Transcript Planning and Writing a Successful Sabbatical/Fellowship Proposal Points to Consider and Questions to Answer.

Planning and Writing a Successful
Sabbatical/Fellowship Proposal
Points to Consider and
Questions to Answer
An Effective Proposal will . . .
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Reflect your personal commitment
to the project
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Clearly present a well-thought out
plan
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Be concise but complete
Developing an Effective Proposal
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It’s a two-step process:
 Planning
 Writing
Hint: It should take longer to plan
your project than it should take to
write your proposal
Steps to Planning Your Proposal
1)
2)
3)
4)
Reflect upon your personal
motivation for proposing a project
Define want you intend to
accomplish
Outline a realistic plan for
achieving your goals
Identify your anticipated results
and benefits
Step One: Reflection
Why did you choose this project?
Why is it important?
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Does it relate to your professional
and personal goals?
How will it help your students
achieve greater success?
Does it support the Mission of the
college?
Step One: Reflection
Can you link your project to the
Mission, Vision and Goals of Santa
Monica College?
Step Two: Sabbatical Intentions
What do you want to accomplish and how do
you want to accomplish it?
There are four types of sabbatical projects:
1)
Research
2)
Formal Study, Training, Work Experience
3)
Program Development
4)
Field Study/Travel
Fellowship Intentions
What do you want to accomplish?
There are four types of fellowship projects:
1)
New Course Development
2)
Course Material Development
3)
Research Related to Teaching
4)
Research Related to Student Services in
Area of Discipline Expertise
Step Three: Execution
In developing your plan of action,
consider the following:
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What specific activities will you
undertake?
How long will it take you to complete
these activities? Is one semester enough
to complete your project?
Who might help you with these activities
and/or impact your outcomes?
Step Four: Results
How will you document the
completion of your project?
Tangible Results, such as
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A book chapter, journal article, or creative
piece;
New technological skills
New pedagogical strategies
Writing the Proposal Application:
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Introduce yourself and your
discipline
Describe the main focus of your
sabbatical
Capture the readers’ attention
Consider writing this last after you
have thought out all the details of
your sabbatical
Lastly, be concise, but be specific
The Proposal Application:
Project Objectives

State what you intend to accomplish
and the impact on you, your
students, your colleagues, and/or
the institution
The Proposal Application:
Activities and/or Procedures
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Answers the “How” question
Describe the step by step activities
that you will follow to accomplish
your stated objective
Identify what resources are required
(human and otherwise) to carry out
your project
Determine who is responsible for
what
The Proposal Application:
Activities and/or Procedures
Things to Consider:
1)
2)
Is your plan aggressive yet
achievable?
Does the plan include
contingencies for unanticipated
events? What will you do if things
don’t go as planned?
General Tips

Figure out what “worked” in the past
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Review past proposals, both successful and
unsuccessful
See Eleanor Singleton, Library Archivist, to
access reports and successful applications
Meet with past sabbatical recipients
Ask your colleagues, particularly those outside
your discipline, if possible, to critique your
application