Faculty-Sponsored Student Research Proposal Format

The Creative Work and Research Committee (CWRC) invites faculty to apply for a limited number of $500-$1000 awards, which are intended to support an undergraduate student creative or research project.  These funds come from a University Guild endowment for student research. CWRC intends for these awards to support a first-time creative/research experience for a first or second year student, with the goal of helping to recruit and retain promising students. For example, a department could offer the award to a prospective student with the hope that the student will choose to matriculate at the university and will carry out the project as part of the first year experience. Students often report that a meaningful academic project done in close contact with a faculty mentor is an important factor in their overall success and satisfaction with their college experience.

CWRC intends for the funds to be used to pay the student for his/her participation, similar to a position as a student aide.  Applications requesting a small amount of the overall budget for other purposes (equipment, supplies, travel, etc.) will be considered.

Each grant proposal should follow the format below:

I. Abstract

Please provide an abstract of 200 or fewer words.

II. Project Description

Applicants will briefly describe the project they envision, with enough detail to provide a clear picture of the project but without technical or specialized description which would obscure the description’s clarity.

Applicants should give special attention to the following:

1. The purpose of the project: What are the objectives? What theoretical framework, if any, underlies the student’s project? If this is a part of the faculty mentor’s ongoing research, what is the relationship between the proposed project and the larger research project?
2. The significance of the research: What is the value of this research? Why does it matter? How will it add to what is known about this subject? To what audiences does this matter and why?
3. The plan of work: What is the timetable for the work? What special tasks or processes will be involved? What specific activities will the student carry out?  Approximately how many hours will the student work? Who is the faculty mentor(s) and how will they work with and supervise the student? How will the project benefit the student?
4. Anticipated results: If all goes as planned, what are the expected outcomes of the student’s project (conference presentation, publication, performance, etc.)? How will you ensure that the information learned from this project does not end with you? In other words, what is the dissemination plan for what you and the student learn?

III. Budget

A brief, but specific, statement of how the grant (up to $1000) will be spent. As mentioned above, it is expected that most of the funds will be used for student wages or stipends, but applications requesting a portion of the overall budget for equipment, materials, travel, etc. will be considered. If you request funds for supplies, equipment, travel, etc., why are they needed to accomplish the project goals?

IV. Curriculum Vitae

Upload the CV of the faculty mentor(s) who will supervise the student’s work.

V. (Optional) Letter of Support

The applicant has the option to include a letter of support from the department chair or dean of the appropriate unit.

All applications and supporting documentation must be uploaded as a PDF file using the appropriate online submission form.