The Carl Frost Center for Social Science Research
Request for Proposals
Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Projects
The Frost Research Center is pleased to offer grants up to $2,000 for projects of collaborative
student-faculty research projects to be completed during the fall of 2015.
The Frost Center’s Advisory Committee will accept proposals submitted by Friday, September
18, 2015 with award notification made by Friday, October 2. You may apply for funds for two
consecutive years with a third year off between proposals. The requirements for submitting
proposals have been revised recently to streamline the application process and make sure
students are included in the research plan.
Please write a brief and clear description of the proposed work addressing the following
components of the research project in a maximum of three pages. And please use these
headings in your proposal.
1. Project Summary: Provide a brief overview of the project in lay terms
2. Project Importance: What will this research contribute to the body of knowledge
in your field?
3. Goals and Objectives: State clearly the goals and objectives of your project (a
bulleted list is preferable.)
4. Research Methods: Briefly describe the research design and what research
methods you will use.
5. Human Subjects Review Board Involvement: Briefly identify whether your
project requires HSRB approval or qualifies for an exemption. Specify whether you
have secured HSRB approval or whether this is still pending.
6. Evaluation: Describe what outcomes of your project you will use to assess its
success including a plan for dissemination of the results.
7. Timeline: Outline a timeline for the project, especially with respect to student
involvement. List target dates for important phases in the research process such
as when data collection will begin and end.
8. Budget and Justification: Table or brief narrative describing use of funds.
Restrictions include: a total request of $2000 for the project. The funds can be
used for salaries up to $10 for student researchers. See sample budget at the end
of this document.
9. Student Outcomes: Explain the qualifications of the student(s) who will be
working on your project, why the student(s) is motivated to work on your project,
and what the student(s) will learn from his/her involvement
10. Student Commitment: Have the student(s) that will be working with you write a
brief paragraph or two on their interest in the project, their preparation for the
project and what they hope to gain from the research experience.
Please send your proposal to the Frost Center for evaluation based on:
1. A concise, clear and complete proposal addressing the 10 components in a maximum of
three pages.
2. Evaluation and award of funding will be based on the following criteria:
a. Levels of student engagement in the research project and the potential for student
learning and growth
b. Significance of the project to the field of study
c. Adequacy of the project design, proposed budget and timeline to produce the
projected outcomes
Other items to consider in developing your proposal are:
•
When computing student wages, please indicate the number of students, the number of
weeks, the number of hours per week, and the hourly rate. Suggested rate of between
$8.40 and $10.00 per hour for college students depending on their level of research
experience. For example, a novice researcher should not be paid the same wage as a
more senior and experienced researcher.
•
Indicate other sources of funding for this research project.
•
Faculty/student teams receiving funding must present their findings at a Frost Center
research colloquium. Presentations at the National Council on Undergraduate Research
(NCUR), Hope’s Annual Celebration of Research and Creative Performance in the
spring, or an appropriate disciplinary conference are encouraged.
If you have any questions, please contact Milly Hudgins at x7556.
Sample budgets
Brief Description: This sample budget is for a fairly ‘contained’ research project that the advisor and the
student are planning to complete this fall and the faculty member has no other funding to support this
project.
Budget item
Student
compensation
Cost
$9.00/hour
Supplies: signage,
study materials,
copying, etc.
$200
Time for project
11 weeks of work,
10 hours per week
Justification note
Total requested
$990
$200
Total funding
request:
$1190.00
Brief Description: This sample budget is for a project that will be larger in scope and takes the work of
two students and the faculty member has no other support for the project. The project involves two
student researchers and assistance with travel to present
Budget item
Compensation for
two students
Cost
$9.00/hour
Supplies: poster
printing costs
$ 25
Travel
$175
Time for project
10 weeks of work,
average of 10
hours per week
Justification note
Total requested
$1800
$ 25
For student
presentations at
regional
conference
With additional
support from
department
$175
Total funding
request:
$2000.00