Faculty Affiliate Program
The FacAP helps Georgia College faculty conduct collaborative research that promotes healthy growth and development for young children. By aligning with one of the Deal Center’s core strategic goals, the FacAP fosters innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, implementation science, and the application of research to practice among professionals who serve children in diverse roles.
Program Purpose and Goals
The Faculty Affiliate Program, offered by the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center in partnership with Georgia College & State University, aims to:
Strengthen collaboration between GCSU faculty and the Deal Center by fostering interdisciplinary partnerships that advance literacy and learning outcomes for children from birth through age 8.
Expand the center’s scope by leveraging faculty expertise across departments to deepen innovation, implementation of science, research, policy, and practice to promote the healthy growth and development of young children connected to language and literacy.
Increase research, programmatic, and policy impact by supporting faculty-led initiatives that inform best practices and drive systemic change in early childhood education, medicine, and community-based efforts.
Support faculty advancement by aligning with promotion, tenure, and recognition opportunities, encouraging scholarly contributions that benefit both academic careers and community outcomes.
Eligibility & More
This program is for supporting both the initiation of new research or expanding research that aligns with the Deal Center’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
Faculty Affiliates may not receive awards in consecutive years. Faculty Affiliates who have not completed the final report and/or did not successfully submit their work in a peer-reviewed/juried outlet will not be eligible for future FacAP participation.
Open to tenure-track faculty of all ranks and lecturers across all GCSU colleges, departments, and disciplines
Eligible faculty members do not hold any contract addendum overloads or course reassignment for the 26-27 academic year
Applicants must submit a letter of interest (one page) aligning their work with our mission
Term: two years
Stipend: faculty affiliates will receive an annual stipend
Research Focus
All affiliate research must align with the Deal Center’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. All research must also align with Georgia’s Literacy Plan: Vision 2030.
Research topics should focus on the science of learning and the science of reading, and must be grounded in the healthy growth and development of children from birth through age 8. Although a variety of methodological approaches will be considered, preference will be given to projects that apply implementation science methodologies.
The FacAP supports, but is not limited to, research that:
Examines novel practices with robust evaluation of both effectiveness and implementation outcomes
Advances implementation science through methodological innovation in research design, measurement, analysis, and synthesis
Investigates dissemination strategies to improve language and literacy outcomes
Expected Outcomes
Each Faculty Affiliate will submit finished work for peer-reviewed publication or juried artistic work. Each Faculty Affiliate will enter into a formal agreement with the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center that outlines specific expectations and deliverables aligned with the Center’s mission and strategic goals.
Outcomes and deliverables include:
One high-quality, IRB-approved research study
At least one peer-reviewed publication for each year of the project (two publications minimum)
One juried conference presentation at the state, national, or international level for each year of the project
A formal agreement with the Deal Center outlining expectations aligned with the center’s mission and goals
Selection Process
The selection process is designed to be transparent, equitable, and aligned with the strategic goals of the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center and Georgia College & State University. Up to three applicants will be selected via committee review.
Application Process
Submit a letter of interest in becoming a Faculty Affiliate (one page maximum):
Current position, department, and college
Brief description of proposed research including research questions, methods/data, and expected outputs
Statement of alignment with Deal Center priorities and Georgia’s Literacy Plan
Brief description of relevant prior work
Upon invitation following evaluation of letters of interest, applicants will submit a full application with the following materials:
Curriculum Vitae
Proposed Contribution detailing intended research, programmatic engagement, deliverables, and projected project timeline
(six page maximum)Letter of Recommendation and approval from Department Chair. Letter should confirm eligibility for course reassignment
Review and Selection
Applications will be reviewed jointly by Deal Center leadership and academic administration using a standardized rubric.
Selection will be based on:
Alignment with the Deal Center’s mission and strategic priorities
Alignment with Georgia’s Literacy Plan: Vision 2030
Feasibility of the proposed work within the two-year term
Plan for publication and dissemination of research progress and results
Potential for impact in research, programming, and policy
