This program uses the SREU form for submission, with a modified narrative. Proposals not approved for this program will be automatically considered for an SREU award.

Purpose and Overview

The purpose of this program, funded by Blugold Commitment Differential Tuition, is to encourage UW-Eau Claire educators to mentor students in scholarly projects in collaboration with one or more community partners. In addition to typical knowledge and skills students gain through research, scholarship and creative activity, students will also benefit from the experience of collaborating with a community partner in support of the partner's goals. This program is developed in alignment with the Civic Engagement and Civic Learning goals of the 2016 Academic Master Plan.

The ideal project would involve a student in as many aspects of both the community collaboration and the scholarly process as possible. Mentors will tailor the projects to suit the developmental level of the student and the needs and capabilities of the community partner. Community partners may be local, regional, national or international.

Projects supported with this program should lead to dissemination of results. This could be through reporting to the community partner and/or at scholarly venues. As a condition of the grant, students will be expected to present their results at the annual UW-Eau Claire Celebration of Excellence in Research and Creative Activity or the UW System Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. 

A. Award

Faculty or staff mentoring students and collaborating with community partners will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the grant award. The award consists of three primary categories listed below; funding typically available July 1.

Student Stipend: Summer grants include student stipends of up to $2,300 per student with a typical limit of $5,800 in student stipends going to projects of any one faculty mentor. Total stipend of any individual student working on multiple projects may be limited to $3,000 in the funding cycle, depending on availability of funds.

Mentor Stipend: Research mentors are eligible for a $2,300 stipend. Faculty involved in more than one summer student research project will be eligible to receive a single stipend. Faculty applicants should check with their Department Chair 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. Overload payments are not allowed if federal funds are involved in summer salary.

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. 

B. Eligibility

Faculty, academic staff, and undergraduate students engaged with a community partner in research or other scholarly activities in all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Faculty and academic staff with 0.5 FTE or greater appointments for the next academic year, and UW-Eau Claire continuing students planning to enroll for the Fall semester are eligible. The proposal may be initiated by the student or the mentor. 

C. Application Process

For this pilot program, please use the Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates application form in BP Logix but submit a slightly different narrative as described below. To start a form, initiate the Faculty Student Research Collaboration (academic year or summer grants) form and select Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates from the program dropdown within the form. (Please visit the Using eForms and BP Logix page for a detailed explanation of the eForm system.)

The application has four primary sections:

1.    Basic Information and Summary: This includes selecting the program (select Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates), co-investigators, project title, project funding dates, and a 3-5 sentence abstract.

2.    Attachments (3 sections or attachments, please use pdf or Word format)

• Research Narrative: Whenever possible mentor and students should collaborate on the research narrative. Up to 3 double-spaced numbered pages (citations may extend beyond the 3-page limit) should describe the project as follows.
  1. Project aims, including community partner's goals and needs
  2. Community context and significance
  3. Description of community partner and the partner's role
  4. Theoretical approach, process and/or methodology
  5. If this is a continuing project, activity and results to date
  6. Dissemination plan for this project

• Mentoring Narrative: Up to 2 pages describing:
  1. Nature of student activities and learning
  2. Faculty mentoring approaches and activities planned
  3. History of any prior activities in faculty-mentored undergraduate research and Community-Based research  

• Mentor Vita: Brief (up to 2 pages) resume that documents:
  1. Faculty expertise in the area of research proposed
  2. Past experience as a major
  3. Paste experience working with community partner

3.    Budget: Applicants must clearly explain and justify all requested expenses in the budget explanation of the form.

• 1. Suggested pay rate for beginning undergraduate researchers is up to $10.00/hr; more advanced researchers can be paid more, to the faculty mentor's discretion. During the academic year it is reasonable for students to work 5 to 8 hours per week, i.e., 75 to 120 hours per semester; more work during Winterim and Interim is possible, but must be specified in the budget explanation.
  2. Travel and Supplies: please indicate how cost totals are calculated.

4.    Routing: please fill in the appropriate routing order including your Faculty Mentor (if you are a student), department chair or unit director, and dean or equivalent, to ensure the application is properly reviewed.

D. Proposal Evaluation

Primary evaluation will be based on the quality of the student experience proposed in research and community partner engagement.

E. Deadline for Application

The proposal must be submitted to the chair (or equivalent) by February 10, 2021 or the next working day if this date falls on a weekend or holiday.