Funding Opportunities for Humanities Graduate Students

Graduate Research Small Grants Program, 2008-2009

Program Description: The Graduate Research Small Grants Program is designed to enhance opportunities for graduate students in the College of Humanities to conduct research by offering supplemental financial support of up to $500 on a competitive basis. The 2008-09 funding limit for this program is $15,000; the grant program will be closed for the academic year when that amount has been awarded.

As of March 23, 2009, all the funds in the 2008-2009 account have been disbursed, and the Graduate Research Small Grants Program has been closed. Applications will be reviewed in the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2009. Please note that applications for retroactive reimbursements cannot be considered.

This funding is not a substitute for other forms of funding that currently exist. Rather, it is designed to support research activities in instances where other sources (e.g., departmental sources, the CGS Ray Travel Award for Scholarship and Service) are inadequate or unavailable in order to help fill gaps not met by current opportunities.

Eligibility: Grants are restricted to currently enrolled M.A, M.F.A., and Ph.D. students. Eligible students can apply every year, but preference will be given to students who have not received funding from this program in preceding years.

Funding Category: Students may apply for grants to fund any of the following and should mark on the project endorsement form which category their request falls under:

Travel to research collections in the United States or abroad for dissertation research.
Travel to present a paper at a scholarly conference of national or international importance held in the United States or abroad. Graduate student conferences do not typically qualify for funding.
The purchase of research-related materials, such as videos or microfilms. Note that any equipment purchased with grant money remains the property of Ohio State University.
Expenses related to the translation or transcription of primary research or research materials.
Travel to and enrollment in seminars appropriate to the student's research program (e.g. Cornell School of Criticism and Theory).

Applicants should request funds well in advance of the date when they are to be used, at least six weeks before the travel will take place. All funding is contingent on availability.

Application Process: Applications may be submitted at any time during the year, including the summer so long as funds are available. All applications must be submitted through the Director of Graduate Studies of the student's department.

The application packet should consist of:

An Application/Project Endorsement Form from the graduate studies director, endorsing the project and confirming either the availability or unavailability of departmental funds.
A letter in which the applicant describes the project, its purpose, significance, history, and relevance of the project (dissertation or thesis) to the field, etc. In the case of conference papers, applicants will need to explain the relevance of the conference to the field. In all cases, applicants will be required to provide a detailed budget. They should also indicate either that they have obtained matching funds or are currently applying for such funds, or they will need to explain that funds are not available for the project.
A letter of faculty support from the applicant's academic advisor, affirming the worthiness of the project and, in the case of conference papers, affirming the quality of the paper being delivered and the prestige of the conference in the student's field.
In the case of a request for conference funding, a letter of invitation from the conference organizers.

Departmental Review: The Graduate Director in each College of Humanities department is required to review applications from his or her department to ensure that each applicant is currently registered in the program and to verify the applicant's assessment of the funding that is--or is not--available for the project. Project endorsement/Application forms are available by clicking this link. The applicant should fill in the top portion of this form; the graduate director will complete the form and forward it, with the rest of the application, to Associate Dean Sebastian Knowles, College of Humanities, 114 University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall.

College Review: The proposal review process at the College level will consist of an overall assessment of the merits of the proposed project (benefits to the student, how likely the student is to complete the task successfully, feasibility of the budget, etc.) as well as an assessment of the merits of the application itself (how well it explains the project and its benefits, the completeness of the application, readability, etc.).

The G. Micheal Riley International Academic Fund

Purpose: The G. Micheal Riley International Academic Fund provides a stipend of $1,000 for graduate students of the College of Humanities who need to travel abroad for professional reasons. In particular, the Fund supports:

Travel abroad by graduate students enrolled in degree programs offered by academic units in the College of Humanities, to engage in research, attend professional conferences, and/or participate in exchange programs offered by the College.

Application Packet

G. Micheal Riley Application Form should be printed, completed, and placed at the front of the application packet.
Applicants should include a 500-word statement that describes their proposed international activities and how those activities relate to their research or creative work.
Two letters of recommendation from faculty members must accompany the application.
Itemized Budget. Be as detailed as possible. Per diems are not allowed.

Applications should be submitted to Associate Dean Sebastian Knowles, the College of Humanities, 114 University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall.

The College's Graduate Committee will review the applications and make its recommendations to the Dean. The recipient will be notified no later than March 30, 2009.

Deadline for applications is Friday, February 20, 2009

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Dr. Gordon P. K. Chu Memorial Scholarship

This merit-based scholarship supports graduate students within the College of Humanities, with preference for international students, participating in a study abroad program/project. The scholarship amount is $1000. Applications should include:

The Memorial Scholarship Application Form, which should be printed, completed, and placed at the front of the application packet.
A 500 word statement or letter that describes the proposed study abroad program/project and activities.
Proposed budget statement. Be as detailed as possible. Per diems are not allowed.
A copy of the student's advising report.
A supporting letter from the student's adviser.

Applications should be turned in to Associate Dean Sebastian Knowles at the College office, 114 University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall.

Deadline for applications is Friday, February 27, 2009

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