My question to the RESADM-L list about maintaining model proposal
files for browsing by would-be grant writers generated a LOT of
really thoughtful responses from the list, and my thanks to those
of you who did respond.

More about what you said in a moment, but first:  We are in the
process of "migrating," as our IT people call it, from one e-mail
system to another. (Actually from a variety of e-mail systems to
another, but I won't get into that.  And when you think about the
meaning of the old expression, "going South," in a context of
computer software, the concept of "migration" makes a lot
of sense.)

Anyway, that's the reason for my belated thanks to all of you.  I'm
still subscribed to RESADM-L (and a number of other lists) from my
old address, so I have to write this from the "old" e-mail system,
although the old system forwards all of my new received mail to the
new system. Some day soon I will unsubscribe from the old system and
resubscribe from the new, but . . .

I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have gotten into this.  It's . . .
Never mind.

Okay.  Model proposal files.

I received 21 responses.  Twelve were from offices which use model
proposal files; 9 were from administrators who are opposed to the
concept.

The folks who use model proposal files had some caveats:  Get written
permission to use the proposals, blank out any sensitive
material, don't let anyone take the model proposals out of your
office, don't permit photocopying and DO advise the browsers that
guidelines change.  The successful proposal in last year's program
may be irrelevant to this year's program.

"I don't see a grants file as hurting anything," Dr. Charles
Hathaway wrote, "but it may be less help than many would think.  One
person said to me that if you need to see another's application,
than either you cannot write or do not have a good grasp of what you
want to do and why."

"Read them, I say," Bill Campbell wrote of his advice to browsers.
"Make sure you understand how they're put together, the level of
detail which is included, the voice and tone.  But if you copy, or
even use them as models, you are unlikely to get funded.  They're
old news to the funding agency, after all."

Andrew Grant was one of the naysayers:

"The first thing any workshop participant or student asks for is a
sample proposal, and I always resist.  In my experience, grant
applicants--especially inexperienced writers--tend to use the sample
as a template, whether or not it's appropriate for the source or the
project."

But Mary Watson finds that model proposals "are soothing to the new
writer because he/she can see that the task is not impossible."

So there you have a range of responses.  They were ALL good.

Thanks, again.

John Finley
Office of Sponsored Programs Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, Ky. 40292
Tele: 502 852-6512 FAX: 502 852-8361
xxxxxx@homer.louisville.edu  (Old address.  Still works.)

xxxxxx@gwise.louisville.edu (New and improved "migrated" address.)