SSHRC Institutional Grants

SSHRC Institutional Grants (SIG)

Through SIG funding, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) provides annual block grants to help eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions fund, through their own merit review processes, small-scale research and research-related activities by their faculty and students in the social sciences and humanities. SIG funds are intended to help Canadian postsecondary institutions strengthen research excellence in the social sciences and humanities.

In 2018, Lethbridge College received its first SIG funding from SSHRC. This funding provided $45,000 over three years to support small-scale research and related activities to strengthen research excellence among faculty and foster the professional development of students. In 2022, another three years of SIG funding was awarded to Lethbridge College.

Information

2024-2025 SSHRC Exchange and SSHRC Explore Guidelines are now available

The application process begins by completing the Letter of Intent (LOI). If approved, a unique link to either the SSHRC Exchange Application Form or the SSHRC Explore Application Form will be generated and sent to the applicant. All subsequent and related forms are now accessed online through links unique to the applicant(s).

Eligibility

All continuing faculty members within the SSHRC defined disciplines are eligible.

Individuals may not hold more than one SIG-funded grant at a time for the same activity. The subject matter of the project or activity must be consistent with SSHRC’s mandate. (Please see SSHRC Subject Matter Eligibility for more information.

It is strongly encouraged that where possible, projects involve students in the research process. Previous awardees who were non-compliant with the SSHRC guidelines are barred from submitting new applications. The submission of a previously successful application is also not permitted.

Co-applicants must be continuing faculty members from Lethbridge College.

Collaborators on a SSHRC Exchange may be from another post-secondary institution or community organization. However, SSHRC Exchange funding does not cover expenses that collaborators incur.

Applicants should note that course release is NOT an eligible expense through either SSHRC Exchange or SSHRC Explore.

SSHRC Explore Grants:

Exist to seed new social science or humanities projects or to leverage extramural funding rather than to provide ongoing support through successive awards. Applicants are advised that the overall amount of funding requested in each competition normally exceeds the total amount available.

Encourage applicants to engage in humanities and social science activities. This will help develop and build internal capacity by providing funding for (a) student stipends and (b) associated project costs.

May involve co-applicants.

Up to $6000

SSHRC Exchange Grants:

Encourage applicants to organize small-scale knowledge mobilization activities, such as workshops and seminars, in order to encourage collaboration and the dissemination of research results both within and beyond the academic community.

Encourage applicants to present at or attend scholarly conferences and other dissemination venues that align with SSHRC’s mandate in order to advance their careers and encourage the exchange of ideas and research results at the national and international level.

May involve external collaborators.

Up to $6000

Alignment with a CARIF Grant

Lethbridge College offers Centre for Applied Research Internal Fund (CARIF) grants to encourage applicants (faculty and staff) to engage in applied research activities. The fund is designed to develop and build internal capacity by providing funding for (a) release or backfill time for applicants, (b) student stipends and (c) associated project costs.

To allow eligible applicants to coordinate CARIF grants, a simultaneous call for CARIF proposals will take place alongside the call for SSHRC Explore and SSHRC Exchange proposals.

Applicants should note that when coordinated with a CARIF, SSHRC grants must be used for a separate or distinct component of the project.

Intake cycle

LOIs are due on the second Monday in January (January 8th, 2024)

A fixed submission date for applications occurs on the Wednesday (February 28th, 2024) following Reading Week. Applicants may submit proposals at any point up to or on the submission date.

How to apply

Download the SSHRC Exchange and SSHRC Explore Guidelines from the Document Templates below.
Consult with your Associate Dean / Dean PRIOR TO starting an LOI.
Complete the online LOI and submit on or before the deadline.
Once the LOI is approved, complete and submit the appropriate online Application Form on or before the deadline.

Additional considerations:

Projects involving humans, animals, biohazards and/or radioactive materials

If your project involves humans, animals, biohazards and/or radioactive materials, prior approvals may be required. CARI should be consulted early in the process to determine if there are additional requirements such as Animal Care or Research Ethics Board protocols to be considered. No research activity can begin until all required approvals are in place.

Animal use:

If your project involves the use of animals, you must contact the Animal Care Coordinator prior to beginning your application. More information on Animal Care at Lethbridge College can be found on the Animal Care Website.

Human subjects:

If your research involves human subjects, you must contact the Research Ethics Coordinator prior to beginning your application.

If your research involves human subjects, it is required that applicants complete the federal Tri-Council online tutorial TCPS2 CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics) BEFORE submission of their application. CORE is an introduction to the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2). It consists of nine modules focusing on the guidance in TCPS 2 that is applicable to all research regardless of discipline or methodology.

It is strongly encouraged, that applicants begin the online CORE tutorial at least 8 weeks prior to submission of a CARIF application. You can register for CORE and find more information on the Government of Canada CORE Website.

More information on Research Ethics at Lethbridge College can be found on the Research Ethics Webpage.