FFIS Funding Program

FFIS provides funding sources for faculty who wish to develop a civic professional project or a service-learning course. Funding cycles are for fall, spring and summer terms. The FFIS Governance Committee funds an average of 15 civic professional projects per year.

 

Guidelines

Applicants can request funding of up to $2,000. A project must be designed to address a need identified by the community to be served, and it must produce an outcome of benefit to the community group for whom the service is provided. Faculty and students cannot displace a paid employee in the community.

All applicants with faculty status are eligible, whether in teaching or research positions.

There is no geographical limitation on projects. While most projects tend to be located in Tompkins County, in past years, projects have been located in other states and other countries.

Projects must involve undergraduates, but a small number of graduates may be included.

All students must work under the close supervision of a faculty member. Curricular-based projects are preferred. Participation is open to all Cornell students independent of financial need. Grant requests may include full matching funds for Federal Work Study, but students who do not qualify for work study funding are eligible to participate as volunteers, or they may participate for academic credit.

Eligible expenses include all out-of-pocket expenses for carrying out the project including supplies and consumable materials, travel, telephone, copying, photography, etc.

Specifically excluded from funding are:

  • Personnel salaries, except for work study matching funds.
  • Capital expenditures. No university overhead expense is allowed. Academic credit for students participating in service-learning experiences is encouraged.
  • Internship courses already in the curriculum, unless the internship course is demonstrating an innovation.
  • A brief final report discussing successes and challenges of the project, as well as the number of students involved and other demographic and qualitative information, is required at the end of the grant period. A copy of the FFIS Reporting Form can be requested from Paula Horrigan.