2024 PDGR Awards. For the 2024 grant year, the UMRA PDGR Committee reviewed 10 applications for Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The PDGR Committee recommended that seven be funded. Once again, the awards covered a diverse set of topics including such things as immigration, U.S. election systems, native American art and childhood tantrums. The award recipients represent the Morris and Twin Cities Campus. The awardees and grant abstracts are listed on the 2024 PDGR Abstracts page.
2023 Award. For 2023 grant year, the UMRA PDGR Committee reviewed 10 applications for Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The applications covered a diverse set of topics and goals. The PDGR Committee recommended that nine be funded in April 2023. The recipients represented the Morris and Twin Cities Campus. The awardees and grant abstracts are listed on the 2023 PDGR Abstracts page.
2022 Award. Again in 2022, again probably because of the pandemic, UMRA received only one application for a Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The application was from Dr. Wayne Potratz, Professor Emerita, Art Department, College of Liberal Arts. His project was titled “Texture: Form, Process, and the Aesthetics of Surface and Attendance at the 9th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art, Berlin, September 15-20, 2022”. Dr. Potratz’sgrant abstract is available on the 2022 PDGR Abstract page.
2021 Award. In 2021, perhaps because of the pandemic, UMRA received only one application for a Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The application was from Dr. Joanne B. Eicher, Regents Professor Emerita, College of Design, Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel. In March, 2021, her application was enthusiastically approved by the PDGR Committee. Dr. Eicher's grant abstract is listed on the 2021 PDGR Abstract page.
2020 Awards. In March 2020, a subcommittee of the UMRA Grants Committee reviewed 22 applications for the Professional Development Grants for Retirees and recommended that 18 be approved. In March Chris Cramer, Vice President for Research announced the recipients of the 2019 Professional Development Grants for Retirees . The recipients represented Morris, Duluth and CLA, CSE, CoD, CEHD, CECG, MED, Law and University Libraries on TC Campus. The awardees and grant abstracts are listed on the 2020 PDGR Abstracts page.
2019 Awards. In March 2019, a subcommittee of the UMRA Grants Committee reviewed 6 applications for the Professional Development Grants for Retirees and recommended that 5 be approved and 1 be asked to resubmit. In March Allen Levine, Vice President for Research announced the recipients of the 2019 Professional Development Grants for Retirees . The recipients represented CLA, CSOM, MED, Law Clinic and University Libraries. The abstracts of the grants are listed on the 2019 PDGR Abstracts page.
2018 Awards. In February, 2018 a subcommittee of the UMRA Grants Committee reviewed 10 applications for the Professional Development Grants for Retirees and recommended that 9 be approved. In March, Allen Levine, Vice President for Research announced the recipients of the 2018 Professional Development Grants for Retirees . The recipients represented the fields of Medicine, Art History, Indian Studies, Education, Design, Indian Studies, Information Studies, Graphic Arts, History, and Psychology. The abstracts of the grants are listed on the 2018 PDGR Abstracts page
2017 Awards. In February, 2017, a committee of retirees, appointed by Frances Lawrenz, Associate Vice President of Research, reviewed and recommended 14 of the 21 application for Professional Development Grants for Retirees. In March, Allen Levine, Interim Vice President for Research, announced the recipients for the 2016-2017 Professional Development Grant for Retirees. Of the awards, one was from the Duluth Campus and the others were from the Twin Cities Campus. They represent the fields of Medicine, Law, History and Art History, Education, Architecture, Mining, Indian Studies, and Statistics. The abstracts of the grants are listed on the 2017 PDGR Abstracts page.
2016 Awards. On February 25, 2016, a committee of retirees, appointed by Frances Lawrenz, Associate Vice President of Research, reviewed and recommended 11 of 12 applications for Professional Development Grants for Retirees. On March 1, Brian Herman, Vice President for Research, announced the recipients for the 2016-2017 Professional Development Grant for Retirees. Of the awards, one was from the Morris Campus, two were from the Duluth Campus, and the others were from the Twin Cities Campus. They represent the fields of Indian Studies, Chemistry, French, Psychology, Humanities, Apparel Design, Art, American Studies, History, and Biography. The abstracts of the grants are listed on the 2016 PDGR Abstracts page.
2015 Awards. In February, a committee of retirees appointed by Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz met to review the 23 applications for Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended 13 applications for funding. Vice President for Research, Brian Herman, announced the awards. Of the awards, one recipient was from the Duluth Campus, Geological Sciences. The Twin Cities Campus recipients represented the fields of Sociology, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Art, Education, Humanities, Interior Design, Apparel Design, Textiles, English, and History. The abstracts of the winning grants are listed on the 2015 PDGR Abstracts page.
2014 Awards. On February 26, 2014, a committee of eight UMRA members, appointed by Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz, met to review the 14 applications for the sixth cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended 12 of the applications for funding. Vice President for Research, Brian Herman, announced the awards. Of the awards, one recipient was from the Duluth Campus, College of Science and Engineering, and the others were from the Twin Cities Campus, representing the fields of Statistics, Physics and Astronomy, Library, History, Mathematics, Sociology, and Halberg Chronobiology. The abstracts of the winning grants are listed on the 2014 PDGR Abstracts page.
2013 Awards. On February 8, 2013, a committee of retirees, appointed by Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz, met to review the applications for the fifth cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended seven of the eight applications for funding and in the middle of February Vice President Herman announced the awards. Of the winning proposals, one came from the Duluth Campus, College of Science and Engineering, and the others from the following Twin Cities campus units: CLA; Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; CBS; and Design. Extended descriptions of winning PDGrants are listed on the 2013 PDGR Abstracts page.
A significant feature added to the Grants program two years ago was a link to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Three of this year's PDGrants winners intend to recruit UROP students and have begun that process in consultation with the UROP office (UROP office).
2012 Awards. On February 27, 2012, a committee of retirees appointed by Vice President Tim Mulcahy met with Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz to review all 20 applications for the fourth cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended eight applications for funding and in early March Vice President Mulcahy announced the awards. Of the winning proposals, one came from the Duluth Campus, CLA; while the others from the following Twin Cities campus colleges: CSE (IT); CCE; CLA; Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; and the Medical School. Extended descriptions of winning PDGrants are listed on the 2012 PDGR Abstracts page.
A significant feature added to the Grants program last year was a link to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). One of this year's PDGrants winners included such an indication and is now in conversation with the UROP office concerning such arrangements. Consult the UROP office.
2011 Awards. On February 24, 2011, a committee of retirees appointed by Vice President Tim Mulcahy met with Associate Vice President Frances Lawrenz to review all19 applications for the third cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee recommended nine applications for funding and in early March Vice President Mulcahy announced the awards. Of the winning proposals, one came from the Morris Campus and the others from the following Twin Cities campus colleges: CSE (IT); CLA; Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; and the University Libraries. Extended descriptions of winning PDGrants are listed on the right and on the 2011 PDGR Abstracts page.
A significant feature added to the Grants program for this year is a link to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Two of this year's PDGrants winners included such an indication and are now in conversation with the UROP office concerning such arrangements. Consult the UROP office.
2010 Awards. Fourteen awards of up to $3,500 each were made in early 2010 for work during the 2010-2011 academic year. On February 26th, a committee appointed by Vice President Tim Mulcahy met to review applications for the second cycle of Professional Development Grants for Retirees. The committee consisted entirely of retirees, several from UMRA and others from the larger university community. After a spirited discussion the committee recommended 14 proposals for funding. Vice President Timothy Mulcahy agreed with the committee’s recommendations and sent letters of congratulations to the grant recipients in early March. Two awards went to colleagues from the Duluth and Morris campuses. Of the remaining twelve awards, three went to retirees from the College of Liberal Arts, two from the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, two from the Institute of Technology, two from the Medical School, and one each from the College of Biological Sciences, the College of Education and Human Development, and Academic Administration. Committee members were pleased with the quality of the 25 proposals. A full listing of awards, including single paragraph descriptions of the winning projects can be found on the 2010 PDGR Abstracts page.
2009 Awards. Twelve awards of up to $3,500 each were made in early 2009 for the 2009-2010 academic year. Forty two completed applications were received and a seven person committee of pre- and post-retirement colleagues, appointed by Dean Dubrow, discussed the applications and recommended 12 for funding. Dean Dubrow reviewed those recommendations and informed the 12 individuals of their good fortune. Among the winners, one is from the Duluth campus and the remainder from the Twin Cities. Of those, four are from CLA, with one from each of the following colleges: CBS, IT, Design, the Medical School, Public Health, and the Law School. The final recipient is from the University Libraries. Anyone having questions or comments about the program, is invited to contact the UMRA Small Grants Committee. A summary of each of these grants can be found on the 2009 PDGR Abstracts page.