Undergraduate Information

2007 Competition for Six $500 Undergraduate Research Awards in Humanities

Student Application Form || Faculty Reccomendation Form

General Instructions:

Application:

Supporting Materials:

Your application form for a $500 Undergraduate Research Award must be accompanied by a project proposal, a budget, and a recommendation from the faculty member in the College of Humanities who will supervise your research.

Where to Submit:

Undergraduate Research Office, 150 Page Hall, or by email to URO Program Coordinator Helene Cweren, cweren.1@osu.edu

When to Submit:

The deadline is February 20, 2007.

Conditions of Eligibility:

You do not have to be an honors student to apply for this award. You must be enrolled in a major program in the College of Humanities and you must complete a project related to that major.

Amount of Award:

These awards are for $500 to be used for many types of research-related expenses, such as travel, books, computer software, supplies, equipment, and other items, not including wages.

Funding Conditions:

These conditions may appear complicated, but they are standard procedure for this type of award. By federal law, no student can be awarded aid in an amount which exceeds the estimated cost of education as established by the Office of Student Financial Aid. Therefore, for example, if a student already is receiving a complete financial aid package, the research scholarship will substitute for some portion of that aid with no net increase of funds to the student. An exception to this rule is allowable only for items legitimately listed on the budget, the amount of which can be awarded to a student regardless of other financial aid. Applicants should list all expenses associated with the project, since those costs represent a financial commitment to the research, and it is that demonstrated commitment which justifies additional assistance to students currently receiving other scholarships and/or loans. (Note: Lost income and tuition/fees are not expenses that can be included in the budget.)

Previous Funding:

Students who have not previously received an Undergraduate Research Scholarship from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences will be given priority.

Enrollment Conditions:

You must be enrolled as a full-time student when the award is made.

Method of Selection:

Applications, proposals, and letters of recommendation are reviewed by a selection committee drawn from the Undergraduate Research Office and the College of Humanities. Selection of awardees is based on the proposal’s academic merit, the advisor’s letter of recommendation, the student’s academic record at OSU, and the justification need for research funds. Six awards will be made in this competition. Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition by March 1, 2007.

Contact with Donor:

At the start and end of the project, recipients are expected to write a short letter of thanks to the private donor who funded these awards. The Undergraduate Research Office will assist with these communications.

Final Report:

A one to two-page, double-spaced, non-technical final report must be submitted to the Undergraduate Research Office and countersigned by the project advisor before graduation. We expect that the research will also culminate in a longer report, such as an honors thesis. The final copy of the longer report should be submitted to the Undergraduate Research Office prior to graduation.

Presentation of Research:

Students who receive funding are expected to present their research at the annual College of Humanities Undergraduate Research Forum and the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum in Spring Quarter 2008 unless the student has graduated.

Project Advisor:

The project advisor must be a faculty member with the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor in the College of Humanities.

The Project Proposal

Because many applicants are of comparable promise and ability, the quality and significance of the research project are decisive factors. Consequently, you should pay special attention to the following guidelines.

Select a research topic which you and your faculty project advisor believe can be completed within the planned period of research (maximum of three academic quarters). Elaborate proposals with questionable timetables will not be viewed favorably.
Prepare a project proposal of not more than five typewritten double-spaced pages, a maximum of 1,250 words. This proposal must include these sections:
- Goals – Briefly describe your overall goals.
- Background - A discussion of related scholarship in the discipline.
- Methods – Briefly explanation of the methodology to be used. Include information concerning your background in the project field and any arrangements that have been made to obtain or use special equipment or other resources required for the project.
- Results - Anticipated results of your research.
- Significance - General significance of the project.
Also include these two sections, which are not included in the limit of 1,250 words:
- Bibliography – List at least five key references.
- Timetable – Proposed schedule for completing the research.
Because your proposal is in competition with proposals from many other fields and will be judged by a small panel which may not include a specialist in your field, you should attempt to use relatively non-technical terms. Your proposal also should. Be sure to write clearly and concisely.
Because the project is to be carried out in close cooperation with your project advisor, the proposal should be written in consultation with the Colleges of the Humanities faculty member who will serve as the project advisor and who will write the official Project Advisor Recommendation.