Division of Research and Economic Development  >  Undergraduate Funding  > Faculty Sponsor Guidelines
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Division of Research and Economic Development

Guidelines for Faculty Sponsors

  1. Grants will be awarded only to original research, creative or artistic projects.
  2. A group of up to three students may participate in a project, which will be funded as one project.
  3. An individual undergraduate or graduate may receive only one grant in an academic year.
  4. The primary criteria upon which the grants will be awarded include: originality, independence, initiative, clarity and feasibility of the proposal.
  5. As required by University regulations, research with human participants must be approved by the IRB and those with animal subjects must be approved by the IACUC. Diana Brown, Director of Compliance, may be contacted for assistance ( 4-4328/robind@uri.edu). If IRB/IACUC approval is integral to the approved project, funds will not be released until such approval is in place. (e.g., the funds are to be used to conduct a survey which requires IRB approval, therefore, IRB approval must be in place; the funds are to be used to take a class in statistical analysis of research data from animal subjects, therefore, while IACUC approval is necessary to the project, it is not essential to the phase of the proposal selected for funding, therefore, funds would be released prior to IACUC approval of the overall project. The burden of proof for IRB/IACUC approval lies with the applicant(s) and the determination of the selection committee will be final.
  6. Eligible expenses for this research program include equipment and materials purchases, photocopying, postage, film, and unusual transportation costs. Meals and accommodations are ineligible expenses. Any equipment purchased with an award will revert to the department of the sponsor at the conclusion of the project.
  7. The budget must be reasonable and not exceed $500 for undergraduate and $800 for graduates. It is expected that funds requested for equipment and supplies will be for items which are not normally available for undergraduate or graduate research in your department. The Undergraduate and Graduate Research Grant Committee may reduce or delete budget items as it deems appropriate. Budget figures must be totaled.
  8. As the faculty sponsor, we ask that you submit a letter of support for the project. Please include in the text of the letter what support you will lend to the project and how you will assess the project. Since the student is required to copy your letter and include it in the proposal packets, we request that you do not write a confidential letter of support.
  9. After completing the letter, please give the letter to the student submitting the proposal.
  10. Should the proposal be funded, you will be required to review the student’s final report and add a brief evaluation of the project.
  11. The application deadline is 4:00 p.m. on December 10, 2007. The student will submit 8 stapled packets (1 original and 7 copies) assembled in the following order: proposal form, the proposal and the faculty sponsor’s letter of support to the Division of Research and Economic Development at 70 Lower College Road (first floor)

Any questions should be directed to the Office of the Provost (4-4408) or the Honors Center (4-2303).