New Faculty Startup
The New Faculty Startup Program is administered by the Office of Research and provides supplemental funding for faculty startup costs. This program’s objectives are to make UNO competitive in hiring the highest quality faculty who have the greatest research potential and to support research targets in the campus strategic plan.
Startup funding is committed by each unit on a case-by-case basis. Requests for startup should be limited to full-time, tenure-track faculty hires. The following principles will be considered in evaluating startup requests:
- Higher priority is given to areas that support research targets in the campus strategic plan;
- Higher priority is given to hires demonstrating outstanding research, scholarly, or creative potential;
- Higher priority is given to hires where the level of startup is a critical factor that will influence the success of hiring faculty;
- Higher priority is given to units that are providing a significant portion of the startup—may be in the form of reduced teaching loads, graduate assistants, summer salary, etc.
Contacts
For startup requests:
Carol Lunn
(504) 280-7155
clunn1@uno.edu
Once awarded:
Alana Coleman
(504) 280-6213
arcolem2@uno.edu
Startup commitments will typically be for one to two years but can be for up to three years. Only the first year will be guaranteed. In order to secure continued funding, faculty members must submit at least one proposal to an outside sponsor in both the first and second years of employment. Faculty members must also attend a new faculty orientation program co-hosted by the Office of Research and Academic Affairs.
Startup Request Process
Requests for startup funding must be approved by the Department Chair, College Dean, the Office of Research, and the Provost. After the new position is approved for a search, the department chair should assess the expected startup needed for the new position and contact the dean and the Office of Research to formulate an estimated startup package.
At least six weeks prior to interviewing candidates, utilize this spreadsheet to create the preliminary startup package and discuss with the Office of Research.
Typical startup packages will include at minimum the Office of Research funds to cover one month of summer salary total. Summer salary will be available after the external proposal is submitted in the first year of employment. Undergraduate students can be supported by the Office of Research for $2,000-$4,000 per year for two years. Departments should include 25% release time in years one and two using the departmental research budget. (These funds are already budgeted for the position and do not represent an additional cost to the department.) Travel, computer equipment, graduate student support, and supplies are other common expenses that can be included in requested funds.
Once the final candidate is identified, the formal request should be submitted and should include the following:
- New Faculty Startup Award Request, signed by the Chair and Dean (with negotiated spreadsheet attached)
- Accurate cost estimates and justification of the candidate's startup needs
- Discipline-specific standards for start-up, when available
- Copy of the candidate's resume
Hiring Request with Startup
Once the New Faculty Startup Award Request is complete, the department can begin the hiring process as required by Academic Affairs and Human Resource Management—with the following additions.
A completed startup request form will be attached to the UNO Standard Offer Letter with Startup Request and sent to the Office of Research. Include a line on the cover letter for the Executive Director for Research & Economic Development to approve the hiring packet.
The standard UNO offer letter will be used, but the following language must be added:
The university is committed to supporting faculty members as you conduct research, create art, and engage in scholarship. Therefore, as part of our faculty position offer, you will be afforded a startup package to support your innovative activities.
Your first year of startup will be funded upon your employment with the requirements that you will 1) submit at least one external grant proposal as the principal investigator (not a co-PI) through the Office of Research in both your first and second years of employment and 2) attend the New Faculty Research Institute hosted by the Office of Research.
If you do not attend the new faculty orientation and submit an external grant through the Office of Research in both your first and second years at the university, then your startup funds will be cancelled. Once a proposal has been submitted to an external sponsor through the Office of Research, funds for summer salary will be made available in Workday. These policies apply whether you begin work at UNO in the fall or in the spring semester.
Startup funds must be spent in accordance with all UNO and University of Louisiana System rules and regulations. Funds for the New Faculty Startup program originate from the departments, colleges, and the Office of Research. Your startup package consists of $XX provided by the department, $XX provided by the college, and $XX provided by the Office of Research. A breakdown of the budget by year and source is included in the attached spreadsheets. Startup funds for summer salary will only be available after an external grant proposal is submitted each year.
The cover letter for the hiring packet must include the Executive Director for Research & Economic Development. Once the Executive Director has approved the hiring packet, it will be forwarded to Academic Affairs for approval.
Candidate Accepted Offer
Once a candidate has accepted a position, the department that requested startup will attach a copy of the signed offer letter to the New Faculty Startup Award Request and email it to each party committed to providing startup.
Candidate Hired/Grant
Once the faculty member has been hired and the department is notified by HRM that the faculty member is in the system, the Office of Research will contact the new hire to schedule start-up training. A grant will be set up once the candidate is an employee in the system; once the Office of Research has a copy of the signed offer letter following the procedures on this page; and once the new hire has completed start-up training.
Managing Startup Funds
New faculty hires with startup provided by the Office of Research will meet with Alana Coleman to receive their grant. Startup will be treated as an internal grant, so the faculty member will have a dedicated grant and will be able to track their funds. The faculty member will learn how to monitor and manage their funds in the university accounting system.
New faculty receiving startup from the Office of Research will participate in the New Faculty Research Institute, an expanded orientation that is co-hosted by Academic Affairs, the Center for Teaching Innovation, and the Office of Research. In most years, there will be three meetings in the fall and three meetings in the spring semester.