The CURI Advisory Committee will assess proposals for their attention to the Intended Learning Outcome (below):

1. The ability to recognize and articulate meaningful questions in the chosen area of study.
2. The ability to conduct research using methods appropriate to the field(s) of study.
3. The ability to find and interpret scholarly and creative works relevant to their project.
4. The ability to explain the research project and present the results to a variety of audiences.
5. The ability to work collaboratively.

 

During our in-person meeting, the Advisory Committee will determine the level of support for projects deemed fundable by attending to total demand for projects, number of student researchers, and available financial support from the college. We use the following criteria in that discussion:

1. We aim for diversity in disciplines funded.
2. We give preference to proposals that engage students in a scholarly/artistic discipline, provide active mentorship, and result in a deliverable (e.g. a poster, paper, music composition, web site, etc.). This program does not support students’ independent study.
3. We expect proposals to specify the benefit to the student. CURI’s goal is to support authentic student scholarship, not projects that put the student in the role of simply a worker.
4. We look for the potential of the project to contribute to scholarship beyond what is already known and for the dissemination of the results of the summer’s research.
5. We may attend to faculty status if resources are insufficient to meet demand; in such instances, we will prioritize support for projects proposed by tenure-track faculty.

Ultimately we only fund projects for which students apply. If faculty have someone already in mind when they submit their proposal, the student must still complete the online application.

Students will be invited to peruse projects descriptions, and apply for up to three projects for which they would like to be considered.

Please do not make promises to students before you review all applications. Formal announcements of acceptance will be sent by the CURI office.  Due to the high demand for CURI positions, college funding will be reserved for students planning to enroll in the subsequent Fall following the CURI experience.

• Opportunity to get to know students outside of the classroom.
• Reward of passing on knowledge and skill while watching students grow academically under one’s guidance.
• Give students a sense of the various career paths that may be taken to get to where you are today.
• Faculty can enrich their own research with properly structured projects.

• Set clear and high standards for student performance.
• Offer opportunities such as co-publishing and/or conference presentations when appropriate.
• Give both positive feedback and constructive criticism.
• Frequent, regularly scheduled communication with students, answering all questions to the best of one’s ability in a timely manner.

• Students may be intimidated to meet with a faculty member out of the blue.
• Posting information about current research projects outside office doors for students to peruse may be one way to make the initial interaction less nerve-wracking.
• Students can become familiar with the type of research a faculty member may be interested in conducting prior to setting up a time to meet in person.
• Students may also be able to formulate questions about current projects prior to meeting with the faculty member.

• In early May you will receive an e-mail from the CURI director with your spending unit number and your sub-account number along with an approved amount you are able to spend on supplies for your project.
• You may order supplies through your team AAA or yourself.
• Remember to use St. Olaf’s tax exempt status and save all receipts.
• Reimbursement forms must be completed using appropriate account numbers and signed by your Supervisor and the CURI director.

• It is each faculty member’s decision whether or not to accept volunteers onto their projects. Some choose to do so because individual students stand to gain from the experience. Others choose not to so as to avoid hierarchical relationships within their research teams among paid and unpaid student researchers.
• All faculty choosing to accept volunteers must have them complete the Volunteer Registration Form from Human Resources before they begin working on the project.
• Please inform the CURI office when you accept volunteers into your project so we can include them in communications.

Awards support faculty-student teams with up to $3000. Additionally, the faculty mentor will receive a stipend separate from the award amount.

• Stipends will be paid out after each reporting date, with adjustments as relevant for shorter project timelines.
• Reporting dates: September 30, 2024, February 15, 2025, and May 15, 2025.

Funds may be used to:

• • help with specific costs of proposed project, such as supplies or travel;
  • the cost of presenting the work at appropriate forums;
  • provide financial support (up to $1500 stipend) for a student to carry out the proposed project;
  • provide incidental materials support for the faculty member involved.
• We encourage collaborations between a single faculty member and a single student; however, projects may involve a faculty member and up to three students, and occasionally a student or students with more than one faculty member. The award is for projects planned with students returning for the subsequent academic year; graduating seniors are not eligible.
• Projects can be based in any and all disciplines and fields. Fellows may pursue their project during the summer or academic year.
• The award can fund projects to be carried out at any time from June 1, but must be completed by May 31 of the following year.

The selection committee seeks applications that:

• Plan actual collaborations between faculty and students over proposals that represent student work supervised by a faculty member, or faculty work in which the student participates.
• Situate the proposed project in the context of the student’s interests and work, and also in the context of the faculty member’s interests and work, making clear the value of participating in the project to each of the applicants.
• Commit to make the results of the project public, but the selection committee appreciates the risk of failure entailed in any venturesome project, and will be happy to see the public sharing of surprising or unexpected results, as well as of hoped-for results. Award funds may be used to travel to present project results.

Proposals must be submitted collaboratively by the student(s) and faculty mentor(s) via a Google Form, due in early March. The information needed includes the following:

• the names of the proposers;
• the title of the proposed project;
• a full description of the project, as well as an abstract that can be used for announcements and other public uses;
• a total budget for the project, not to exceed $3000;
  • Note: If the project will receive additional funding from other sources, the proposal should include an explanation of how all funds will be allocated in the project budget.
• a statement from each collaborator about their interest in and expected contribution to the project and how the project fits into their other interests and academic careers;
• specify which collaborator is working on what pieces of the project;
• a statement of how the results of the project will be shared with the public.

A review committee convened by the CURI Director will announce recipients of the Fellows by end of March.