Spring 2024 call for proposals

If you are considering applying for a RAC grant, you are encouraged to begin a draft proposal early. Beginning a draft does not commit you to anything, and will let you see the full submission form and use it to help guide you through the process.

We invite UNM voting faculty on the Main and Branch Campuses to submit proposals for internal funding for small grants (budgets that are less than $5,000 per proposal), and large grants (budgets between $5,000 and the maximum of $10,000), with project duration of 18 months from the receipt of funds. The online proposal portal accepts submissions beginning February 1. The proposal submission deadline is March 1, 5:00pm. The Committee will complete their deliberations the following month.

RAC funds UNM faculty scholarship, whether it be creative endeavors (including performances and materials), or more traditional research. The goal of RAC is to support new, innovative research with some priority given to junior faculty and to faculty in fields where there is less external funding available. RAC funded projects reflect the diversity of research and creative activity on our campuses.

Spring 2024 call for proposals guidelines include a rubric for proposals and implemented a system of ranking RAC priorities. Again, we invite all interested UNM faculty to submit proposals. If you have questions about or need assistance with your proposal, please contact the Office of the University Secretary at PGEgaHJlZj0ibWFpbHRvOmZzcmFjQHVubS5lZHUiPmZzcmFjQHVubS5lZHU8L2E+javascript required to view.

Eligibility

RAC funding is available to central and branch campus voting faculty. We encourage our colleagues at the various campuses to submit proposals for RAC funding. HSC faculty are not eligible for this award, but there is a School of Medicine Research Allocation Committee that provides similar grants.

Research faculty, visiting faculty, and faculty on leave without pay or on a visiting appointment are not eligible.

Faculty may not submit more than one RAC proposal for the Spring 2024 funding cycle. Final reports from previous RAC grants must be submitted prior to submission of a new proposal. If you have submitted a RAC grant in the past, you may log in under My Proposals to view your past submissions and submit any overdue final reports.

Phasing out paper cover sheets

We are transitioning departmental sign-offs from paper cover sheets to an entirely web-based process.
This means that instead of circulating paper cover sheets, proposers will use a web form to specify who in their department should review their proposal, and the submission portal will automatically contact them to collect their approval.

If you are a researcher

Do not use old paper cover sheet templates, or follow old guidelines that reference them.
The current updated guidelines are posted online.
If you are considering applying for a RAC grant, you are encouraged to begin a draft proposal early. Beginning a draft does not commit you to anything, and will let you see the full submission form and use it to help guide you through the process.

If you are a departmental approver

If you are a department chair or person responsible for departmental budgets and you receive an approval request by email from the RAC system please review it promptly. The proposer cannot submit their proposal for review without your approval.

More information

Begin drafting a proposal

Submissions closed February 1 at 9:00am