THE GAINES FELLOWSHIP JURY PROJECT
THE JURY PROJECT
As a major part of the Gaines Fellowship Program, each student is required to undertake a jury project during the junior year of
the Fellowship. Fellows are asked to design and, whenever possible, implement a project that enhances the community in some
way (by adding value, solving a problem, filling a need). Fellows must combine research, community analysis, and imagination in
support of a project that is presented to a jury in writing and orally. Jury members serve as mentors during the design phase (fall
semester and the beginning of spring semester) and as evaluators of the project midway through spring semester. A list of prior
jury projects may be found on the Gaines Center’s website.
The Gaines Program’s jury project is based on an idea borrowed from the College of Design where presentations before a panel
of jurors are a regular part of the curriculum. Jury members are selected in consultation with Gaines Center director of student
services. The four-person jury is typically made up of one “gown” individual, a UK faculty or staff member or administrator; one
“town” individual, someone who is not directly affiliated with UK; the Fellow’s senior mentor; and the Gaines Center’s director of
student services.
THE FELLOW'S RESPONSIBILITY
THE JURY’S RESPONSIBILITY
Each Fellow or small team of Fellows is
responsible for selecting the project’s
focus and providing a prospectus for it; for
carrying out the research, site analysis,
and project design and for keeping records
of those activities; for meeting with jurors
to obtain advice and feedback throughout
the duration of the project; for presenting
the final project to the jury; and for
responding to the jury’s comments and
questions during the presentation. The
final project consists of
The jury oversees and guides the Fellow’s preparation of the project. Although the
bulk of the responsibility for the project is the Fellow’s, jurors should offer advice
and constructive criticism to the Fellow throughout the course of the project, with
the goal of helping the student structure the project so that it may be implemented
and have a positive impact in the community for which it is designed. Such advice
should be directed to methodology, critical commentary in the field, site analysis,
and organization of the proposal or presentation.
(1) a well-written essay of some seven to
ten pages that creates an argument for the
project based upon research, lays out the
goals of the project, and explains how the
project serves those goals; and
(2) demonstrative materials such as a wellprepared model that might be put on
public display, mock-ups or actual copies
of a publication, a visual report or archive
(e.g., PowerPoint or website) documenting
actions serving the community according
to the project rationale.
The Fellow is also responsible for keeping
in regular contact with his or her jurors
(scheduling mutually convenient meetings,
providing progress reports or drafts of
work to the jury members, etc.). The
Fellow should spend approximately 40-45
hours on the jury project; the jury project
is worth one hour of the four-hour course
Gaines seminar course given in the spring.
Jurors are asked to meet with the Fellow twice before the final presentation in
mid-spring, though more frequent meetings may be scheduled at times that are
mutually convenient for the juror and Fellow.
The time commitment for jurors is approximate: two consultation meetings
(typically 1 hour or less) and one presentation meeting in February (typically 1
hour). The Gaines Center and its Fellows are grateful for any additional time given
to communicating about the project by phone, email, or in person.
The jury evaluates the project based on the general criteria given below. The jury
project grade is worth 1 credit hour and is factored into the overall grade for HMN
302 (a four-hour course), which is assigned at the end of the spring semester. Jury
project guidelines and sample evaluation forms are available on the Gaines Center’s
website, http://www.uky.edu/academy/jury-projects.
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Appropriateness of the project to its intended purpose and site or
community (including the sustainability of the project, when appropriate).
Does the project enhance the community? Does it have the intended
impact? Etc.
Effective creation of a humanistic context or environment and research
(use of historical or literary allusions, reference to existing or previous
examples, comparisons with similar projects elsewhere, evidence-based
rationale for project design, etc.)
Overall quality of presentation, usefulness of the essay, effectiveness of
other demonstrative materials.
The jurors also consider the Fellow’s handling of the process of creating the jury
project (scheduling meetings, mature handling of constructive criticism, keeping in
regular contact with jury, submitting essay a week in advance of the presentation,
etc.).
THE SCHEDULE
Project proposals due—September 30, 2014
Jury participation agreements due—October 14, 2014
At least one meeting with jurors—individually or as a group—by November 18, 2014
Jury Project Progress Report due (share with jurors)—November 25, 2014
At least one additional meeting with jurors—individually or as a group—by January 20, 2014
Complete drafts of written portion of Jury Project due to jury one week prior to presentation.
Jury Project Presentations scheduled at mutual convenience of Jury and Fellow in the month of February (can be scheduled
earlier, but must occur no later than 2/27).
Jury Project Formal Presentation at Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars—date TBA
I have read and agree to the above guidelines.
Jury member’s name and email (please print):
Jury member’s signature and date:
Fellow’s name and contact information (please print):
Note to Gaines Fellow: Please fill out the information above before asking your Juror to sign the agreement form, and then
return the signed copy to the Gaines Center director of student services.