Guidelines for Summer Research Fellowships

Eligibility

Any Arts & Sciences undergraduate student who is not receiving a living stipend from another source and is involved in research over the summer is eligible to apply. To receive a fellowship, students must be willing to work full-time on a creative or research project for at least ten weeks. Seniors who will have been graduated before the summer will not be awarded a fellowship except in unusual circumstances.
Each participant must have a faculty member who is willing to supervise his/her research. Projects may range from an idea that the student would like to pursue on his/her own, to a joint student-faculty project in which either student or faculty member is the principal investigator, to a project that is part of the faculty member's ongoing research. In all cases, however, the project must be one in which the student has significant involvement. The undergraduate research committee does not fund faculty research assistants.
The project can be on-campus or off-campus.

Examples of Projects

Humanistic studies: Research projects in the humanities, including the editing and study of texts, literary history and criticism, linguistic analysis, and biography.
Creative arts projects: Performances, exhibitions, or specific projects in art, music, writing, and theatre.
Scientific experimentation and analysis: Research projects in the natural, mathematical, and behavioral sciences.

Procedures

Applications for an undergraduate research summer fellowship must be made on the form provided for the purpose.
Applications must be accompanied by a letter of endorsement by a supervising faculty member.
Students who need funds for materials and supplies are encouraged to submit applications for research grants along with their summer fellowship applications. Research grant applications must be made separately from the summer fellowship application. The cover sheet for the research application and the budget is required; it is not necessary to repeat the project information.
Students working with the same faculty member must submit separate, distinct proposals. The proposal should describe the individual roles of each student researcher.
If a research proposal involves use of animal or human subjects, approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or Institutional Review Board for Protection of Human Subjects must be obtained before an award will be made.
Students must submit the original and seven completed copies of their applications (including accompanying faculty letter – one copy in sealed signed envelope) to the Associate Dean of Research Support in the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office. A BannerWeb transcript must be submitted with each proposal. Proposals submitted without a transcript will not be reviewed. Deadlines are posted for each round of applications.
Applications are evaluated by the seven members of the undergraduate research committee composed of the Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences and faculty members representing the broad areas of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences will notify applicants in writing of the results of their application.

Disbursement

Students will receive biweekly paychecks for the duration of their project. Pursuant to federal law, deductions from the entire stipend amount (including housing supplement if available) for FICA, unemployment, and income taxes (if applicable) will be made.
If needed, housing will be available for the students on campus. These arrangements can be made through the Student Housing Office; the student will be billed by the Student Housing Office for this residence.

Conditions

Students must be willing to work full-time on a creative project or research for at least ten weeks. During that time they may not be enrolled in classes or hold any other forms of employment.
Students must not receive academic credit for their summer project.
If the recipient of a fellowship is unable to fulfill the conditions of the fellowship, all unexpended funds will revert to the committee.