CREATE Program

• Financial Opportunity: The CREATE program is a meritocratic, highly competitive initiative. The procurement of departmental support does not guarantee the receipt of UA seed funds. The Division for Research provides up to $15,000 per project.
• Number of Awards: The Division for Research anticipates making up to three (3) awards contingent on funding availability and technical merit.
• Disciplinary Focus: Proposals must address research or creative scholarship in American studies, art, communication, dance, education, English, modern languages and classics, history, international studies, journalism, law, music, philosophy, political science, public relations, religious studies, telecommunications/film, or theatre.
• Eligibility: Full-time tenured, tenure-track, renewable contract, clinical, and clinical-track faculty members are eligible to apply. Single PI (i.e., no co-PIs or collaborators). Applicants may serve as PI on one CREATE proposal per cycle.

Format: 8.5” x 11”; single spaced; size 11 Times New Roman font; one-inch margins on all sides

Within regulatory requirements, Research intends to limit the restrictions placed on funding expenditures; however, the following are unallowable expenses:

• Salary for an external collaborator
• Subcontracts
• Items covered under indirect costs

Requests for summer salary must comply with university policies and procedures.

Hourly student workers, both undergraduate and graduate, are allowable expenses.  Only currently enrolled UA students are eligible.

Materials and supplies include expendable items with a useful life of less than one year or a unit cost under $10,000.  (Subject to change per federal regulations.)

PIs must expend funds during the award year; carry-forward into the following year is not available (i.e., no-cost extensions are not available.)

Projects requiring IRB, IACUC, or other regulatory compliance approvals for hazardous chemicals, international travel or export control concerns must secure approval prior to receiving funds.

All procurements of goods or services must comply with Article 5 of Chapter 4 of Title 41 of the Code of Alabama, University Purchasing Guidelines, Board Rule 406, and Board Rule 415. All procurements of goods or services for $75,000 or more that are subject to Article 5 of Chapter 4 of Title 41 of the Code of Alabama must be approved by the Purchasing Department and may be subject to the competitive bid process. For more information, visit the Purchasing website.

To ensure a meritocratic and strategic selection process, an interdisciplinary review panel will evaluate proposals using a five-tier rating system: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.

1. Significance, Scholarly Merit, and Strategic Alignment (25%)

Reviewers assess the degree to which the project addresses a significant research question or creative gap in the field.

• Does the proposal identify a "transformational" opportunity with clear intellectual impact?
• How well does the project align with the Division for Research’s strategic plan and UA’s signature research institutes?
• Does the PI clearly articulate "why this project, why now?"

2. Uniqueness, Innovation, and Methodology (20%)

Evaluation centers on the degree to which the project enables novel, transformative discovery.

• Does the proposal highlight novel methodologies or interdisciplinary approaches?
• Is there a clear "first-to-market" or "first-in-field" potential for the resulting work?
• Is the project sufficiently differentiated from the PI's existing body of work?

3. Impact on Discipline and Pathway to Prominence (20%)

Reviewers evaluate the likelihood that the investment will lead to high-visibility outcomes that elevate UA’s reputation.

• Will the project result in a definitive peer-reviewed publication, major exhibition, or performance?
• Does the PI provide evidence of established or emerging leadership in the research area?
• How does the project compare with similar efforts at peer institutions outside the SEC?

4. Student Engagement and Workforce Development (15%)

Reviewers evaluate the quality of experiential learning opportunities and discipline-specific training provided to students.

• Are student roles and training plans clearly detailed and integrated into the project narrative?
• Does the project provide students with exposure to professional standards and industry-relevant skills (where applicable)?

5. Future Funding, Sustainability, and Societal Impact (20%)

Reviewers evaluate the likelihood of successful external growth and long-term viability beyond the initial seed funding.

• Does the PI identify specific external funding calls (e.g., NEH, NEA, Foundations) to be targeted?
• Is there a viable pathway for dissemination to a wider public or audience?
• Is the anticipated "return on investment" (in terms of future grant dollars or cultural impact) favorable?

1. Final Project Report: A comprehensive documentation of research outcomes, the impact of the funding on the PI’s trajectory, and workforce opportunities leveraged.
2. Strategic Outcome (Within 12 Months): At least one of the following is required:
   • Submission of a proposal to an external federal agency or major foundation.
   • Acceptance of a peer-reviewed publication or scholarly monograph.
   • Completion of a major exhibition, performance, or film premiere.
   • Submission of a conference presentation to a nationally recognized professional organization.
3. Crimson Currents Engagement: PIs are required to present a poster and a two-minute “Flash Talk” at Faculty Research Day in the year following the completion of funding. This requirement fosters interdisciplinary synergy and showcases UA’s cultural and intellectual vitality to internal and external stakeholders.

As an acknowledgement of this support, all users must include the following language in all published reports of work conducted or in conference informational materials: "[Part of] this research is financially supported by the Championing Resources for Excellence in Arts/Humanities Transformation Efforts (CREATE) Program and the Division for Research.”

The CREATE program represents a cornerstone of The University of Alabama’s trajectory within the US academic research landscape. By transforming internal seed capital into a catalyst for transformational scholarship, the program ensures that UA remains a premier research epicenter dedicated to driving cultural growth, intellectual prosperity, and long-term economic development for the state and the nation.

Faculty are invited to think boldly and lead the way in securing the university’s legacy of innovation. The CREATE program stands as a testament to the university's belief that the arts and humanities are essential for addressing the world's most pressing societal challenges, integrating knowledge across domains to foster a more informed, creative, and resilient society. Through CREATE, UA reaffirms its role as a catalyst for excellence, ensuring that its faculty are not merely observers of cultural and intellectual trends but the primary architects of their future.

Recovering Reform: Archival and Oral Histories of Alabama's Constitutional Reformation

• Daniela Susnara (UA), Program Director) Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership

This project seeks to document Alabama’s long history of constitutional reform, addressing the legacy of the nation's longest and most restrictive state constitution. By blending oral histories from reform leaders with extensive archival research, the initiative will centralize scattered records into a comprehensive, public-facing digital repository. This collaboration between the University of Alabama and state archives will highlight how constitutional structures impact education, civil rights, and governance. Ultimately, the project aims to provide accessible tools and scholarly insights that illuminate the civic importance of reform for Alabama’s future.                                                                                                                                  

“Keeping Humanity in the Loop:  Moral Reasoning through the AI Ethics "Iron Bowl"

• Katherine Chiou (UA), Associate Professor of Anthropology) Barefield College of Arts & Sciences

The AI Ethics Iron Bowl is designed to explore the ethical and humanistic implications of artificial intelligence. Through a joint honors seminar, students will analyze real-world AI dilemmas and engage in a public, cross-campus debate competition judged by industry and academic experts. The project also features a robust research component that evaluates how humanistic practices, such as ethical deliberation and discourse analysis, enhance students' moral reasoning and civic imagination. By documenting these educational outcomes, the initiative aims to establish a scalable model for humanities-led AI ethics training for future national expansion.

“The Alabama Generative Engineering Textbook (AL-GET):  AI-enhanced Personalized Learning for STEM Education”

• Jewoong Moon (UA), Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology, College of Education

This initiative aims to combat high engineering dropout rates by transforming static coursework into an AI-powered, responsive learning companion. By employing Socratic dialogue and personalized analogies, the platform moves beyond rote memorization to foster genuine problem-solving skills in subjects like Statics and Dynamics. This interdisciplinary project bridges the gap between the humanities and STEM, utilizing expertise in rhetoric and instructional design to create a more humane, effective technical education. Ultimately, the initiative will leverage data from University of Alabama students to build a scalable model for nationwide deployment through future federal funding.