Diversity Mentoring Program

Supporting diversity in student-faculty research collaboration

Since the Diversity Mentoring program, supported by Blugold Commitment Differential Tuition, was instituted in 2006, participation by Students of Color in undergraduate research has risen from near-zero to a level that is on par with the proportion of Students of Color on campus.

The Diversity Mentoring Program, instituted in 2006, is designed to increase the participation of select underrepresented students in undergraduate student-faculty research collaboration. Funded by Blugold Commitment Differential Tuition and similar to the Student-Faculty Research Collaboration Grants, these awards are designed to facilitate the initiation and development of student research projects mentored by faculty or academic staff. Projects under this program should provide students direct experience in the research and creative activity process. These awards are not intended for support of projects lasting longer than one year. As a condition of the grant, students are expected to present their results at the annual Celebration of Research and Creative Activity, 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 or at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR); travel funds for this purpose are available through the Student Travel for Presentation of Research Results program.

Award:

Student Stipend: For summer projects, grants are limited to the following student stipend amounts per proposal - up to $2,300 per student with a maximum of $6,900 per project. The total stipend for any individual student working on multiple projects may be limited to $3,500 in the funding cycle, depending on the availability of funds.

Academic year projects are limited to the following student stipend amounts per proposal - up to $2,000 per student, with a maximum of $6,000 per project. Students working on multiple projects may be limited to a maximum stipend of $3,000 for all projects in one funding cycle, depending on the availability of funds. Faculty/Staff mentors can submit multiple projects requesting full student stipend amount, awards will be determined based on the availability of funds.

Supplies, Services, and Travel: In addition to the stipends, each collaborative project is eligible to receive up to $600 for supplies, services, and travel directly related to the project (not for travel to present at a conference, see Student Travel for the Presentation of Research Results).

Eligibility:

Faculty and academic staff with .5 FTE or greater appointments working with UWEC students who qualify as one (or more) of the following: students of color; low income (defined as Pell-Grant eligible); first-generation; non-traditional; no incoming credits; or registered with Services for Students with Disabilities. Please check with ORSP at 715-836-3405 to determine whether a student qualifies for this program. Students who are eligible for this program are also eligible for all other student funding opportunities ORSP offers; students are unlikely to receive more than two awards under this program in their career.

Deadlines for Application:

The proposal may be submitted at any time.

Application Process/Writing Guide:

The Diversity Mentoring application must be initiated by a faculty member.

Faculty mentors are encouraged to mentor students in proposal-writing as appropriate to the situation. For students, the Center for Writing Excellence, can help at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming and outlining to organizing arguments and polishing claims.

Go to the eform application for additional application information.