URCA GRANT PROPOSAL
WORKSHOP
October 2015
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
To be eligible for an URCA grant, an applicant
must be:
 an
undergraduate student in good academic
standing and remain so throughout the
funding period
AND
 engaged
in a student initiated project during
the 2015-2016 academic year
DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT
 Develop
 Find
a research topic
a Faculty mentor
 Develop
Project Plan
 Develop
Project Budget
 Identify
and apply to all appropriate funding
agencies
MENTOR




Must be a ladder track faculty member or a lecturer
with appointment for at least the current academic
year
Be a member of the Academic Senate (view the list
here: https://senate.ucsb.edu/about/membership/)
Be available for consultation for duration of the
project
Mentor must submit a letter of endorsement online in
the URCA Grant System as a PDF by 11:59 p.m. on
Friday, November 6, 2015.
PROPOSAL
 Proposal
instructions and forms found
http://www.duels.ucsb.edu/urca/grant
 Proposal
submitted electronically using the
URCA Grant System,
https://urca.apps.duels.ucsb.edu/
 Will
need UCSBnet ID and password to access
system
 May
access and update proposal on system until
11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2015
PROPOSAL COMPONENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
On-line Data Form
Abstract of no more than 100 words
Project plan limited to two pages standard
margins font size no smaller than 11 points
Budget (must be on URCA Budget Form)
Mentor’s endorsement letter
All items are submitted online on the URCA
Research Proposal Submission System (1-4 by the
student and 5 by the mentor):
https://urca.apps.duels.ucsb.edu/
ON-LINE SYSTEM LOG IN PAGE
DATA FORM
DATA FORM
ABSTRACT
 Summary
of the detailed project plan
 Maximum
of approximately 100 words
 May
be edited repeatedly until 11:59 p.m. on
Friday, November 6, 2015
 The
system keeps only the latest version
uploaded
ON-LINE ABSTRACT SECTION
PROJECT PLAN SHOULD ADDRESS
The two-page plan should include:
 Specific
Aims
 Research
Design and Methods
 Background
A

and Significance
Timeline
References are not required, but if included must remain within
two page maximum
SPECIFIC AIMS
 State
what you intend to do
 List
the overall objectives and describe
concisely and realistically what the project in
your application is intended to accomplish
 Include
 Scripts
any hypotheses to be tested
for films or dramatic projects are not
substitutes for a project plan
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
 Describe
the research design and the procedures
to be used
 How
are you going to do the work
 Include
the means by which the applicable data
will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted
 Provide
tentative sequence or timetable for
project
 Mention
if you are seeking approval to use
human subjects
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
 Why
is the work important?
 Relate
specific aims to the broader goals of
your undergraduate education and field of
study (major/minor)
 Why
is the award of significance to you?
 What
experiences or courses have prepared
you to undertake this project?
TIMELINE

Indicate duration of research or creative activity
(two quarters, one year, etc.)
HUMAN SUBJECTS
Projects involving the use of human subjects must
comply with the University guidelines for the use
of human subjects.
Details found at:
http://www.research.ucsb.edu/compliance/human-subjects/
Please speak with your mentor as soon as possible
regarding this matter.
PROJECT PLAN SUBMISSION
BUDGET

Must use URCA Budget Form (available on website)

Listing of costs connected with the project

Maximum award per project is $750

Only valid, justifiable expenses will be considered

Conference related expenses will not be funded

Your methodology section should be the basis of your
budget


For projects costing in excess of $750, list all costs on the
budget form and indicate how remaining costs will be
covered in order to bring the entire project to successful
completion
Budget must be reviewed and endorsed by mentor
BUDGET COMPONENTS
 General
 Other
supplies
Costs
 Domestic
travel
GENERAL SUPPLIES
General office supplies and consumables
limited to $150 with cost maximums of:
 Office
supplies & photocopying = $30
 Computer
 Binding
 Poster
related supplies (ink & paper) = $40
of final report = $30
materials = $50
OTHER COSTS
Non-consumable services & other expenditures
--Rental of equipment
--Laboratory supplies
--Books
--Duplication costs for paper surveys
--Fees for access to databases, online services, etc
--Cost to purchase film, music, or stage props
--Payment of subjects (cash payment or drawing)
--Payment for services (cannot be via payroll)
Will not provide funding for salary or for the purchase
of equipment or computer hardware and software!
PAYMENT OF SUBJECTS




Test Subjects: We will fund $5-$30 per subject
Questionnaire or Survey Participants: will fund $1$10 per participant
Interviews: We will fund up to $20 per interviewee
Incentive for a large pool in any case: The value of the
prize may not exceed 10% of the total grant funding.
(e.g., a grant of $750 would allow for a prize of $75)

Only one prize of 10% can be offered, but two prizes of 5%
would be acceptable
TRAVEL

Domestic travel only outside commuter area (Santa
Barbara/Goleta)

May not cover any costs connected with international
travel (travel, lodging, & meals)

Must be justifiable and MUST follow UC Travel Policies

Will not approve multiple trips to same site - would rather
see one week long trip that 3 or 4 weekend trips

Mileage reimbursement is 56 cents/mile

Airfare (economy rate only)
(consult with departmental Financial Officer PRIOR to the proposal
submission and again PRIOR to actual trip)
SAMPLE BUDGET
General Supplies Poster Materials
Binding of final report
Other Costs
$50
$30
Payment to subjects
$800
Tape and electrodes
$260
Questionnaires, info sheets, debriefing
forms
Total Expenditure
$120
Amount Requesting from URCA
Office
Balance to be covered by: Payment
to subjects covered by mentor’s
grant
$1,260
$750
$510
SAMPLE BUDGET WITH TRAVEL
Category
General Supplies
Item
Cost
Computer ink and paper
$40
Poster materials
$50
Other Costs
Archival photocopies
Travel
UCSB to Stanford 298 miles x 56
cents/mile
Stanford to UCB 50 miles x 56 cents/mile
$100
$166.88
$28
UCB to UCSB 326 miles x 56 cents/mile
$182.56
Lodging 4 nights at $80 per night
$320.00
Total:
$887.44
Requesting:
Balance to be covered by: personal
finances
$750
$137.44
MORE BUDGET!
BUDGET FORM SUBMISSION
MENTOR LETTER OF SUPPORT
 Provide
mentor with “Instructions for Mentor’s
Support Letter” form
 Letter
must be signed on department letterhead
 Proposals
missing support letter will be
considered incomplete and will not be reviewed
 Letters
to be submitted online in the URCA
Grant System as a PDF by November 6, 2015.

A link will be sent to your mentor when you submit
your proposal application with his/her email address
included.
A GOOD PROPOSAL
 Clearly
describes the project
 Contains
all components and all information
requested (Follow instructions & use forms supplied)
 Justifies
use of proposed funds
(Methodology versus budgeted items)
 Has
a project schedule/timeline
(That is adequate to bring the project to a successful completion)
 Indicates
the depth of the Mentor/Student
relationship
(Proposal and Letter will show quantity and depth of communication)
TIMELINE
 Application
 Review
 Award
 Award
deadline: Friday, Nov. 6, 2015
of proposals and budgets
decisions to be made by December 7
decisions to be sent to your U-mail
account. No award decisions will be given out in
person or over the telephone! Please check
email account frequently during the quarter
break
LABRATS – SUSTAINABILITY
PROGRAM




Offering the Surplus Chemical Program in
partnership with Environmental Health and
Safety (EHS)
Allowing labs across campus to swap excess
chemicals
Free to lab group receiving the chemicals and will
be delivered at no cost by EHS to the lab group
Details available at:
http://www.sustainability.ucsb.edu/labrats/
QUESTIONS?
URCA Walk Ins
2110 North Hall
Monday-Friday
9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
urca@ltsc.ucsb.edu
Eden Slone: Program Coordinator
Jacob LaViolet: Program Assistant