2008-2009 Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects
Call for Proposals and General Information
CAHNRS has a long standing history of immersing students in transformational learning experiences in our research programs, as welll as our classrooms. In alignment with the second goal of the university's new strategic plan (i.e. 'provide a premier education and transformative experience that prepares stuents to excel in a global society') Academic Programs and the ARC have expanded efforts to support undergraudate research experiences in CAHNRS programs. We are dedicating $36,000 to the competitive CAHNRS Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects program for the 2008-09 academic year.
Our intention is to support undergraduate research efforts for students involved in projects in every department in the college. To that end, two strategies for supporting undergraduate research/creative projects have been developed:
1) Each department will receive guaranteed support for the best undergraduate research or creative project submitted by a student associated with their department. Resources dedicated to support one project per department will be redirected to the competitive proposal fund for each department that chooses not to participate.
2) Fifteen additional undergraduate research or creative pr0ojects will be funded based on ranking results of a competitive proposal review process. This number may increase if proposals are not received from students associated with each CAHRNS department as described above.
We highly encourage all students pursuing a major or minor in any academic program in CAHNRS to submit a proposal for consideration.
Guidelines for Project Consideration
- The intention of this program is to enable students to conduct creative and/or research projects that will complement traditional classroom activities, and support them in translating what is learned in the classroom to reality. Although all students are encouraged to apply, this program is especially well suited for juniors and seniors who intend to pursue graduate studies. By working with a faculty advisor on a research/creative project, each student will gain invaluable experience that will support their professional development.
- Students must be pursuing a major or minor in a CAHNRS program, and must identify a CAHNRS faculty member to serve as an advisor for the project. The faculty advisor is expected to be involved in planning, monitoring progresss and supervising the project.
- The funding request maximum is $1200 per proposal. Proposals with budget that exceed the maximum funindg value will not be considered. Projects for which matching funds are available will receive priority consideration. Supplemental funding sources (i.e. blanket research or 17A accounts) should be identified in the budget section of the proposal. A single proposal that involves contributions from multiple students is acceptable.
- Students are encouraged to enroll in 499 Special Problem credit with the appropriate number of credits required to acknowlege time contributions to the project as determined by the student and their faculty advisor. If the student is all ready taking a maximum credit load, but is interested in receiving 499 credit for executing this project, please contact Jeanne Dahmen in academic Pgroms (335-9115; email: dahmenj@wsu.edu) for discussion.
- Students who receive an award will be expected to develop a poster display for presentation at the Annual CAHNRS Awards Banquet April 4, 2009 in Ensminger Pavilion. An 8 foot table will be supplied for each display, and students will be responsible for making arrangement to obtain any other necessary supplies (poster display boards, tripods, etc.) Tape, tacks, etc. cannot be used ont he walls of the pavilion.
Proposals should be no more than three pages in length, including the budget, and three hard copies of each proposal should be submitted to Academic Programs by October 3, 2008 to be eligible for funding consideratin. The cover form is not included in the page count.
The proposal should contain each of the following sections in the order listed:
- Cover Form
- Title and Personnel Involved
- Statement of Problem and Justification
- Objectives
- Procedures (including time line)
- Budget. Expenditures should be itemized. Funding may be used for operations and/ or salary; however, the total request can not exceed $1200. Matching funding should be included, with budget number if available.
Due Date: October 3, 2008
Submitt Three Hard Copies to: Academic Programs Office, Hulbert 423, 99164-6243
Tentative Award Announcement Date: October 31, 2008
Please contact Jeanne Dahmen at 335-9115 or dahmenj@wsu.edu with questions.