Planning and Writing a Successful SabbaticalFellowship Proposal

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Planning and Writing a Successful
Sabbatical/Fellowship Proposal

• Points to Consider and
• Questions to Answer

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An Effective Proposal will . . .

• Reflect your personal commitment to the project
• Clearly present a well-thought out plan
• Be concise but complete

3
Developing an Effective Proposal

• Its a two-step process
• Planning
• Writing
• Hint It should take longer to plan your project
  than it should take to write your proposal

4
Steps to Planning Your Proposal

• 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

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Step One Reflection

• Why did you choose this project?
• Why is it important?
• 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?

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Step One Reflection

• Can you link your project to the Mission, Vision
  and Goals of Santa Monica College?

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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
• Research
• Formal Study, Training, Work Experience
• Program Development
• Field Study/Travel

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Fellowship Intentions

• What do you want to accomplish?
• There are four types of fellowship projects
• New Course Development
• Course Material Development
• Research Related to Teaching
• Research Related to Student Services in Area of
  Discipline Expertise

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Step Three Execution

• In developing your plan of action, consider the
  following
• 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?

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Step Four Results

• How will you document the completion of your
  project?
• Tangible Results, such as
• A book chapter, journal article, or creative
  piece
• New technological skills
• New pedagogical strategies

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Writing the Proposal Application

• 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

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The Proposal ApplicationProject Objectives

• State what you intend to accomplish and the
  impact on you, your students, your colleagues,
  and/or the institution

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The Proposal ApplicationActivities and/or
Procedures

• 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

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The Proposal ApplicationActivities and/or
Procedures

• Things to Consider
• Is your plan aggressive yet achievable?
• Does the plan include contingencies for
  unanticipated events? What will you do if things
  dont go as planned?

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General Tips

• Figure out what worked in the past
• 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