Call for Proposals:
Undergraduate Research in the Humanities/Research Assistant Grant Program
Deadline: 1 October 2009

About the Pilot Program, 2008-09

In 2008-09, the Office of Research, following the advice the Undergraduate Research Advisory Board (URAB), sought to enhance undergraduate research in the humanities through a pilot program in which faculty could request undergraduates to assist them in research projects. Four awards of $500 each were made.

• Shane Graham, Department of English, Projects on Bibliography of Caribbean poets; correspondence between Langston Hughes and South African writers;
• Victoria Greaves, Department of History, Project on examine a body of children’s literature created by the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project of the New Deal and the New York City Board of Education between 1937-1942;
• Kevin Muller, Department of Art, Project on an article in-progress, tentatively titled, “Mexicanness, Manliness, and Gothic Revival Architecture in Gold Rush California.”
• Susan Shapiro, Department of History, Project on “Pasolini’s Medea: A Twentieth Century Tragedy.

Both the faculty and the undergraduate research assistants reported in their evaluations that this was a valuable experience. For the students, it allowed them to 1) learn valuable research skills integral to humanistic inquiry; and 2) get a behind-the-scenes look at a humanities scholar in action. The faculty members reported that it was incredibly helpful to have assistance and that it was also enjoyable to work with interesting and interested students.

As a result, we are issuing a call for 2009-2010 grant applications with some modifications. Based on feedback, the grant can be up to $800, which is transferred to the department and reserved for the student. The number of grants will increase to five.

Call for Proposals, 2009-2010

Faculty members in the humanities* interested in acquiring an assistant submit an application and select the individual they wish to hire.

Students engaged in an undergraduate research assistantship have the opportunity to observe a professional scholar in action. Faculty applying for such assistance should be engaged in working on a scholarly project, an article or book. Students may help their mentors in the preliminary research stages, particularly a review of literature, annotated bibliographies or databases, although students may also assist with a piece of a project. The tasks assigned to the students should help develop their skills as scholars. Students will have a window onto the time and energy a faculty member needs to produce a scholarly project.

Undergraduate research assistants must be full-time students who are seeking degrees in the humanities; their roles must engage them meaningfully in the research project, not just perform menial tasks. Although not required, departments may choose to match the Research Office stipend.

One goal of this grant program is to increase the number of students in the humanities doing independent research, particularly projects that could be supported through the Undergraduate Research & Creative Opportunities (URCO) Grant Program or result in Honors theses. Please note that the Utah Humanities Council began in 2009 a new fellowship program for undergraduates. USU students can prepare for this competition through a structured undergraduate research experience that moves them from novice to apprentice to scholar. The winner of this inaugural award was USU student Trenton Olsen (English). Another goal of the grant is to support faculty in their humanistic scholarship.

Application Process

Faculty members in the humanities may apply by submitting a one- to two-page description of the scholarly project. They should define the scope and duration of the project, its relation to their scholarly agenda, and expected outcomes. They should also describe their expectations of an undergraduate research assistant.

Please include the name of the research assistant if available, including a short biography with A#, year in study, and major.

Review of applications will commence October 1 with notification within two weeks.

Faculty who are awarded grants select the research assistant; the funds are transferred to the department for administration. A succinct progress report of one paragraph from both faculty member and undergraduate research assistant is due December

1. A final report from both the faculty member and undergraduate research is due May 1; the final report notes progress and outcomes of the research project as well as an impact statement on the individual and evaluation of the Humanities Undergraduate Research Assistant Grant process.

*According to the National Endowment for the Humanities, disciplines designated as humanities include the following: history, literature, philosophy or ethics, languages or linguistics, comparative religions, cultural anthropology, archaeology, jurisprudence, folklore, history and/or criticism of the arts, and such interdisciplinary fields as ethnic studies, gender studies, and international studies.