Proposal Instructions
There are three parts to the URSCO URCA proposal. The table below includes an outline of details.
If you are submitting a Community Based Research Grant or Community Based URCA, the instructions are different.
All Proposals Must be Submitted by the Faculty Research Mentor*
- When actively accepting proposals, there are links below for URCA and CB URCA. These will take you to our platform for submitting grant proposals, InfoReady.
- Once in InforReady, click on the ‘Register’ button (in the top right-hand corner of the page) to establish your account. You will receive an email to confirm your email address; be sure to check your Spam folder if you don’t see the email in your regular mail folder. You must identify as belonging to one of the units listed on the main page.
- Once you have confirmed your email address, log into the system; you will see a list of competitions under the Minerva photo. Click on the type of proposal you are submitting (i.e. URCA, CB URCA, or GE URCA).
- Please note that document outlining application guidelines can be downloaded from InfoReady via the document links to the right of the screen.
- To begin your application, click on the ‘Apply’ button on the right-hand side of the page. If you are not able to complete your application in one session, you may simply save it, and then log in and complete it later.
- Fill out the information about your proposal, attach your file, and then click the ‘Submit’ button to begin the routing process. You have now completed the submission process, and you will receive email confirmation (Eileen Miller or Kim Littlefield will appear as the sender) that your application has been submitted.
- Please contact Lee Phillips plphilli@uncg.edu with any questions about the award programs.
- Save items #1-3 as a Portable Document Format (PDF) and submitted by upload attachment via InfoReady.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Submit your proposal | We are not accepting proposals at this time. |
| 1. Title page | Title of the project Faculty mentor’s name Student(s) name At the bottom of this page, the statement “This statement certifies that both the student(s) (INSERT NAME(s)) and faculty mentor(s) (INSERT NAME(s)) were involved in the development of this URSCO URCA proposal. |
| 2. Three page project description | The actual project description can not exceed three pages in length. Standard 1 inch margins on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You must use the font “Calibri” (no smaller than 11 point).The project description should be written in jargon-free English, and include the following sections: Project goals (Background, hypothesis, objectives, significance, etc.)Methods the student will use to achieve goals Role of the faculty mentor Role of the student Benefits to the faculty mentor Benefits to the student Justification of the award amount |
| 3. Literature Cited page | Limit references/literature cited to ONE page. This page should only contain a list of cited works. |
Deadlines for URCA Proposals
| Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (URCA) | Community Based URCA |
| Fund Period – Deadline for requests: | Fund Period – Deadline for requests: |
| Spring 2023 – October 1, 2023 Summer 2023 – February 11, 2024 Fall/Spring 2023/2024 – April 14, 2024 | Fall/Spring 2023/2024 – April 14, 2024 |
Six Tips for URCA Writers ~ by a reviewer
You would be surprised how often the goals are not specified and a lit review is presented (only), or how often people skip the budget justification. You should also proudly list your department(s) on the cover page.
The projects are funded out of indirect costs. Therefore, you should be clear about what research, scholarly, or creative products will be produced. Projects that enhance teaching but produce no output are unlikely to be scored as highly as projects that produce outcomes.
Be clear about what skills or knowledge the student gains, as well as any networking, personal growth, or other benefits. Some of the best proposals explain exactly what skills the student gains. The worst proposals just have students doing clerical work or other activities that do not obviously enhance their learning or marketability. The student should be involved in conceptual components of the research, not just carrying out tasks for the faculty member’s research. The greater the student role, the more impressive the project. If you plan to present it, publish it, or perform it, suggest some places that might happen.
The budget justification is strongest when there are research expenses that should be covered. For example, paying participants, buying necessary equipment or materials, and accessing materials that are behind a paywall are all expenses that couldn’t be met in another way. If the project is going to pay a student, make sure you explain (1) why this is beyond what could be done using a standard honors thesis or independent study course in terms of hours needed; or (2) that the student will be doing this instead of outside work, or has notable financial need. Keep in mind that in many departments, taking a 3-credit independent study (9 hours of work per week) is quite normal without any funding.
The project should be important and innovative, where possible. Innovation can come in the form of using new methods, integrating different approaches, or in terms of creativity. If the method is relatively new and being applied by your group, say that in the goals section. If we can’t understand why what you’re doing is new, it’s going to be hard to justify funding it. Remember that the reviewers are often not in your field, so they will mostly take your word for it that this is important in your field — but you have to explain it to them.
If you have had successes in undergraduate research or creative accomplishment, list some of them. If you are new faculty seeking to get your work going or the work can’t be done without the funding, say that, especially if there is little funding available in your area.
Review Process
Soon after the proposal deadline, copies of requests are distributed a review committee comprised of faculty. Each member of the committee evaluates the proposals independently and assigns each a score. The committee then meets to discuss the proposals and decides which to support at at what level.
The primary criteria are the clarity of the proposal, benefits for the student and the faculty mentor, and potential impact.
- requests from all disciplines are encouraged
- those with aspects of community engagement and/or interdisciplinary scholarship are also encouraged
The actual research/creative activity proposal will be judged only indirectly. The review process will have two stages. First, it will be determined whether or not the proposal is worth funding. Then, the committee will consider the requested amount and the justification for it and make a recommendation to either: 1) offer the award as requested, 2) offer the award with a smaller than requested amount, 3) do not offer the award.
A proposal can receive a maximum of 70 points (up to 10 points each for sections A – G).