RESADMers--

I don't believe in boilerplate either, but for a different reason.  A grant
proposal is an argument, and I want to make sure that every piece of the
argument contributes to the eventual conclusion: give us the money.  So I
like to write those background, general information sections so that they
contribute to the upcoming need statement or solution section, even if
subtly.  E.g. in a proposal that requests funds for services to
disadvantaged students, my background sections will emphasize how my
institution draws from and serves diverse populations.  But in a proposal
designed to provide undergrad research opportunities for high-powered STEM
students, by background statement will emphasize the high-quality freshmen
we are recruiting in the sciences.

Regards, Bill

At 04:06 PM 6/30/2004, you wrote:
>Plagiarism is usually defined as use without citation or permission. If
>an institution chose to prepare a set of approved facility descriptions
>(perhaps to reduce duplication of effort, avoid errors, or risking
>'false claims' in proposal submissions), I am not sure how this would be
>plagiarism. I think funding agencies are more concerned that the
>hypothesis, aims, proposed methodologies and supporting data are
>original or properly cited than whether the description of the animal
>facility had been 'wordsmithed'.
>
>Bruce Steinert, PhD, CCRA
>Director, Clinical Trials Administration
>The Children's Mercy Hospital
>Kansas City, MO
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Gary Talarchek [mailto:xxxxxx@LOYNO.EDU]
>Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 3:39 PM
>To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
>Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] Boilerplate Descriptions for Proposal
>Preparation
>
>Given that plagiarism in a proposal qualifies as scientific misconduct,
>I am uncomfortable with any boilerplate.  Better to provide the
>institutional information in a format that writers can easily use and
>let them craft the language.  Perhaps this was not the intent of the
>misconduct regulation, but I feel a strict interpretation of the rule
>does not allow for boilerplate without quotation marks. I would value
>comments from colleagues on this opinion.
>
>Gary M. Talarchek, Ph.D.
>Director of Grants and Research
>Loyola University New Orleans
>6363 St. Charles Avenue
>New Orleans, LA 70118
>Voice: 504-864-7244
>Fax: 504-864-7270
>
>
>======================================================================
>  Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
>  subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
>  via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
>======================================================================
>
>
>======================================================================
>  Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
>  subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
>  via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
>======================================================================

Bill Campbell
Director, Grants & Research
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
410 S. 3rd St.
River Falls, WI 54022
715/425-3195
FAX 715/425-0649

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================