OSPRA | Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Activities
McNichols UDMPU Faculty Research Awards (FRA)
In accordance with University of Detroit Mercy Professors Union (UDMPU) contract, there is an established internal research grant fund of $200,000 available to McNichols faculty covered by the UDMPU Contract for the academic year 2027-28. All McNichols faculty are strongly encouraged to apply for and spend Faculty Research Award (FRA) grant monies.
In accordance with the contract, the MFA created an Internal Research Fund committee for the academic year 2027-28 to review proposals. The committee members are as follows:
CBA – Kiely Yonce
CES – Marwa Abdul Latif
CHP – Ashlee Barnes
CHASS – Lee Eshelman (Chair)
LIB – Jill Spreitzer
SACD – Thomas Provost
MFA Rep – Mary White
UDMPU – Stokes Baker
ADMIN – Michele Favoretto (Cayuse support)
| Dates | Description |
| October 29, 2026 | FRA WORKSHOP: McNichols UDMPU Faculty Research Awards | Life Sciences Rm# 116 12:50-1:50 PM | Completed |
| November 23, 2026 | IRB Submissions Due | Questions contact irb@udmercy.edu |
| January 15, 2027 | 2027-28 Proposals Due by 11:59pm EST |
| January 15, 2027 | 2026-27 Progress Reports Due |
| March 15, 2027 | Award Notifications Announced |
| April 15, 2027 | Awardee Funds available for distribution |
No. Applications close on January 15th at 11:59pm. Late applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Yes. Collaborative proposals are encouraged. However, the PI must be a McNichols or Aquinas campus faculty member covered by the UDMPU bargaining agreement.
Yes. An additional Co-PI may be added after an award is made, provided the individual is a member of the UDMPU bargaining unit.
To add a co-PI:
No. University employees who receive a salary from Detroit Mercy are not eligible to receive compensation through Faculty Research Award funds.
No. Instructors are covered by the UDMPU contract and therefore cannot be paid as research assistants using FRA funds. Eligible instructors may instead serve as a PI or Co-PI on an FRA project.
No. Faculty members may serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) on only one proposal per funding cycle. However, faculty may serve as a Co-PI on multiple proposals.
No. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All required documents must be submitted through Cayuse by the application deadline, January 15th at 11:59 pm. If any portion of the application is missing or submitted late, the proposal will not be considered.
Proposals are evaluated using a 100-point rubric that considers:
New tenure-track and clinical-track faculty in their first three years receive an additional 10 points in the review process.
Yes. You must complete the CITI Program Conflict of Interest Training before applying. You will upload your completion certificate in Cayuse to be submitted with your application.
No. The approval is not required, but you must start the IRB application in Cayuse Human Subjects to be assigned an IRB Study number. The IRB study number is required for your FRA submission.
To get started with an IRB application. Email irb@udmercy.edu, provide a brief description of your project. The IRB will reply with the next steps.
Yes. You are required to email your IRB approval (or exemption) letter to the FRA Board Chair by March 14. Failure to provide proof of IRB approval will result in forfeiting your funding opportunity.
Yes. You may submit an FRA proposal while required regulatory approval is pending. Indicate the pending status in your application. However, all required approvals must be obtained before FRA funds can be released.
Yes. Proposals requesting more than $10,000 should provide a clear and detailed justification for the amount requested. The budget justification should explain how each expense supports the project goals and why the requested level of funding is necessary for the scope of the project.
Applicants requesting substantial funding are encouraged to contact OSPRA to inquire about additional resources that may be available. Supporting documentation, such as letters of support from a Dean, Department Chair, or collaborator, may also strengthen the proposal by helping to demonstrate the scope and feasibility of the project.
Yes. Faculty may request a course release if it is necessary to complete the proposed research or scholarship project.
Course release requests must:
No. University employees who receive a salary from Detroit Mercy are not eligible to receive compensation through Faculty Research Award funds. Off-term support, summer stipends, and overload compensation are not eligible.
Yes. All equipment requests must include:
No. Expenses related to dissemination of research findings (e.g., publication fees, conference attendance, presentation travel) should be funded through the faculty development funds available under Article 11.6 of the UDMPU contract and are not appropriate expenses for Faculty Research Award funding.
No. FRA funds may not be used to hire outside statisticians or consultants. Faculty are encouraged to seek collaborations with Detroit Mercy colleagues.
Yes. If you are unable to find a suitable University of Detroit Mercy student research assistant, you may hire a student from another institution. All student research assistants (internal or external) should be compensated in accordance with University policiies.
Student Job Classification & Pay Level Guidelines
For specific questions and clarification, please contact:
Lisa Ann O’Connor, MSHRM, SHRM-CP
Associate Director for Human Resources
oconnola@udmercy.edu
(313) 993-1445 Direct
(313) 993-1036 Main
Yes. Funds may be reallocated from salary to supplies and/or equipment. To request a budget revision, submit a one-page letter that includes:
Send the request to fra@udmercy.edu and copy the FRA Co-Chairs. Budget revision requests are required only when transferring funds between budget categories (e.g., salary to supplies), not for changes within a category (e.g., purchasing different supplies than originally anticipated).
Possibly. FRA funds may only be used for travel when the travel is necessary to conduct the research or collect data. Travel related to dissemination of research findings (e.g., conference presentations) should be supported through Article 11.6 professional development funds rather than FRA funds.
No. Faculty Research Award funds may not be used to support student travel for conference presentations.
No. Article 11.7 of the UDMPU contract requires that all grant funds be spent by June 30 of the year following the award. The contract states explicitly: “All grant funds must be used by June 30th of the year following the award of the grant.”
No. The project itself does not need to be completed by June 30. However, all awarded funds must be spent and all reimbursement documentation submitted by June 30 of the award year.
Any funds remaining after the June 30 deadline will be forfeited. This includes expenses for which required receipts or reimbursement documentation have not been submitted by the deadline.
Yes. All award recipients are required to submit a progress report during the year following their award cycle. Faculty who fail to submit a required progress report may be ineligible for future funding opportunities. Reporting requirements and deadlines are provided in the original award letter and on the OSPRA website.
CAYUSE SUPPORT
Michele Favoretto
favoremi@udmercy.edu
(313) 993-1428
Required Forms/Templates