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Over the past year, the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) has reviewed the way its funding programs are structured to provide researchers with a simpler, more flexible and more effective system of application and assessment.

SSHRC president Chad Gaffield addressed this process during a town hall meeting held with faculty and students during his May 4 visit to 91��ɫ’s Keele campus. “Society has increasing expectations of universities, professors and students,” he said. “Whatever the issue of the day might be, there is a SSHRC researcher with something relevant to contribute to our shared concerns.”

Left: Chad Gaffield

“Renewing our program architecture allows us to support research in all fields using disciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-sector approaches,” said Gaffield. “It will also enable new and emerging forms of research, partnerships, talent development and knowledge mobilization, which do not always fit easily into our current suite of programs.”

After consultation with the research community, SSHRC’s governing council has approved the . SSHRC is streamlining the application process to three umbrella programs intended to support the work of individuals and teams, with additional programming to support institutionally based partnerships. The changes will take effect over the next three years.

What does this mean for researchers submitting grant applications this fall?

Here are four things you need to know:

1. No changes are currently expected to affect fellowship and scholarship applications from master’s and doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in 2010. The process will be the same as 2009’s competition. There may be changes coming in 2011 and 2012, however, so be sure to check the Web site periodically.
2. The new architecture will not affect the 2010 Standard Research Grants competition. The deadline for this year’s competition remains Friday, Oct. 15.
3. Although Oct. 15 has historically been the due date for SSHRC’s Standard Research Grants, the deadline for 2011’s competitions may be changed. No firm date has been announced yet; check the Web site for updates.
4. Application calls for Partnership Grants and Partnership Development Grants will begin in fall 2010. Additional information will be posted on the Web site as it becomes available.

If you have questions about changes to SSHRC’s program architecture, visit the Web site or contact your Faculty-based research officer for more information.

Faculty members seeking to prepare large-scale, collaborative, institutional applications in the Institutional Partnerships category may also contact , senior research officer in the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation.

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer