EDI Seed Funding
This funding initiative allows us to focus on enhancing our inclusive research culture and enabling change-makers to lead and design activities that enable EDI culture at Lassonde and beyond.
EDI Seed Fund Category B competition is paused for 2024-25.
For question/concerns reach out to the Research Support Office.
For Faculty only
For Everyone
Returner/life event fund; for faculty members
This funding category can lighten the burden of family work-life balance specifically for those who are new parents but also for those with exceptional caregiving situations and extraordinary life events.
Step 1: Call for Application
- Applications accepted on rolling basis
- Submit to Research Support Office
Step 2: Evaluation
- Applications are evaluated to determine if they are meritorious
- Applications are reviewed at the Dean’s office level by senior Academic Leadership
Step 3: Outcome measure
- After funding is released, the outcome/impact will be monitored
- The applicant has to submit the outcome report and complete a survey
- Successful measures will be disseminated to other researchers and used in the best practices guide
Eligibility
Tenure-track and tenured faculty (Professorial or alternate/teaching stream)
Funding Details
1a) Returner/Life Event FUND – Research Support
• Research funding to support faculty, especially pre-tenure, by providing funds for hiring staff members such as a postdoctoral visitor, research associate, or lab manager to support coordination activities while the faculty member is on leave or returning from leave.
• Estimated amount $45,000-60,000 for each 1-year position, prorated annually
1b) Returner/Life Event FUND – Teaching
• Up to 0.5 (one-half course) Course Release for those returning from parental/caregiving leave. Normally, course release will only be provided for those who were the primary caregiver and who had been on leave for an extended period. In the review process, consideration will be given to the current teaching workload while providing an integration back following leave.
Process
Applicants will be asked to satisfy seven conditions:
1) Applicants must be eligible for a leave from the university in order to qualify; Please note not all leaves are related to EDI Seed Funding objectives.
2) The faculty member is tenured or has a tenure-track appointment at the time of the application.
3) For professorial stream faculty only: the research to be performed during the leave is expected to be externally funded and/or in preparation for external funding support.
4) A successful recipient will be expected to return to Lassonde School of Engineering for a least one year following the leave.
5) Support from the fund will be provided for a maximum period of one year at a time, renewable for an additional year under exceptional circumstances.
Completed applications will typically be submitted in advance of the leave for category 1a while applying for course release 1b can be done during the leave.
6) For 1b only, consultation with the department chair is recommended and will be done following the submission of the application.
7) The process illustrated in the Figure above will include an open call for application. Evaluation will take place at the Dean’s office senior leadership level (for privacy reasons, Category A applications will not go to a committee). The applications will be evaluated based on merit alone. The decision will be made in consultation with the specific Chair if course release is requested.
Application Components
• Application Template including the justification for funds needed
• CV (any format)
Deadline
Rolling deadline, contact Research Support office for more information
Tenure-track and tenured faculty (Professorial or alternate/teaching stream)
Funding Details
1a) Returner/Life Event FUND – Research Support
• Research funding to support faculty, especially pre-tenure, by providing funds for hiring staff members such as a postdoctoral visitor, research associate, or lab manager to support coordination activities while the faculty member is on leave or returning from leave.
• Estimated amount $45,000-60,000 for each 1-year position, prorated annually
1b) Returner/Life Event FUND – Teaching
• Up to 0.5 (one-half course) Course Release for those returning from parental/caregiving leave. Normally, course release will only be provided for those who were the primary caregiver and who had been on leave for an extended period. In the review process, consideration will be given to the current teaching workload while providing an integration back following leave.
Process
Applicants will be asked to satisfy seven conditions:
1) Applicants must be eligible for a leave from the university in order to qualify; Please note not all leaves are related to EDI Seed Funding objectives.
2) The faculty member is tenured or has a tenure-track appointment at the time of the application.
3) For professorial stream faculty only: the research to be performed during the leave is expected to be externally funded and/or in preparation for external funding support.
4) A successful recipient will be expected to return to Lassonde School of Engineering for a least one year following the leave.
5) Support from the fund will be provided for a maximum period of one year at a time, renewable for an additional year under exceptional circumstances.
Completed applications will typically be submitted in advance of the leave for category 1a while applying for course release 1b can be done during the leave.
6) For 1b only, consultation with the department chair is recommended and will be done following the submission of the application.
7) The process illustrated in the Figure above will include an open call for application. Evaluation will take place at the Dean’s office senior leadership level (for privacy reasons, Category A applications will not go to a committee). The applications will be evaluated based on merit alone. The decision will be made in consultation with the specific Chair if course release is requested.
Application Components
• Application Template including the justification for funds needed
• CV (any format)
Deadline
Rolling deadline, contact Research Support office for more information
EDI Initiatives Fund (EDI IF); open to all including faculty, students, and staff
This funding will allow any member of our community to propose new ways to catalyze change and impact EDI. We are giving people the freedom to design their own initiatives, to engage their creativity and to find ways to think outside the box, developing fresh initiatives that can be turned from pilots to full-scale initiatives.
EDI IF has three distinct streams. Please contact the research office to discuss ideas prior to applying. The deadline is twice per year but Stream 1 and 3 might be eligible for off-cycle funding, please contact us for more details.
Step 1: Call for Application
- Applications accepted 2 times per year
- Fluid Review application
Step 2: Evaluation
- Applications are reviewed by EDI committee with input from the Awards Committee.
- Recommendations are forwarded to the ADR/Dean for final decision
Step 3: Outcome measure
- After funding is released, the outcome/impact will be monitored
- The applicant has to submit the outcome report and complete a survey
- Successful measures will be disseminated to other researchers and used in the best practices guide
Stream 1: EDI IF Fund for Recruitment Initiatives
Value
Up to $10,000 per application
Deadline
May 15 and November 15. Off-cycle applications might be considered.
Eligibility
Any Lassonde community member: staff, student, faculty
Funding Details
Will allow for a targeted approach to bring in more diverse members to the team by providing funding that can be spent during the recruitment process from inviting prospective students on campus to providing enhanced assistance in the application including scholarship application. The fund would be open to new ideas and will measure the impact.
Eligible expenses: travel, meals, advertising and materials
Up to $10,000 per application
Deadline
May 15 and November 15. Off-cycle applications might be considered.
Eligibility
Any Lassonde community member: staff, student, faculty
Funding Details
Will allow for a targeted approach to bring in more diverse members to the team by providing funding that can be spent during the recruitment process from inviting prospective students on campus to providing enhanced assistance in the application including scholarship application. The fund would be open to new ideas and will measure the impact.
Eligible expenses: travel, meals, advertising and materials
Stream 2: EDI IF Training Opportunities
Value
$500-$3,000
Deadline
May 15 and November 15. Applications can include retroactive travel up to 3 months.
Eligibility
Any Lassonde community member: staff, student, faculty
Funding Details
For those interested in furthering their EDI credentials and knowledge beyond what is offered at York U. The EDI training can vary from attending a conference focused on Gender and Intersectionality (for example, the Gender Summit) to attending specific programming aimed at higher-level professionals. The funds can also be used to allow for membership in EDI-related societies and associations (ex Society of Women Engineers, NSBE, National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and technical professionals etc.). Expectation for each recipient to engage in Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) activities upon completion of the training with the purpose of creating awareness. i.e. becoming a trainer for others when they return.
$500-$3,000
Deadline
May 15 and November 15. Applications can include retroactive travel up to 3 months.
Eligibility
Any Lassonde community member: staff, student, faculty
Funding Details
For those interested in furthering their EDI credentials and knowledge beyond what is offered at York U. The EDI training can vary from attending a conference focused on Gender and Intersectionality (for example, the Gender Summit) to attending specific programming aimed at higher-level professionals. The funds can also be used to allow for membership in EDI-related societies and associations (ex Society of Women Engineers, NSBE, National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and technical professionals etc.). Expectation for each recipient to engage in Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) activities upon completion of the training with the purpose of creating awareness. i.e. becoming a trainer for others when they return.
Stream 3: EDI IF Pilot Initiative Funds
Value
Up to $20,000
Deadline
Expression of Interest Forms due May 1 and November 1.
Proposal due May 15 and November 15. Off-cycle applications might be considered.
Eligibility
Any Lassonde community member: staff, student, faculty
Funding Details
Fund for novel ideas that will enhance EDI across the School. We are looking for champions to come up with pilot programs that can lead to substantial change over the long term. Starting small and testing ideas can allow people to be risky and innovative. Pilots must be scalable across the school and applicable to a wider audience.
Up to $20,000
Deadline
Expression of Interest Forms due May 1 and November 1.
Proposal due May 15 and November 15. Off-cycle applications might be considered.
Eligibility
Any Lassonde community member: staff, student, faculty
Funding Details
Fund for novel ideas that will enhance EDI across the School. We are looking for champions to come up with pilot programs that can lead to substantial change over the long term. Starting small and testing ideas can allow people to be risky and innovative. Pilots must be scalable across the school and applicable to a wider audience.
Additional Details
- Applicants as can apply as many times as required but only one award per year in each category will be allowed.
- We encourage the funding to be supplemented by other sources of funding and application that leveraging other funding (internal or external) will be prioritized. We encourage teams to form partnerships and work with relevant stakeholders for each initiative.
- Successful applicants are expected to share and disseminate the ideas and lessons learned to the broader Lassonde Community.