Supporting faculty research at UVM

As a part of the national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), a primary function of the University of Vermont’s Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (CDCI) is to engage in, promote, and disseminate research pertaining to individuals with disabilities across the lifespan, their families, and service providers. While some UVM faculty are funded to work part or full-time at the CDCI, most faculty involved in disability related research have no established connection to the CDCI.

A CDCI Affiliated Faculty is:

1. A UVM faculty member in any college or department;
2. Who is involved in scholarship pertaining to individuals with disabilities at any point(s) across the lifespan, their families, or service providers that is consistent with the mission and purpose of the CDCI; and
3. Voluntarily establishes a non-salaried relationship with CDCI to explore individually determined and mutually beneficial research related activities.

Designation is for a 3-year renewable term as a non-salaried CDCI Affiliated Faculty.

This designation represents an informal and voluntary connection between these UVM faculty members and the CDCI, and therefore differs from the various formalized types of non-salaried UVM faculty appointments (e.g., Graduate College Faculty, Research Affiliate).

• Opportunities to apply for CDCI research funding when available.
• Access to professionals from a wide range of disciplines who specialize in disability issues (e.g., education, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, speech-language pathology, vocational rehabilitation).
• Connections to CDCI field-based networks (e.g., schools, families, organizations).
• Exposure of faculty work across the national UCEDD network, via posting of information on CDCI websites, social media, and National Information and Reporting System.
• Notification of professional development, grant-writing, and research collaboration opportunities associated with CDCI.
• Being part of a local community of researchers with shared interests.
• Potential source of new research collaborators.
• Strengthen grant applications by demonstrating connections to inter/transdisciplinary colleagues, resources for students, and expanded dissemination opportunities.
• Access to CDCI resources (websites, newsletters, preferred enrollment in CDCI sponsored professional development).
• Opportunities for UVM students including resources, internships, training, and access to national network of students and emerging leaders.

• Increases awareness of CDCI and disability research within and beyond UVM.
• Broadens the base of researchers across disciplines associated with CDCI.
• Builds connections with other departments and centers at UVM.
• Creates potential for grant-writing and other research collaboration.
• Creates potential increase in CDCI publication credits by either partially funding research activities or providing human capital to support research endeavors.
• Helps identify research needs for related to people with disabilities.

• CDCI Executive Director extends invitation, or faculty member can reach out to director.
• Candidate reviews information, eligibility, and requirements (.docx).
• Candidate completes application (.docx) and sends to CDCI Executive Director by email.
• CDCI Executive Director (and/or designee) reviews application to ensure candidate’s research is consistent with the mission and purpose of the CDCI and notifies candidate.
• CDCI Executive Director (or designee) meets with the new CDCI Affiliated Faculty to establish an individualized understanding about relationship with the CDCI (which can be intermittent, situational or ongoing and range from minimal to extensive) with an emphasis on activities and outputs that are mutually beneficial.

As a part of the national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), a primary function of the University of Vermont’s Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (CDCI) is to engage in, promote, and disseminate research pertaining to individuals with disabilities across the lifespan, their families, and service providers. While some UVM faculty are funded to work part- or full-time at the CDCI, most faculty involved in disability related research have no established connection to the CDCI.

A CESS CDCI Faculty Fellowship can be awarded to anyone who is:

1. A CESS faculty member in any department;
2. Who is involved in scholarship pertaining to individuals with disabilities at any point(s) across the lifespan, their families, or service providers that is consistent with the mission and purpose of the CDCI; and
3. Is chosen by a selection committee to receive the title.

The CESS CDCI Faculty Fellows are appointed to renewable one-year terms.

This designation represents an informal and voluntary connection between these UVM faculty members and the CDCI, and therefore differs from the various formalized types of non-salaried UVM faculty appointments (e.g., Graduate College Faculty, Research Affiliate).

• Summer salary pay equivalent to 10% of summer effort to conduct research.*
• Academic year salary pay equivalent to 10% of research activities on workload A could be allocated to CDCI’s Core funding with your department chair approval. This effort allocation requires annual certification by faculty fellows the following Fall.**
• Participate in research efforts with CDCI faculty, state, and national partners.
• Access to proposal-writing support.
• Exposure of faculty work across the national UCEDD network, via posting of information on CDCI websites, social media, and National Information and Reporting System.
• Strengthen grant applications by demonstrating connections to inter/transdisciplinary colleagues, resources for students, and expanded dissemination opportunities.
• Access to disability rights policy expertise in Vermont and nationally.
• Access to professionals from a wide range of disciplines who specialize in disability issues (e.g., education, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, speech-language pathology, vocational rehabilitation).
• Connections to CDCI field-based networks (e.g., schools, families, organizations).
• Opportunities for UVM students including resources, internships, training, and access to national network of students and emerging leaders.
• Voice in setting Center’s research direction through meetings and retreats.

Notes:

* Should you separate from UVM for any reason earlier than your contracted term, you are forfeiting the right to any unused funds as described above. Use of these funds will be contingent upon continued employment and these funds are to be used by the end of the fiscal year in which they are awarded.

** The number of fellowships awarded will be determined by budget availability in the given fiscal year. For FY2027 we expect to fund up to 3 fellowships.

• Increases scholarship and research activities supported by CDCI.
• Increases awareness of CDCI and disability research within and beyond UVM.
• Broadens the base of researchers across disciplines associated with CDCI.
• Builds connections with other programs, departments, centers, and institutes at UVM.
• Creates potential for grant-writing and other research collaboration.
• Helps identify research needs related to people with disabilities.

• Candidate reviews information about fellowship, eligibility, and requirements.
• Candidate submits online application for fellowship (UVM InfoReady), summarizing their research and how the fellowship funds would support their work (along with a vita).
• CDCI Executive Director and CESS CDCI Faculty Fellowship committee reviews applications to ensure candidate’s research is consistent with the mission and purpose of the CDCI and notifies candidate.
• CDCI Executive Director (or designee) meets with the new CESS CDCI Faculty Fellow to establish an individualized understanding about relationships with the CDCI (which can be intermittent, situational or ongoing and range from minimal to extensive) with an emphasis on activities and outputs that are mutually beneficial.
• CESS CDCI Faculty Fellow shares information about conference presentations, publications, grant applications, and other supported research activities with CDCI data coordinator for our federal annual reports.