AMS – Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships – Dean of the Faculty Division – Colgate University – Spring 2013
ALUMNI MEMORIAL SCHOLAR FELLOWSHIP AWARD - Information
Colgate University, through the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships, awards Alumni Memorial Scholar
Fellowships to qualified project proposals from AMS students. AMS Fellowships are an opportunity for students to
enrich their academic experience through uninterrupted research and study on or off campus. Grants up to a total of
$5,000, are intended for a period of in-depth research, study or in order to pursue an academically meaningful internship
or experience, especially over the summer. Funding is granted to qualified proposals, and the process is competitive.
Award Areas:






initiate independent studies or research in an area of particular interest to you, including research-related or academically
meaningful internships or experiences;
extend academic work in any one of a number of ways outside the formal curriculum and programs of the college;
support attendance at a relevant academic conference;
support living expenses while researching off-campus;
support travel and research costs for independent projects while away on a study group;
all proposals must further academic rather than career goals ( i.e. summer internships).
Please note that:






AMS Students of any class year may apply;
The final opportunity for a senior to submit a proposal is fall of their senior year for a winter break or spring semester
experience, since reports and the presentation of the project must be completed prior to graduation;
Students may receive more than one Alumni Memorial Scholar Fellowship during their time at Colgate; combined proposals
may not exceed $5,000;
Proposals will be judged on the basis of originality, clarity, comprehensiveness, and their strength of purpose in
augmenting the student’s preparation to achieve specific academic goals;
Proposals should reflect relevant academic preparation;
All research involving human participants must be reported to Colgate’s Institutional Review Board. See
http://www.colgate.edu/academics/departments/psychology/institutionalreviewboard.
Normally funding cannot be used to:




cover costs that would be funded through the regular channels of Colgate financial aid or programmatic funding;
for coursework at another institution, university, or academic program;
support projects that directly receive Colgate credit (for example, the funds cannot be used for regular expenses incurred by
students participating in a Colgate study group);
support projects that take place in countries for which the State Department has issued a Travel Warning (see
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html).
Steps in Applying for an Alumni Memorial Scholar Fellowship:
___Student is an Alumni Memorial Scholar and currently enrolled at Colgate University;
___Student is in good academic and personal standing;
___Review application materials and handouts on writing proposals and requesting letters of recommendation;
___Preliminary and Follow-up meetings with Ann Landstrom and future AMS Advisor, Assistant Dean and Director, Office of
National Fellowships and Scholarships (call 315-228-6224 to make an appointment);
___Submission of application by the designated deadline date/time:
___AMS Application Page (you can remove the lines and type in your data on the word document; use X for question
responses);
___Abstract of Proposal (up to 250 words);
___Project Proposal (six to ten pages, double spaced; details – see proposal requirements);
___Two Letters of Recommendation from Colgate University faculty members;
___Transcripts -- Colgate (unofficial is fine) and if applicable photocopy of non-Colgate off-campus study;
___Detailed Budget and Explanation (see budget guidelines and use budget worksheet).
___Upon completion of an AMS Fellowship – meeting with the AMS Advisor, reports, budget summary and receipts,
presentation
Updated 12.10.12
AMS – Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships – Dean of the Faculty Division – Colgate University – Spring 2013
Alumni Memorial Scholars Administrator and Fellowship Award Advisor
Stephen H. Wright, Assistant Dean and Director, Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships, 109M Lathrop
For an advising appointment with Ann contact Renee by phone 315-228-6224
Renee Copperwheat, Administrative Assistant, Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships, 109 Lathrop
Reviewing Committee:
The committee is composed of faculty members from the Admission and Aid Committee, along with the directors for
Off-Campus Study and Risk Management.
Project Proposal Layout:
At the top of each page place the title of your proposal, your name and class year. Proposals must be written
using the following sub-headings with content as described. Typical proposals range from 6-10 pages, double-spaced.
I.
OBJECTIVES
 In this section you must present and describe your project for which you plan to pursue. We need to know the who, what,
where, when, and why of your anticipated research or experience. Include what you will be doing and the questions you
will address in your project; why this project is important; where will this project take place; why that location is
appropriate; what are the necessary facilities, resources or approval needed for your project; when will you be there; for
whom will you be affiliated or interacting with; name your contacts and their relevancy; describe your connection to and
communication with the individuals or organizations with whom you will work, interview or obtain information from.
(Please attach to the application a brochure or website pages for any organization you will be affiliated with, which must
include the organizations contact information.)
II. METHODOLOGY
 This is where you describe how you will undertake your research or experience. Describe what this project will look like;
the specific activities and/or methods you will use to complete your project; your documentation and recording of the
project; who will be involved – people or organizations – in your research or experience; what equipment and supplies
you will need.
III. ITINERARY AND TIMELINE
 This section will elaborate on when you will be going, providing a detailed timeline on when you will be departing,
where you will be and what you will be doing each day of the journey, and when you will be returning. Include all of the
destinations within the country(ies) you will be traveling, the type of transportation you will be using while traveling,
and an explanation of where you will be staying overnight (hotel, homestay, etc.).
IV. TRAVEL, HEALTH AND SAFETY
 Travel, health and safety factors must be addressed, even if a country is not on the warning or alert list; and even if the
project is in the United States. This section may include detailed information on transportation, phone communication
access, emergency plans, medical resources, pre-departure vaccinations and medications.
 Review the attached handout on Travel to High-Risk Destinations; consult the State Department and Travel Warning List
and review the State Department Country-Specific Information Sheets and Travel Alerts at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html, for any projects that will take you outside of the United States.
o If your project proposal would take you outside of the United States to a country that has a United States
Department of State WARNING or ALERT, you must address the significance of your project within the facets
of the safety and security issues within the objectives; and be extremely detailed on your itinerary and timeline.
o A country may not have a Travel Warning, yet ‘significant risks’ may be described within the Country-Specific
Information Sheets and Travel Alerts for which you will have to be very detailed on your itinerary and timeline.
V. PROPOSAL OUTCOMES
 Describe how you will know if your questions are answered; what you will do with the information you obtain from your
project.
VI. QUALIFICATIONS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS
 Share with us your qualifications and background that you bring to this project – major, minor, relevant coursework,
language skill, research, employment, volunteering, travel, etc.
 Provide a description of academic and logistical steps taken to prepare for the fellowship; and a reference list of readings
that you have and will undertake to prepare for the fellowship.
AMS – Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships – Dean of the Faculty Division – Colgate University – Spring 2013
VII. FACULTY INVOLVEMENT
 Tell us what faculty have served as advisors and/or mentors for you as you plan this project proposal; what is your
relationship to them – academic advisor, courses, study abroad, research advisor, etc.; what is their involvement or
contribution to your proposal idea; describe some of the conversations you have had with them; and how can they
support you while finishing your fellowship plans and while on the journey.
VIII. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FELLOWSHIP AWARD AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES
 Describe how the AMS Fellowship Award impacts your ability to accomplish your project.
 Then share how this project contributes to your Colgate academic experience and curriculum; how will this project foster
future educational goals; and what do you hope to personally gain from the experience.
IX. FUNDING STATEMENT
 Please provide a statement indicating whether a part or all of the proposal is being submitted for any other research
funding at Colgate or elsewhere.
Budget:


Use the attached budget worksheet; to be submitted as an appendix to the proposal – please be as detailed as possible;
Attach detailed information on how you calculated your budget estimates and what sources you used to collect your data
(flights, lodging, etc.).
Fellowship Award Reporting Process for Tax Purposes:
The purpose of this fellowship is to provide funding for you to pursue your proposed academic research, therefore, for U.S. citizens
only, these awards are not required to be reported to the IRS by Colgate nor will any tax withholding be deducted. However, these
payments may still be considered taxable income. Non U.S. citizens are required, in accordance with IRS regulations, to have
fellowship payments reported as well as tax withheld based on tax treaty agreements between the U.S. and their country of residence.
For non U.S. citizens, any tax generated from this award will be remitted by Colgate directly to the IRS on your behalf and reported to
you on IRS form 1042-S.
All students, whether U.S. residents or not, receiving an AMS Fellowship Award should consult with their tax advisor to fully
understand their responsibilities for reporting this award. IRS publication 970 will provide further guidance, this publication can be
found by visiting the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
Letters of Recommendation from Faculty:
Your faculty recommenders must be clearly informed of your project proposal. Follow the guidelines as presented on the Requesting
Letters of Recommendation Handout. Provide the following bullets of information to your faculty recommenders. If faculty do not
support your proposal the reviewing committee will deny your request.
Faculty recommendations should speak to the following:
 the significance of the student's project;
 how has the student prepared for the fellowship;
 relevance to the student’s major, related academic interests, or future goals and plans;
 the quality of work that may be expected;
 the student's ability to work independently;
 if applicable, knowledge of the country and organization for which the student will be working or affiliated.
Upon Completion of the Fellowship, the following are due by the designated date on your award letter:




Meet with the AMS Advisor, Assistant Dean and Director, within the first week of classes;
Submit an AMS Fellowship Award Report, to include: (4 pages, double-spaced)
o A Project Summary including the title, objectives, methodology, experience and findings; noting successes and
failures (3 pages),
o A Personal Reflection on how the fellowship impacted you, how did you grow intellectually and personally (1
page);
Submit an itemized budget report with receipts for all funding, unused funding must be returned to Colgate University;
Give a public presentation about your work at an AMS Symposium during the semester following the award.
AMS – Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships – Dean of the Faculty Division – Colgate University – Spring 2013
Budget Worksheet – a guide to help you determine and outline your expenses.
Expenses
Travel
airfare
airport transportation
local transportation
use of personal car @ $0.51/mile
Lodging
Meals
Conference registration fees
Equipment
Books and Materials
Telephone and Fax
Other Expense 1 (give details)
Other Expense 2 (give details)
Total Request
Description / Location
Amount
Budget Explanation – Please include detailed information on how you calculated your budget items and
what sources you used to collect your data (flights, lodging, etc.). Attach an additional page.
Helpful information as you plan your proposal and budget
Research Stipend:
If you will be conducting faculty-mentored research on campus during the summer, or pursuing an academically related unpaid summer internship,
the research stipend (maximum) is:
$425 / week (summer 2013)
Colgate Summer Research guidelines:
See links to guidelines by Division at http://www.colgate.edu/DesktopDefault1.aspx?tabid=2770
Guidelines for Meals:
USA / UK / Europe / Japan / Hong Kong / Australia – $40 per day
Africa and Asia (other than Japan and Hong Kong) – $35 per day (some places less)
Latin America – $35 per day (some places less)
Guidelines for Equipment:
Utilize resources at Colgate to borrow or rent equipment that is required for your proposal. The review committee will not support purchase of items
that would be used beyond the research experience.
Guidelines for Telephone and Fax:
If your proposal requires this type of communication please estimate the cost. The review committee will not support excessive family
communication, so they provide a guideline of $20 for keeping in touch with family over a two week timeframe.
For proposal advising and questions, set up an advising appointment with Steve Wright, Assistant Dean and
Director, Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships. Call 315-228-6224 to schedule the meeting.