College Funding Opportunities

In addition to the support provided by the College of Arts & Sciences to departments for travel and other expenses, the College offers several funding opportunities to support the research and scholarship of our community.

Subvention Support Program

The Subvention Support Program will grant up to $3,000 towards the development of a book monograph or other research publication. The funds can be used to cover publication costs associated with copy editing, indexing, copyrights, open access fees, and the preparation of maps, images, figures, and translations. Preference will be given to those who: a) do not have funds from alternative sources (such as start-up funds or grant F&A); and b) have not received subvention funds from the College in the past 3 years.

Proposals are accepted twice per year through InfoReady in February and September. They must include:

  • A copy of an executed contract/agreement for publication
  • Author’s C.V.
  • A budget and justification showing expenses, other funding sources, and total request
  • Brief timeline for completion and publication of the monograph or article

Travel Support Program

The College’s Travel Support Program promotes the communication of research findings by providing up to $2,000.00 for travel to professional conferences or workshops. Any continuing regular faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences is eligible to apply, including tenure track faculty, research faculty, and lecturers. Preference will be given to those who: a) do not have funds from alternative sources (such as start-up funds, grant F&A, or the Provost’s travel funds); b) have not been a recipient of this program in the past 3 years; and c) are presenting research in progress.

Proposals are accepted twice per year through InfoReady in February and September. They must include:

  • Materials documenting the event that you will attend (e.g. a web link or brochure)
  • A brief narrative of less than 250 words describing the impact of the travel on the applicant’s research trajectory
  • A budget and justification showing the expenses, funding sources, and total request

Arts & Sciences Support for Undergraduate Research Experience (ASSURE)

This program is designed to foster faculty-student research collaborations, and, as such, we are particularly eager to fund work through which students have the opportunity to engage in thoughtful and progressively sophisticated work central to the overall research program of the principal investigator. Because the awards are part of larger efforts to foster a culture of faculty-undergraduate research collaboration at UNM, we would like to see proposals engaging lower-division students and students from underrepresented groups. Proposals will be evaluated based on the funding priorities of the ASSURE initiative, which include providing resources for students who see research activity as key to their overall trajectory at UNM and for research programs that are committed to solid outcomes for undergraduate researchers and promote inclusive excellence.

More information on ASSURE. 

Event Support Program

The College is pleased to announce that it will provide funding of up to $3,000 for scholarly events sponsored by Arts & Sciences departments, academic programs, interdisciplinary teams, and Category II research centers. Sponsored events can include an invited speaker or lecture series, conference, or workshop. Funding may not be used to cover travel costs for event organizers. Allowable expenses include, but are not limited to, speaker honoraria, travel for invited speakers, venue costs, and event-related materials.

Proposals are accepted twice per year through InfoReady in February and September. They must include:

  • A brief description of the event, timeline, and the key organizers
  • A budget justification showing expenses, funding sources, and total request

New Program: A&S IDEA Funds (Incubating Discovery, Exploration, and Advancement)

The College of Arts & Sciences is pleased to announce the launch of IDEA Funds - Incubating Discovery, Exploration, and Advancement. This fund is designed to support early-stage, high-potential projects that foster innovation, creativity, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. We invite proposals from teams who wish to develop new projects that can advance scholarship.

Purpose

The IDEA Fund will provide modest financial support to help bring scholarly ideas to life. Successful proposals will demonstrate the potential for long-term impact, fostering innovation, and advancing academic inquiry in transformative ways. The funds could be used to support a range of initiatives, including (but not limited to):

  • Forming a team to develop a proposal for a new college-level research center or public scholarship center
  • Writing an institutional grant to develop new programs and research centers in A&S
  • Funding a visit from a scholar who can assist with project planning

Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by any team of faculty members and research staff within the College of Arts & Sciences. Collaborative, interdisciplinary projects involving multiple departments or external partners are strongly encouraged.

Funding Details

  • Award Amount: Team awards can be up to $7500.
  • Duration: Projects may be funded for a period of up to one year.
  • Use of Funds: Funds may be used for research materials, travel for project development, honoraria, and other project-related expenses.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include the following components:

  1. Project Title
  2. Abstract
  3. Project Description - A narrative (1-3 pages) addressing the following:
    • Overview of the project and its goals
    • The significance of the project within the context of UNM’s College of Arts & Sciences
    • Methods or approaches to be used
    • Expected impact or outcomes for the College, the university, and the broader community
  4. Budget
    A breakdown of the total funding requested, including an explanation of how funds will be allocated (e.g. travel, honoraria, etc.).
  5. Timeline
    A timeline for the project, including key milestones and deliverables.
  6. Team members
    A list of project team members and their department affiliations.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Innovation: Does the project present new ideas or initiatives?
  • Feasibility: Is the project achievable within the proposed timeline and budget?
  • Impact: What is the potential for the project to make a meaningful contribution to the field, the College, and the broader community?
  • Sustainability: Does the project have potential for continued impact beyond the initial funding period?

Submission Instructions

Please submit your proposal by 11:59 p.m. on March 24, 2025 via InfoReady. Projects can begin as early as April 1, 2025. If you have questions, please contact frso4cas@unm.edu.

Click for Call for Proposals