Burke Research Initiation Awards

Supported with funds provided through the generosity of former College Trustee, Walter Burke, and his wife, Constance Burke, the Walter and Constance Burke Research Initiation Awards provide start-up support in all disciplines during the first six years of a tenure-track appointment. 

Assistant Professors

Burke Award application materials must include:

1. Burke Application Form
2. Budget Form
3. Brief proposal describing your research needs over the first six years of your appointment.

The system requires that you open the form in Firefox, or Internet Explorer.

Completed materials that are submitted through this electronic form system will automatically route to the Associate Dean's Office. 

$40,000 over six years, disbursed in two equal installments of $20,000

Burke Awards are administered by the Arts and Sciences Finance Center (ASFC). The faculty member is the responsible account holder for the award. All invoices, business expense reimbursements, and requests for payments are required to be submitted to the ASFC.

In utilizing the allocations provided by this award, individual faculty must adhere to all Dartmouth policies and procedures and must meet all Internal Revenue Service stipulations regarding appropriate expenses and required documentation. All expenses must be reimbursed within the fiscal year in which they are incurred. Accounts should not be overspent. In the event, repayment or reallocations of expense must occur. All items purchased with funding are property of the College. Upon departure from the College, use of the funds and disposition of purchased property is at the discretion of the College.

Automated Faculty Funding Reports are available to help faculty members track their Burke Award and other Dean of Faculty research accounts.

Please contact the ASFC with any questions.

The Allowable Expenditures and Ineligible Reimbursements listed below are provided for immediate guidance. The Business Expense Policy details these and other expenditures and reimbursements. If there is a question concerning the eligibility of an expense, the expense should be reviewed with an analyst in the A&S Finance Center.

1. Business related travel expenses
2. Business related postal or shipping charges
3. Capital Equipment, research equipment, materials and supplies
4. Professional licenses or certification fees; and membership in and/or to professional organizations and periodicals
5. Scholarly materials (books, journals, periodicals, subscriptions, etc.)
6. Specialized software and databases, computer peripherals, and data collection costs
7. Student support for Dartmouth purposes
8. Stipends for mobile communications (Mobile Communications Policy) and home office internet access

Payments to individuals for services such as editing, researching, and indexing for publications are allowable, though not eligible as reimbursement. In these cases, invoices for these services are paid directly by Dartmouth as outlined in the Procure to Pay Guide.

1. Faculty salaries — release time during an academic year or extra salary during a free term
2. Lifetime memberships in and/ or to professional organizations and periodicals
3. Office furniture for work or home
4. Out-of-pocket payments directly to individuals for services (e.g. editing, researching, and indexing payments are paid directly by Dartmouth as outlined in the Procure to Pay Guide. Contact the ASFC for details.)
5. Promotional expenses for book publications

Recipients are required to submit a brief report describing the use of their funds to their Department Chair and Associate Dean.

In addition to thier Burke Award, new faculty members are expected to submit at least one application for external support during the first three years of appointment, unless after consultation with the Dean of Faculty Office, no appropriate sources of funds can be identified. The Dean of Faculty Office and the Office of Sponsored Projects provide assistance to identify funding sources and in prepare applications.