Summer 2017
Community-Based Research Grant Program
Non-Technical Proposal Application
Due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, 2017
Student Instructions. Students applying for a Community-Based Research grant in a non-technical field
must fill out sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 below according to the Guidelines that appear on the Community-Based
Research website. Once this form is complete, you must save it as a Word document and submit it as an
attachment to an e-mail directed to Kristin Walters at kswalters@stthomas.edu. You should then receive
an email confirming receipt of your proposal; if you do not receive a receipt within 72 hours, please contact
Kristin Walters at the same email address. Your application will not be considered if it is sent after the due
date and time posted above.
Faculty Mentor Instructions. Faculty agreeing to mentor a student must fill out and submit a Mentor
Letter of Support (see Guidelines) by the due date and time posted above.
Student Applicant:
Student UST ID#:
Student E-Mail:
Campus Mail#
Student Phone:
Student Mailing Address
Undergraduate Major(s)
Expected Semester/Year of Graduation
Title of Proposed
Project
Faculty Mentor Name
Faculty Mentor UST ID#
Campus
Mail#
Faculty Mentor E-Mail
Phone
Department /Program
An Overview of Your Application:
Please note that a complete proposal consists of the following components and will be assigned up to
450 points by reviewers on the Undergraduate Research Board:
Part 1: Press Summary (150 points)
Reviewers of your application will be asked to measure the extent to which you are able to make
your proposed research understandable to a non-specialist – a very important skill! Answer all of
the questions as completely as possible, write clearly and concisely, and avoid disciplinary
jargon.
Part 2: Project Narrative (300 points – 150 points possible from each of two reviewers)
This component of your proposal consists of six major sections. Make certain that you address
all of the sub-questions that appear in each. In this area of your proposal, you will be evaluated
on the scientific merit, anticipated impact, and potential for dissemination of your proposed
project.
Part 3: Project Timeline
You must include a Timeline of your proposed project as per the Guidelines published on the Grants and
Research Office website. Applications missing a Timeline will not be reviewed.
Part 4: Additional Appendices
Additional appendices may include at your discretion:
Glossary of Terms
Supporting Figures
Special Expenses Budget
Treatment of Human and Animal Subjects
External Letters of Support (when appropriate)
Part 5: Transcript of College Grades (Official or Unofficial)
Part 6: Mentor Letter of Support & Community Partner Letter of Support (Electronic or Hard Copy)
This component of your application must be filled out and submitted by your project mentor and your
community partner.
Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 must be submitted as a single Word Document by the deadline posted above. For
Part 5, you must contact the Registrar’s Office, get a transcript of your college grades (need not be an
official transcript), and send those to the Grants and Research Office (AQU 319). For Part 6, the Mentor
Letter of Support must be sent separately (to AQU 319) by your mentor. All six parts must be received at
the Grants and Research Office by the posted deadline.
Part 1 – PRESS SUMMARY (limit: 400 words)
150 possible points
Describe your proposed research project using language that a non-specialist will be able
to understand. You will be evaluated here exclusively on your ability to provide a
comprehensive and clear description of your proposed project that someone outside of
your field can understand. Avoid disciplinary jargon! Be sure to read the guidelines
for faculty mentors for assistance in writing this, and all other sections, of your proposal.
Be sure to address all of the following questions:
a. What question(s) are you trying to address?
b. How will you address the question(s) that you pose above in question (a.)? What will
your methodology be?
c. How is your project important to your field and the broader community?
d. How will you disseminate the results of your research? If applicable, please describe
how your research is part of a broader project designed for publication and/or
presentation at a major academic meeting.
e. What do you think will be the impact of your research on your academic and intellectual
development? How will conducting this research contribute to your longer-term
academic and professional goals?
Part 2 – PROJECT NARRATIVE (limit: 1,200 words)
150 possible points from each of two reviewers
1. Research Question(s) (30 points)
What question(s) are you planning to address in your research? Through what academic scholarship will
you approach these questions and why?
2. Background and Literature Review (40 points)
What is the background of your project? Why is your project important to your discipline and to the
general community? What have scholars written about your project/question(s) in the past? Who are the
most important researchers relating to your project? How does your project fit in with the existing
literature?
3. Research Design, Methodology, and/or Theoretical Approach (40 points)
How will you address the question(s) that you pose? What methodologies or theoretical approach will
you employ?
4. Anticipated Impact (20 points)
What do you think will be the impact of your research on your discipline, the general community, and your
own intellectual development?
5. Dissemination Plan (20 points)
How will you share the results of your research? What specific conferences might you attend? What
audiences do you hope to reach?
PART 2 – PROJECT TIMELINE (Required)
PART 3 – ADDITIONAL APPENDICES (See Guidelines)
Please briefly answer the following questions (0 points):
1. How did you hear about the Community-Based Research Program?
(Faculty, peers, information session, tabling, posters, emails, newsroom,
electronic slides, etc. Include all that apply).
2. What is your favorite part of being a (fill in your major/s) major at UST?
May we publish your answer in our annual publication featuring undergraduate
research?
Yes
No
A photographer will be taking photos during the “Inquiry at UST” event. May we
publish your picture in our website and in our research book?
Yes
No