Research and Scholarship

Overview

The following resources from Columbia University and the School of Professional Studies are provided to assist full-time faculty in identifying funding to support research and professional development activities. 

Columbia University offers a wealth of research resources and opportunities for its full-time faculty, supporting their scholarly pursuits and fostering innovation across disciplines. These comprehensive resources underscore Columbia's commitment to advancing knowledge and supporting its faculty in their research endeavors.

If you wish to allocate your research funds towards engaging a research assistant, please contact your designated Faculty Affairs representative for guidance and support.

  • Overview
    • The FRAP FY25 program runs July 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025. 
    • FY25 FRAP Application: Faculty must deposit a completed FRAP Application before incurring the first expense each fiscal year under the FRAP program.
    • In addition to a description of your research project, the FRAP Application should include a proposal for all spending projected under the FRAP program during the fiscal year. 
  • FRAP Card 
    • University purchasing card (p-card) exclusively for use in:
      • air and ground transportation
      • book purchases
      • office supplies
      • shipping
      • professional membership dues
      • computers; computer peripherals and software 
  • Points of Contact
  • Overview
    • The School of Professional Studies provides funds for eligible full-time faculty to support research and professional development activities. All full-time SPS faculty are eligible to receive this benefit. The FY25 funding is $4,000 per eligible faculty member. 
  • Important Things to Note
    • The funding is only available for spending in the fiscal year (July 1 – May 31). 
    • Any remaining balance in the current fiscal year does not roll-over to the following fiscal year. 
    • Any unspent balances at the end of May 31st will be forfeited. The research funding is also forfeited upon termination.
  • Restricted Items
    • Personal items
    • Contracted services (with the exception of book consultants)
    • Labor provided by a vendor
    • Items requiring governmental licenses or permissions 
    • Alcohol (beverage or otherwise)
    • Flowers, greeting cards, candy, fruit baskets
    • Gifts of any kind; gift cards and gift certificates of any kind for any reason
    • Any promotional items with University Logo or 
    • trademark not purchased through an approved licensed vendor
    • Fines of any kind
    • Purchases using personal PayPal accounts
    • Maintenance and Service agreements
    • Fuel
    • Employee relocation and relocation related expenses
    • Moving services
    • Catering
    • Charitable Contributions
    • Fees for Foreign Nationals of any kind (Visas, etc.)
    • Online auctions (i.e. EBAY)
    • Computers or other computer peripherals
    • Cell phones
    • Equipment (unless pre-approved by SPS-Finance)
    • Computer Equipment
    • On-site Equipment repairs
    • Furniture
  • Approval & Submission Process
    • SPS-Faculty Research Funding (FRF) Request Form
      • After submitting the form, Faculty Affairs will review the request and make a decision via email notification within one week. 
    • You can seek reimbursement through the normal expense reimbursement process through Concur
    • You are required to complete the SPS-FRF Request Form. You must maintain original receipts and proof of payment and submit documentation through the Concur Expense Report. 
  • Points of Contact
    • For questions regarding the submission process and to obtain your individual chartstring, please contact SPS-Finance at [email protected]
    • For questions regarding policy and/or the request form, please contact Cailyn McCarthy (Senior Director, Faculty Affairs) at [email protected]
    • Full SPS FRF Policy 
  • Overview
    • An annual competitive program that grants five faculty up to $10,000 each.
    • Purpose: to support research that normally leads to published work. Applied research in the context of professional studies is aimed at providing innovative solutions to problems of broad interest as it relates to SPS programs. 
    • Deadline: Applications for DARA for use in FY25 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) are due by Friday, March 7, 2025.
  • Things to Note
    • Successful proposals will have the following characteristics: 
      • Must be consistent with faculty members' longer-term research and teaching interests. 
      • Must show relevance to SPS academic programs. 
      • Must not entail any potential conflict of interest that would otherwise be regarded as an external professional activity.
  • Helpful Documents & Resources
  • Points of Contact
    • For questions regarding the application process, please contact Dominique Studer (Senior Associate Director, Faculty Affairs): [email protected]