Macy Faculty Scholars Program: FAQs

Macy Faculty Scholars Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Since launching the Macy Faculty Scholars Program, we have received many good questions from interested parties. The most common of these questions are answered below. If your question is not among them, please contact us.

Q: Must a candidate be a doctorally-prepared faculty member when the application is submitted or when the appointment begins?
A: All candidates must be doctorally prepared at the time the application is received by the Foundation.

Q: Who should fill out and submit the application?
A: Only the candidate should fill out and submit the online 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 candidate from each school.

Q: The application asks for a Statement of Career Objectives that does not exceed 7,600 characters and a Project Description that does not exceed 10,000 characters. For these character counts are spaces included? 
A: Yes, for all character counts spaces are included.

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. This should be noted on the application.

Q: Is the award up to $100K, or $100K? Is there a cap on indirect costs?
A: The award is up to $100,000 (plus fringe) per year for two years.  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. Indirect costs are not funded as part of the award.  It is expected that the Scholar’s institution will cover indirect costs as an in-kind contribution.

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 them?
A: Yes, provided the candidate is a doctorally-prepared faculty member for five or more years in a United States accredited nursing school, allopathic medical school, or osteopathic medical school.

Q: We are a new medical school, less than five years old.  Can we still nominate a candidate?
A: If your medical school or nursing school has been in existence for less than five years, you may still nominate a candidate, provided the candidate has already been a faculty member for five or more years in a United States accredited school, which can include time at your 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 their 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: Yes, the candidate must be a doctorally-prepared faculty member for five or more years in a United States accredited nursing school, allopathic medical school, or osteopathic medical school.

Q: I have more than five years of faculty experience, however, at different schools.  Can I apply?
A: Yes, you are eligible.  In general, we expect the applicant to have been at the sponsoring school for five or more 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: The nominee can of course work in both a school and a medical center, but the nomination must come from the Dean of a medical or nursing school and not from the academic medical center itself.

Q: How do I find out what areas of curriculum development the Foundation is most interested in?
A: The Our Priorities page of this website 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: Up to five awards will be given annually.

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 Scholars 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.

Q: I see that candidates must have served as a faculty member for a minimum of five years in order to be eligible. Does time spent as a part-time faculty member count toward this five-year minimum?
A: Eligible candidates should have at least five years of full-time faculty experience.