and duration of this trip
   • Proposed research topic or issue
   • Names, departments, and colleges of MSU faculty involved
   • Latin American or Caribbean institution(s) involved in the partnership and why this partnering would be strategic
   • Names and disciplines of main collaborators at the partner institution(s)
   • Nature and duration of previous collaborations between the MSU applicants and colleagues at the partner institution(s)
   • External agencies and specific programs to which you plan to apply for research funding
   • If the participants seek continued Strategic Partnership funding, explain how the proposed activities will build on previously funded activities to generate proposals for external research grants
2. Written endorsement from the applicants' deans or department chairs with a commitment to provide a minimum of 20% matching funds
3. Proposed budget

Submit complete proposals to Laurie Medina, CLACS Director.