The National Center for Institutional Diversity is accepting proposals for its new Pop-Up Research and Scholarship Grants program.

Pop-Up Grants encourage scholar public engagement by providing support for diversity scholars to actively and quickly engage with current campus and social issues.

“Publishing findings in academia can often be a lengthy process, and if published in traditional disciplinary journals and outlets, often only a small group of people within those fields will be reached” says NCID Director Tabbye Chavous, professor of education and psychology.

“Our aim is to encourage scholars to utilize their expertise to address current social issues, and to support disseminating their findings in a timely manner to the communities that would directly benefit from this information and to the public at large.”

Pop-Up Grant Requests for Proposals are released throughout the year. The current cycle is open through Oct. 31. Each application cycle is open for four weeks at a time. Scholars may apply for up to $2,000 for a six-month grant period. Grant recipients will receive support in planning and executing a dissemination strategy.

Given the time frame and goals of this opportunity, scholars may use existing datasets or databases, including archival data; analyze extant sources of publicly available information, including public records, online and social media content; synthesize findings or practices from extant literatures; interview participants in current social movements and activism; or other analyses that will help inform this social issue.

“The name ‘Pop-Up Grants’ was intentional in order to signal the goal of quickly and efficiently mobilizing scholars’ best thinking on the important diversity, equity and inclusion issues facing our society,” says Chavous.

“During our first round, we welcome proposals on a variety of topics, but welcome in particular proposals that focus on two themes: freedom of expression and race; and microaggressions.”

All tenure-track, clinical faculty, and research faculty and staff at U-M and across the nation are eligible for this opportunity.

Priority is given to members of the Diversity Scholars Network, which is an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional community of scholars to strengthen research and scholarship about diversity, equity and inclusion, and address issues in education and society.