Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates

A. Writing Guide:

Please see General Proposal Guidelines.

The proposal consists of:

• The Cover Page (CEX Form I)
  • This form includes faculty and student data, a project abstract, and signatures of the department chair and college dean (or equivalents). The abstract should not be duplicated in the narrative text.
    
    
• The Budget Form ( CEX Form II)
  • Please include an explanation for all costs indicated in the budget; funds will not be awarded for items not clearly tied to the project.  Student Job Classifications are broken down into the following categories:  1) undergraduate students are typically eligible for ‘entry level’ and ‘advanced skill level’ wage rates, and 2) graduate students are eligible for ‘paraprofessional level’ wage rates.  Each student wage rate categorization must be justified. For more information on Student Job Classifications and Wage Rates, please see the Financial Aid Office web page. 
    
    
• A Narrative (no longer than 5 double-spaced pages in a Word document with page numbers) addressing:
  • Project objectives, significance, and plan (~3-4 pages)
  • Nature and extent of student involvement
  • Plan for dissemination of the results
  • History of prior funding from ORSP for this project and potential for extramural support
  • References cited
    
    
• A brief Faculty Vita (no longer than 4 pages)

Projects will be evaluated primarily based on the quality of the student research experience proposed. Be sure to clearly specify the role of the student(s) in the project, and the nature of the work to be done.

B. Background and Purpose:

This research program is intended to facilitate undergraduate research and scholarly activity during the summer. Summer grants include a student stipend of $2,000 and up to $2,200 for the faculty research mentor. Faculty serving as research mentors in more than one project will only be eligible to receive a single stipend. Total stipend for any individual student may be limited to $2,500 in the funding cycle, depending on availability of funds. In addition to the stipends, each collaborative project is eligible to receive up to $500 for supplies, services, and travel. Faculty collaborating with undergraduate researchers will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the grant award. Funds for this program will not be available until July 1. Faculty applicants should check with their Department Chairs in the event that an overload needs to be requested if they are also teaching or being paid through the University for other work during the summer.

Projects under this program should lead to presentation of results at meetings of scholarly organizations and, where possible, provide baseline data for inclusion in proposals to extramural funding agencies. As a condition of the grant, students will be expected to present their results at the annual UW-Eau Claire Student Research Day, or the UW System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. Students are also encouraged to present findings at professional conferences or meetings in their disciplines; travel funds for this purpose are available through the Student Travel for Presentation of Research Results program.

Through the Diversity Mentoring Program, special consideration will be given to funding projects that include low-income students and students of color. The purpose of this program is to help decrease the achievement gap between minority and majority students by enhancing engagement in campus life, particularly in programs related to the University’s marks of excellence, such as faculty/student undergraduate research collaboration.

Faculty and academic staff interested in mentoring students who qualify in a faculty/student research collaboration should check the Diversity Mentoring Program box on CEX Form II, Budget Form. If a Diversity Mentoring Program student is added to your project, additional student stipends and supply dollars will be added to the project. Faculty and academic staff should check with ORSP at 36-3405 to determine whether a student qualifies for this program. Click here for more information on the Diversity Mentoring Program.

Likewise, freshman and sophomore students designated Blugold Fellows may be available to participate in a Faculty/Student Collaboration. If you would consider adding one of these students to your proposed project, check the Blugold Fellow box on CEX Form II, Budget Form. Click here for more infomation on the Blugold Fellowship program.

C. Eligibility:

Faculty and academic staff with .5 FTE or greater appointments for the next academic year, and UW-Eau Claire continuing undergraduate students planning to enroll for the Fall semester may apply. The proposal may be submitted by any member of the collaborating team. The names of all research collaborators should be included in the proposal, and the proposal should be signed by the faculty mentor.

Faculty, academic staff, and undergraduate students engaged in research or other scholarly activities in all disciplines are eligible to apply.

D. Deadline for Application:

Three copies of the proposal must be submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by February 21 or the next working day if this date falls on a weekend or holiday. Applicants should obtain signatures of endorsement from their department chair and dean (or equivalents) prior to submitting the proposal to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.