We are thrilled at the response to our new Macy Faculty Scholars program. Since the two webinars we recently hosted, we’ve received great questions about the program and have taken the opportunity to provide answers to the most common of them. If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact us. We thank you for your interest in the program and look forward to receiving your application.
Q: Can more than one school from the same university apply?
A: If your university has both a medical school and nursing school, you may nominate one from each school.
Q: Can the scholar grant be supplemented by other funding for the project?
A: Yes, other funding–be it private, public or in-kind–may be contributed to the proposed scholar’s project.
Q: Is the award up to 100K or 100K?
A: The award is $100,000 plus Fringe Benefits. We recognize that in some cases this award amount will provide for more than 50% protected time for the scholar to pursue a mentored educational project.
Q: What do you include in Fringe Benefits?
A: This is intended to fund the institution’s standard benefit package.
Q: We have a great qualified Physical Therapy person. Can we nominate her?
A: No, the program is intended to fund scholars who are either physicians or nurses.
Q: We are a new Medical School, less than 5 years old. Can we still nominate a scholar?
A: If your medical school or nursing school has been in existence for less than 5 years, you may still nominate a candidate provided she/he has been a faculty member for more than 5 years in a United States accredited school.
Q: With respect to eligibility of the candidates, is there an upper limit in terms of years of service or appointment on what is considered mid-career? For instance, would a full professor near the beginning of a term as full professor remain eligible? Or, is the ideal candidate someone at the late assistant professor through associate professor rank?
A: There is no upper limit with regards to years of service in defining mid-career. With that said, we expect likely candidates to be at the late assistant professor through associate professor rank.
Q: Can a PhD apply to the program?
A: PhD’s are not eligible for the program, unless, of course the PhD has an MD, RN or DO degree
Q: I have more than 5 years of faculty experience, however, at different schools. Can I apply?
A: Yes, you are eligible. In general, we expect the applicant to be at their institution for more than 5 years. However, the decision to nominate a candidate must come from the dean of the school, who is best positioned to determine the most qualified candidate.
Q: Can an academic medical center be the sponsoring institution?
A: No. The nominee can of course work in both a school and a medical center, but the nomination must come from the dean of a school.
Q: How do I find out what areas of curriculum development the Foundation is most interested in?
A: The main page of the Foundation web site lists the principal interests of the Foundation. The Foundation is open to innovative thoughts in other areas but priority is given to nominees who will address the Foundation’s core interests.
Q: Can the nominee’s mentor be located at an outside institution?
A: Yes, if there is a strong justification for choosing a mentor outside the school and it can be demonstrated that having an external mentor will not compromise the nominee’s project or impede mentorship.
Q: How many awards will be given?
A: The Foundation plans to make 5 awards in the first round.
Q: Should the educational innovation being proposed be accompanied by a budget that includes existing or potential funding sources?
A: Not necessarily. The Macy Faculty Scholar program supports the time of the individual. Additional associated costs would be borne by the educational institution or through independent funding. Evidence of strong institutional support, however, will make for a stronger application.
Still have questions? Please email scholars@macyfoundation.org.