Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grant

GENERAL GUIDELINES 

• Work closely with your faculty advisor, who can help guide you to frame your problem, identify relevant prior work, design methods and approaches, and refine drafts of your proposal.  
• Use the narrative to describe to a multi-disciplinary committee of faculty and students why your proposal is worthwhile and relevant. Pose your creative project or research question in the context of background information on the subject, importance to the field, and anticipated outcomes or impacts. 
• Do not assume that reviewers are familiar with the details of your field or the research, scholarly or creative work that happens within it. Avoid technical jargon and offer sufficient background information to assist the reviewer to understand the merit of your proposal.  
• Ensure that figures, charts, or other graphics are readable and fit within the narrative page limit. 

PROPOSAL FORMAT 

Use the following headings, included in the required template (not to exceed 4 pages), to address key merit criteria within the project narrative: 

Project Narrative (2 Page Limit) 

• Introduction: Provide a summary of your objectives, the methods to be employed, and the significance of the proposed activity to the field of study (3-4 sentences). 
• Background: Provide context for your proposal including a literature review. Demonstrate how your project is supported by the background knowledge on the subject. The literature cited indicates how well you are aware of the previous work in your field of study. If you have received a previous Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities award describe how the proposed work is related to it. 
• Proposed work: Convince the review committee of why the work should be done. Use this section to address the following key evaluation criteria: a) Scholarly/Creative Merit. How does the proposed project benefit the existing body of knowledge about the field or contribute to your field of study?; b) Scope of work. Clearly state your individual research or creative activity objectives. Discuss how the proposed project may affect the greater community or what will be different as a result of this funding; and, c) Impact on educational goals. How does the work relate to your educational goals? In addition, if applicable, use this section to define the individual contributions of the collaborators and/or team members.  
• Plan of action: A timeline or project schedule for your individual proposed work is required to demonstrate feasibility. Provide a clearly defined set of tasks which will accomplish your objectives. Describe procedures, experiments, and the design of appropriate items needed for your individual project. 
• Dissemination: How will the results of the proposed work be disseminated? Who will be responsible for reviewing your work? Some examples include: a Scholar's Week poster presentation, workshop, presentation at a conference, publication in conference proceedings or a journals (including Occam's Razor), a performance, creation of literature, display at a gallery or other venue. The Faculty Advisor will review the work prior to this proposed activity. 

Bibliography (New Page, Limited to 1 page): Make sure you include the complete citations for the literature sources referenced.  

Budget (New Page, Limited to 1 page): Use the template to provide an itemized list of supplies and equipment requested for your proposed individual project, including the cost, supplier, and catalogue number (when available) of each item. Identify where additional funding will come from if the project budget exceeds the amount of grant funding available. In a separate paragraph, include a budget justification describing how each requested item will be used for your project. It should, especially, include clear indication of the need for the funding requested, equipment, why any travel is essential, etc.  

EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS 

Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities Grants are awarded for research, scholarly or artistic/creative endeavors that are required by their degree program, but not for expenses otherwise available through the student’s academic department, college, or lab. A multi-disciplinary committee of the Research and Creative Activities (RCA) Council evaluates proposals and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost for Research. Proposals are evaluated based on the Advisor’s comments and the following key merit criteria.  

Strong proposals will demonstrate: 

• Scholarly and/or creative merit benefiting the field 
• A well-defined, clearly presented scope of work  
• Significant impact on the student's educational goals 
• Feasibility within the proposed timeframe with the funding available 
• An appropriate dissemination plan 
• A well justified budget 

The committee is also concerned with the equitable distribution of awards across colleges.