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Awards & Grants
COLA Student Research Fund
College of Liberal Arts Student Research Fund
The College of Liberal Arts Student Research Fund supports research by students enrolled in CLA degree programs. 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 who is a member of the faculty in the College of Liberal Arts. If the faculty sponsor is not from the College of Liberal Arts, the student’s department chair must approve the faculty sponsor participation.
Students may use these grants ($500 maximum) to cover the expense of, for example, materials, software, postage, copying, and research travel. Grant money may not be used for tuition, secretarial assistance, entertainment, or for compensating each and every participant in a study. 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. You must also include an approval form signed by your faculty sponsor and your department chair.
- Problem: Describe the problem you wish to explore, or the question to which you seek an answer.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 electronically to Associate Dean LaVerne McQuiller Williams.
Deadlines For Submission of Proposals
There will be two deadlines for submitting applications for awards during each academic year. For projects submitted on September 10 and to be completed during the academic year (October 1-June 30) all funds must be expended by June 15. Proposals submitted on February 15, for p projects to be completed from March 1 to June 30, all funds must be expended by June 30.
Application Due Date |
Decision Due Date |
Project Timing |
Timeframe for Expending Funds |
Student Report w/ Detail of Expenditures Due |
Due Dates for Receipts Submitted to Dean’s Office |
September 10 |
September 20 |
October 1 - June 30 of the same academic year |
Current Fiscal Year |
Sept 1 of year award is received |
June 15 of AY award is received |
February 15 |
February 25 |
March 1 - June 30 |
Current Fiscal Year |
Sept 1 of year award is received |
June 15 of AY award is received |
Students may apply to the Student Travel Fund to support expenses related to presenting research at academic or professional conferences. Please refer to the separate guidelines for this fund.
*All applications are to be submitted electronically to Associate Dean, LaVerne McQuiller Williams at llmgcj@rit.edu.