Article By: Denise Ray
University of North Georgia (UNG) President Bonita Jacobs awarded more than $182,000 to fund 18 Presidential Incentive Awards designed to provide institutional support for faculty to pursue scholarly work and promote innovative teaching practices in the 2023-24 academic year.
"I am very pleased that we have been able to invest in our faculty and staff through this program over the past 10 years. It has supported their strong commitment to research and the development of innovative practices that enrich our students' academic experience and their success in college," Jacobs said. "And, in many cases, the program has accelerated initiatives that generate additional external resources for the university."
Jacobs initiated the program in 2013; since then more than $2.6 million has been invested in research and scholarly work.
A total of 46 applications were submitted across the three award categories (Semester, Summer and Innovation). Semester Awards include a full semester release from teaching and provide funding support of up to $12,000 each, while Summer Awards offer up to $10,000 of support. Innovation Awards allocate up to $5,000 each to support interdisciplinary and/or cross-functional collaborations or individual pursuits focused on innovations and partnerships to promote implementation of best practices.
"The proposals selected for funding include a wide range of research and creative activities that will improve teaching and learning, foster collaboration across departments, and provide opportunities for community engagement, all of which are components of UNG's mission," Dr. Holly Verhasselt, associate provost for institutional effectiveness and chief research officer, said.
The recipients include:
Presidential Incentive Semester Awards:
Presidential Incentive Summer Awards:
Presidential Incentive Awards for Innovation: