Guidelines for Students

Application process

The application for a FURSCA Research Grant consists of several parts, all to be filled out at the following website: www.albion.edu/fursca/application. At this website you will be asked to provide some general information. You will also need to upload a file in .pdf format containing the cover sheet and your research proposal. A statement of support from your faculty mentor is also required. You must also print out the signature page and turn the original (with required signatures) in to the FURSCA office on the lower level of Seeley-Mudd Library Room 108. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make copies of proposals available to all signees on the signature page either in electronic or paper form.

Once all items have been submitted by the deadline, applications are evaluated by the FURSCA Director in consultation with a committee made up of faculty and students from various departments. Both you and your faculty mentor will be notified of the outcome of your application via email, or contacted if additional information is needed.

Writing a research proposal:

It is expected that the proposal is the work of the student. We strongly encourage you to talk to your faculty mentor as you are writing the proposal for advice and comments on the narrative. Group projects are permitted and encouraged. If you are writing a group proposal, make sure to indicate your contribution to the project’s goals. Identical proposals from two or more students will not be funded. The body of proposal has a three page limit, not including references.

While we understand that scholarship in different areas can be unique and varied, most proposals should provide some information in each of three broad categories:

1. Introduction and Background: This section should explain the rationale for your project and describe any preliminary preparations you have made before undertaking the project. You should outline any work you, previous students or your advisor has already done related to the proposed project (such as a directed study on the topic, library research, etc.), any planning you have done to lay the groundwork for your project, or explain briefly what led you to want to undertake this project. You might also include information about discussions you may have had with your advisor about the project, and describe why you think your project is important and interesting. The committee is composed of faculty and students from all disciplines. The introduction should be written so a layperson understands the context of the work you are proposing to do.
   

2. Methodology: In this section, you should describe in general terms what you propose to do. The committee is interested in seeing a methodology (if appropriate) or outline of proposed work. How are you going to complete the aims of the project? References to known methodologies are appropriate in this section. We are not looking for you to copy what has been done in the previous literature, but describe the basic outline. Discussions with your advisor may of course be helpful to make sure that your project is well designed.
   

3. Proposed outcome: You should clearly state what the goals of the project are. While we do not require you to write a thesis or give a formal presentation, we do expect that you will have a specific outcome that you will produce as a result of this project. This outcome should be unique to your project, and will be determined by you and your faculty mentor. If there is a specific way in which the "success" of your project will be measured, it would be helpful for you to indicate this as well.

4. Timeline (summer only): In the summer research proposals, a timeline that outlines your short terms goals and the approximate time needed to reach them should be included. The timelime is not included in the three page limit.

You may of course include any other information about your project that you would like. Some of the categories above may not be relevant to your particular project. In writing your proposal it is important to keep in mind that the purpose is to enable a reader to understand what you want to do and see why it is important.

Writing a budget statement:

Your research proposal should include a list of the items that you are requesting funding for, and an estimate of their cost as well as shipping costs where applicable. Please be specific, and include a description of what the item will be used for if it is not self-explanatory. This information is included on the cover sheet.

FURSCA has specific policies involving some frequently requested items, such as:

1. Supplies and equipment: When FURSCA purchases non-expendable items (e.g., small equipment such as micrometers, audio- or videotape recorders) we ask that these items be donated to the appropriate department after the student has finished using them, so that other students can use them in the future.

2. Envelopes, postage, and copy charges: Letterhead envelopes for mailing surveys and postage-paid return envelopes can be purchased from an on-campus source for less than $5 per hundred sheets. Postage can be charged to FURSCA's mail account, and copies can be made at the college print shop for less than 5-cents per copy. Because of the cost savings, whenever possible these sources should be used. The Coordinator can make arrangements for you to obtain these materials.

3. Books and software: If books, DVDs, and/or journals are needed for a project, please  check the library catalogue for these items before requesting them. Items that are needed for short term should be borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan system. Help using the ILL system can be obtained through the library. If these items are purchased for completion of a student’s research project, they become the property of the Albion College Library. They will be purchased by the Coordinator and then entered into the library catalogue. They will then be checked out to the student. Failure to return these materials to the library will result in a hold being placed on a student’s diploma and/or file.

4. Subject incentives: If you will be using human research participants in a research study, FURSCA can provide funding to cover the cost of small incentives to help encourage participation. The items chosen for incentives should be appropriate for the subject population (e.g., stickers or pencils for elementary school children). Any study involving human research participants must receive prior IRB approval from the Psychology department's Committee.

5. Travel costs: If it is necessary for you to travel in order to collect data or other information for your project, a portion of your research grant may be used to cover costs associated with this travel, including transportation costs, lodging, meals, museum entrance fees, etc. Justification of the necessity of the travel should be included in your proposal, and an estimate of specific costs should appear in your budget statement.

A FURSCA research grant is limited to $500 per semester. If the costs of your project exceed this amount, please indicate if you are applying to other sources for funding or how you intend to cover the additional cost.

Please contact the FURSCA Director if you have any questions about these guidelines.