• About Us & Contacts
  • Admin. Directory
  • Faculty & Staff Contacts
  • Faculty Governance
• Departments and Programs
  • Departments
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Graduate Programs
  • Minors & Concentrations
• Admission and Financial Aid
  • Undergraduate Admissions
  • Graduate Admissions
  • Financial Aid
• Student Resources
  • Liberal Arts Scholarships & Grants
  • Co-op & Internships
  • Study Abroad
• Student Services/Advising
  • Overview
  • Advising
  • Liberal Arts Core
  • Arts of Expression
  • Minors & Concentrations
  • Liberal Arts Majors
  • Forms & Resources
  • Office Contacts
  • FAQ
•  

College of Liberal Arts Student Research Fund

The College of Liberal Arts Student Research Fund supports the research of students enrolled in CLA degree programs.  The Fund supports research projects that grow out of the Liberal Arts curriculum:  these projects may include, but are not limited to,  Master’s theses, senior projects, senior theses, or independent studies conducted in any CLA department.  Funded projects must have a faculty sponsor.

Students may use these grants ($500 maximum) to cover the expense of, for example, materials, software, postage, copying, and travel.  Grant money may not be used for tuition, secretarial assistance, entertainment, or for compensating each and every participant in a study.

Students may apply for support to present research at academic or professional conferences but these proposals will be given less priority than proposals for conducting original research.

A project need not be limited to a single academicyear; however, grant money must be spent before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.  When the project is completed, applicants must submit a  copy of  the research to the Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

How to Apply for a Small Grant for Independent Student Research

First, talk it over with a sponsor

You must discuss your research idea with a faculty member who agrees to serve as sponsor.  Working closely with your sponsor, determine:
• the problem to be explored
• the objectives of the project
• the activities to be undertaken
• a budget

Then, write the proposal

Your proposal should be brief—no more than 1000 words, or four double-spaced pages—yet informatively specific and rigorously organized.  The proposal must include five sections:  Problem, Objectives, Activities, Budget, and Contact Information.

1. Problem:  Describe the problem you wish to explore, or the question to which you seek an answer.
2. Objectives:  Describe the anticipated outcomes of your project (“To learn …” “To discover…”  “To create …”).  If appropriate, describe the social and/or scholarly benefits of the project.
3. Procedures:  Describe what you will do to complete the project.  Be sure to aim this description toward generally educated readers who will not be familiar with your professional jargon.  At the same time you should thoroughly describe your methods so it is clear how you will be able to answer the problem described in Section 1.  Include a timeline with estimated date of completion.
4. Budget:  Itemize the costs of completing your project.  All items requested in the budget should be accounted for in your Procedures.  Please remember that grants are limited to $500.
5. Contact Information:  Please include your e-mail address.

Finally

Every proposal must be signed by the applicant, the faculty sponsor, and the Chair of the sponsor’s department.  Submit your application to the Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Deadlines For Submission of Proposals

October 1 for the funding of projects that will be undertaken in the Fall or Winter Quarters;

January 15 for the funding of projects that will be undertaken in the Winter or Spring Quarters;

April 1 for the funding of projects that will be undertaken in the Spring or Summer Quarters.