UMass Boston

The CLA Dean has generally been able to provide funds to support faculty teaching and research through several awards programs.

CLA Pedagogical Innovation Award

The CLA Pedagogical Innovation Award (Teaching Innovation for Student Success) aims to promote excellence and innovation in classroom pedagogy and experiential learning aimed at 1st and 2nd-year recruitment and retention—course (re)designs, teaching tools and methods or practices contributing to student success. We will consider proposals that address innovation in teaching at the course, department, program, or major area. Proposals that contribute to excellence in the General Education curriculum, such as First-Year Seminars, are also encouraged. Seed funding has a maximum of $3,000 per award—The deadline for this round of applications is TBA. For more specific information, please read the CLA Dean’s Pedagogical Innovation Awards Guidelines for Academic Year 2025-26.  

CLA Dean's Supplemental Travel Fund

In Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the Dean's Supplemental Travel fund will have a rolling award process, with a $2,000 maximum award per eligible Tenure-stream faculty member. Applications will be accepted THROUGH TUESDAY APRIL 1, 2025 or until funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first.  If awarded, all reimbursement requests must be submitted by JUNE 2, 2025, unless a prior approval for a later submission has been arranged in advance by Eddie Sze or Kim Ho.

Tenure-stream faculty in the College of Liberal Arts may apply for the Dean's Supplemental Travel Fund to fund the cost of transportation, registration, per diem, and lodging associated with the presentation of papers at professional meetings, conferences, or equivalent invited scholarly activities. Additionally, these funds can be used to support travel to undertake activities associated with professional editorial responsibilities or board duties taking place at an academic conference. This fund does not provide support for faculty acting solely as respondents, discussants, or session chairs. Please read the CLA Dean’s Travel Fund Guidelines carefully before completing the CLA Dean’s Travel Application . These funds are supplemental to the Faculty Staff Union Faculty Travel funds; the FSU funds must be exhausted before funds will be awarded from the Dean's Travel Fund.

CLA Dean's Research Fund 

The CLA Dean’s Research Fund is available to all tenured and tenure-track faculty with primary appointments in the College of Liberal Arts to provide support for research activities, especially those with the potential to obtain future external funding. Funding for research expenses can include travel to archives and libraries, acquisition of data sets, fees for access to databases or libraries, payments for human research participants, research equipment maintenance and repair, research assistance, etc.  Funds can be spent as soon as the award notification is sent, through October 1, 2025. This timeline provides two summers and a full academic year to complete the project: Summer 2024, AY 24-25, and Summer 2025. Because of all the requisite budget planning that accompanies multi-year awards like these, we cannot grant extensions; faculty who have not completed the project as planned can reapply with the same project, including an update on the progress since previous award, in a future DRF cycle. Application requests cannot exceed $5,000. Please read the DRF Application Guidelines 2025 carefully before completing the DRF Application Form.

CLA Awards for Outstanding Faculty Research

The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) invites applications for outstanding research in the liberal arts. This award gives special recognition to faculty, in all phases of their careers, for research conducted during their time at UMass Boston.
The Selection Committee takes a purposefully broad definition of research. For these awards, such research might include (but is not limited to) community-centered or participatory research, public-facing scholarship, creative exhibitions and performances, peer-reviewed scholarly articles and books, invited presentations at national and international conferences, etc.
Each year, we will aim to recognize outstanding research in the liberal arts by faculty across all ranks. Award recipients in 2025 will receive $1500 and be recognized in person at the CLA Fall Faculty Reception. Their achievements will be highlighted in the CLA newsletter and other University publications.

Eligibility: Persons holding full-time, tenure-track or tenured appointments are eligible. Scholarly work completed when the nominee was not a UMB faculty member is not formally considered. No individual may receive the award more than once per rank.
Nominations: Faculty colleagues, departments, schools, colleges, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals. Self-nominations are welcome.
Materials should include:
1. Summary of Scholarship: The nominee should provide a 1-page overview of their 
research.
2. Curriculum Vitae: The nominee should provide an updated CV.
3. Letter of Support: A formal letter of support should be submitted by an individual or a group of full-time UMB faculty members. The letter should include a narrative detailing (a) the nominee's qualifications, (b) the significance of their research, as well as (c) its impact.

Submission Process & Deadline: All application materials should be emailed together to CLA.Dean@umb.edu. The deadline is April 11th. Award winners will be announced by early May.

Please contact CLA.Dean@umb.edu with any questions.

CLA Awards for Outstanding Student Research Mentorship

The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) invites nominations for outstanding mentorship of undergraduate and graduate student research and creative expression in the liberal arts. With these awards, we hope to recognize the extraordinary efforts of UMB tenured and tenure-track faculty to foster, create, and sustain opportunities for student research in a variety of ways, including:

• Supporting students pursuing long-term research projects (e.g., theses, dissertations, independent studies, community-based scholarship, field studies, and creative projects;
• Mentoring underrepresented individuals, groups, student organizations with 
resources, professional development opportunities, and personal support;
• Fostering academic and professional development through grant and fellowship 
applications, conference presentations, exhibitions, performances, research 
workshops, etc.;
• Other faculty support for student research not listed above.
As with other research awards, CLA recognizes a wide range of relevant research products as evidence of successful mentorship.

Each year, we will aim to recognize faculty, in all phases of their careers, for outstanding research mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students. Award recipients in 2025 will receive $1500 and accept their awards in person at the CLA Honors Convocations held in May.
Their achievements will be highlighted in the CLA newsletter and other University publications.

CLA Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Research Mentorship
Faculty colleagues, students, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals who support, encourage, and enrich the research-based learning and professional development of graduate students. We encourage nominations of faculty who provide culturally responsive, holistic mentorship that helps graduate students to develop as independent scholars. 

CLA Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research Mentorship 
Faculty colleagues, students, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals who support, encourage, and enrich the research-based learning and professional development of undergraduate students. Activities could include preparing students for graduate study, engaged citizenship, and/or providing students with hands-on experience in research activities within the discipline.

Nominations should include letters reflecting the perspectives of faculty colleagues as well as students/alums impacted by the faculty member’s work. Self-initiated nominations are welcome.
1. At Least Two Letters of Support: 
a. At least one letter of support should come from an individual or a group of UMB 
faculty or staff. The letter(s) should detail the extent and impact of the nominee’s 
mentoring activities.
b. At least one letter of support should come from a student mentee/a group of 
student mentees (or alums), detailing the specific ways that the nominee 
supported their research/scholarship activities and the professional and/or 
personal impact of this mentorship.
2. Curriculum Vitae: All nominees will be contacted and asked to submit a CV with 
applicable mentoring experiences highlighted.

Submission Process & Deadline: All application materials should be emailed together to CLA.Dean@umb.edu. The deadline is April 11th. Award winners will be announced by early May.
Please contact CLA.Dean@umb.edu with any questions.

CLA Dean's Discretionary Fund

The CLA Dean’s Discretionary Fund is available to tenure stream faculty for small requests for research needs not covered by the Dean's Research Fund, projects, or events that enhance the intellectual life of the College. The maximum amount for an award is $500 for any single request or event. Joint applications from two or more separate departments can request a maximum of $800. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted. Faculty must request funds through their department first. Please send two paragraphs to CLA.Dean@umb.edu in which you explain your needs, and how much support, if any, you are receiving from your department. You must copy your department chair. Include the names of the requesters, the department(s), and the amount requested. Please state clearly in your application whether you are requesting funds for faculty research (individual or collaborative) or for a departmental initiative (such as an event or a speaker). Requests that enhance student success and/ or faculty development will be given priority.

CLA Dean's Professional Development Fund for NTT Faculty

The CLA Dean’s Professional Development Fund is available to all non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty in the College of Liberal Arts who are on a 50% or more contract at the time of application. The goal of the professional development fund is to provide support for NTT faculty, including support for research, travel to professional meetings, or other professional or scholarly activities. Application requests cannot exceed $750, and funds must be spent by June 15. Please send two paragraphs to CLA.Dean@umb.edu in which you explain your needs, how much support, if any, you are receiving from your department, and the amount requested. You must copy your department chair.

Book Publication Subvention Fund

To assist UMass Boston faculty members who are asked to underwrite the cost of publishing a book through a publication subvention, the provost has established a Book Publication Subvention Fund to be managed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Strategic Initiatives & Dean of Graduate Studies. Please see guidelines and application on their webpage. When your application is complete, please work with your Chair/Department Admin to route a DocuSign version of the application to the Dean. Additionally, please send an email to CLA.Dean@umb.edu and include 1. A copy of your CV, 2. a paragraph summary of the book, and 3. a concise paragraph about how this subvention will benefit you and your career.

External Funding

The website of the UMass Boston Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
(ORSP) includes a comprehensive list of external funding opportunities. For more information, email Barbara Matteau, the CLA Grants Manager.