Time Management and the Grant
{
Weingarten Learning Resources Center 215.573.9235 www.vpul.upenn.edu/lrc
Agenda TODAY YOU WILL:
Think through a grant management timeline Complicate the timeline - consider possible problems, glitches, and ways to juggle multiple tasks Discuss grant management tips and best practices Ask questions and share additional ideas
Today’s Takeaway Grant success often comes down to…
EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT!!!
Scenario Discussions Group Activity:
Work through the scenario to construct a timeline. You can work on your own or with one or two people near you. If you finish early, feel free to consider the complications on the back side of the scenario sheet.
Start With Perspective and Familiarity
Keep the grant in perspective. What is its relative importance to your research career? Do not make it bigger than it needs to be. As soon as possible, allow time to read the RFP or proposal guidelines through at least twice. Play with the website, and familiarize yourself with all components. Immediately contact the foundation or a reliable local source if you do not understand portions of the RFP or need clarification.
Process of Drafting and Re-Drafting
There is no perfect grant.
Think long and hard about your audience. Then:
Get a draft done and GET IT OUT! Get another done, and GET IT OUT! Get another done, and GET IT OUT!
There is no perfect grant.
Set Realizable Goals Chunking
Break the task up into parts that, when all taken together, comprise the whole. These parts WILL BE SMALLER than the list of “parts” given by the grant. Decide your approach to these subsections – conceptualize them in an outline, annotated outline, or concept map.
Avoid Procrastination!!!
Why do we procrastinate?
Perspective, chunking, asking for help
Be kind to yourself.
Scheduling
Use planning tools that work for you. Translate the language of pages into the language of tasks. Set calendar date deadlines, and overestimate! Post due dates on a calendar that you keep at your desk. Share due dates with your chair if possible, and with a friend or writing group. Keep a weekly calendar with writing time designated – writing time is sacred! Ask for references EARLY. Give them at least one month. Ask again at two weeks, again at one week, and follow up if they have not submitted.
Scheduling Continued
Leave plenty of time for institutional approval – do it early. Request transcripts as soon as you know about the grant. Keep a good PDF of all official transcripts (sometimes this suffices) and several sealed officials on hand from all institutions as backups. Know when to cut your losses when you are juggling multiple proposals. Prioritize, and keep perspective.
Reflecting and Trouble Shooting
Review your progress and adjust your schedule – the secret to scheduling is rescheduling. Revisit your early assessment of the grant’s importance to your career. Remain positive, present, honest, and guilt free! Find a writing buddy and/or come into Weingarten if you need more support.
Questions and Comments?
Come see us if you’d like.
You can meet with a learning instructor by:
Calling 215-573-9235 to make an appointment Coming to walk-ins, Monday-Friday, 12:00 noon-3 p.m. or Tuesday and Wednesday 4:00-7:00 p.m.
We’re also a nice, quiet writing space