{"id":213,"date":"2012-11-30T16:03:16","date_gmt":"2012-11-30T22:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/?page_id=213"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:44:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:44:39","slug":"guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"For Faculty: CURI Programming &#038; Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><h1><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"2224\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/guidelines\/curi8\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/files\/2018\/10\/curi8.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1514\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS REBEL T5i&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1528713477&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;17&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"curi8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/files\/2018\/10\/curi8-1024x605.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2224 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/files\/2018\/10\/curi8-300x177.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"177\" \/><\/h1>\n<p>Research\/artistry is a great opportunity for faculty to collaborate with enthusiastic and high-quality undergraduate students, further enriching their education. This can also be a chance to spark a student\u2019s interest in a particular area of study, providing further direction to students in search of their academic niche.<\/p>\n<p>CURI administers three programs that are faculty-initiated: <a href=\"#academicYear\">academic year research and artistic activity<\/a>, <a href=\"#summer\">summer research and artistic activity<\/a>, and <a href=\"#Magnus\">Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowships<\/a>. Each is described below.<\/p>\n<p>CURI values all types of scholarship and often consults a department&#8217;s Statement on Significant Scholarly\/Artistic Work to understand the type of work that is valued by a department and can assist in tenure and\/or promotion cases.<\/p>\n<p>Want to know more? Make an <a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.app.google\/LaExcBcrWuytDALu6\">appointment<\/a> with CURI Director Jill Dietz.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Procedures for Academic Year Research Projects<a id=\"academicYear\"><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Fall semester timeline and process for faculty<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The 1st RFP for fall semester 2026 funding is now open; see link below.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Faculty applications initially open in April.<\/li>\n<li>The second round of faculty applications open mid-August and are due at the end of the month.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty members may apply to hire student researchers for a total of at most 20 hours per week, depending on the availability of funds.<\/li>\n<li>First round applicants are notified of their awards early-May and can begin the hiring process either right away or in the fall. Second round applicants are notified of their awards early-September.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty who are funded will be &#8220;<strong>CURI Academic Year Project Leaders<\/strong>&#8221; for use on their cv&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li>Students may not receive academic credit for their CURI project.<\/li>\n<li>Program runs from the start of classes to the end (before Reading Day); students are expected to get time off during breaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"cta\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdlTWyENGbV-S5ZKlh0xzWqZYSgjy-3qAc5qa0IuBO9xGLbiQ\/viewform?usp=header\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apply for fall funding<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Spring semester timeline and process for faculty<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Faculty applications open in October and are due early-November.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty members may apply to hire student researchers for a total of at most 20 hours per week, depending on the availability of funds.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty members are notified of their awards mid-November and can begin the hiring process either right away or in the February.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty who are funded will be &#8220;<strong>CURI Academic Year Project Leaders<\/strong>&#8221; for use on their cv&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li>Students may not receive academic credit for their CURI project.<\/li>\n<li>Program runs Monday of the first full week of spring semester through Reading Day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Apply for spring funding (closed)<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Procedures and Criteria for Summer Research Projects<a id=\"summer\"><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Summer Timeline &amp; Process for Faculty<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Faculty applications open in November and are due very early December.<\/li>\n<li>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1CnUcj_8SdytecIbIC1oZVh3g1OV9pAWS2VPdl3LRuKk\/edit?tab=t.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guidelines<\/a> for faculty proposals.<\/li>\n<li>Notifications of project awards, typically Dec 12-22.<\/li>\n<li>Student applications open in mid January and are due mid February.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty decisions on student researchers due by early March.<\/li>\n<li>Student offers early March.<\/li>\n<li>Student decisions mid March.<\/li>\n<li>Program runs end of May to early August.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty who are funded will be &#8220;<strong>CURI Summer Project Leaders<\/strong>&#8221; for use on their cv&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li>Questions contact CURI at curi@stolaf.edu.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"cta\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1asSn2Veg_dYbW3A1ADf3l3uXzT6zKxbEm8m3sHgSvOo\/preview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apply for summer funding (closed)<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Criteria for Funding Summer CURI Projects<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>CURI funding will depend upon the following criteria.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a50b9\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Stage 1: Scoring for fit with CURI Intended Learning Outcomes\"    >Stage 1: Scoring for fit with CURI Intended Learning Outcomes<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a50b9\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The CURI Advisory Committee will assess proposals for their attention to the Intended Learning Outcome (below):<\/p>\n<p>1. The ability to recognize and articulate meaningful questions in the chosen area of study.<br \/>\n2. The ability to conduct research using methods appropriate to the field(s) of study.<br \/>\n3. The ability to find and interpret scholarly and creative works relevant to their project.<br \/>\n4. The ability to explain the research project and present the results to a variety of audiences.<br \/>\n5. The ability to work collaboratively.<\/div>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a515b\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Stage II: Distributing resources\"    >Stage II: Distributing resources<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a515b\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0We use the following criteria in that discussion:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>We aim for diversity in disciplines funded.<\/li>\n<li>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&#8217; independent study.<\/li>\n<li>We expect proposals to specify the benefit to the student. CURI&#8217;s goal is to support authentic student scholarship, not projects that put the student in the role of simply a worker.<\/li>\n<li>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&#8217;s research.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>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.<\/div>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a5190\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Stage III: Student applications\"    >Stage III: Student applications<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a5190\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \"><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Students will be invited to peruse projects descriptions, and apply for up to three projects for which they would like to be considered.<\/p>\n<p>Please do not make promises to students before you review all applications. Formal announcements of acceptance will be sent by the CURI office.\u00a0 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.<\/div>\n<h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><em><strong><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a51b9\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Why get involved in undergraduate research?\"    >Why get involved in undergraduate research?<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a51b9\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \"><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Opportunity to get to know students outside of the classroom.<\/li>\n<li>Reward of passing on knowledge and skill while watching students grow academically under one\u2019s guidance.<\/li>\n<li>Give students a sense of the various career paths that may be taken to get to where you are today.<\/li>\n<li>Faculty can enrich their own research with properly structured projects.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a51e1\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"What is expected of me as an undergraduate research\/inquiry faculty mentor?\"    >What is expected of me as an undergraduate research\/inquiry faculty mentor?<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a51e1\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \"><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Set clear and high standards for student performance.<\/li>\n<li>Offer opportunities such as co-publishing and\/or conference presentations when appropriate.<\/li>\n<li>Give both positive feedback and constructive criticism.<\/li>\n<li>Frequent, regularly scheduled communication with students, answering all questions to the best of one\u2019s ability in a timely manner.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a5209\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"What are the best ways to inform students of an available position on my research team?\"    >What are the best ways to inform students of an available position on my research team?<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a5209\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \"><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>Students may be intimidated to meet with a faculty member out of the blue.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Students may also be able to formulate questions about current projects prior to meeting with the faculty member.<\/li>\n<li>Your summer project will be advertised via Oracle and on the CURI website.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a522e\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"How do I order supplies for my project?\"    >How do I order supplies for my project?<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a522e\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \"><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In early May you will receive an e-mail from the CURI director with your Oracle cost string number along with an approved amount you are able to spend on supplies for your project.<\/li>\n<li>You may order supplies through your team AAA or yourself.<\/li>\n<li>Remember to use St. Olaf\u2019s tax exempt status and save all receipts.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a5252\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Can I accept student volunteers for my project?\"    >Can I accept student volunteers for my project?<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a5252\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \"><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is each faculty member&#8217;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.<\/li>\n<li>All faculty choosing to accept volunteers must have them complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/hr\/files\/2013\/01\/Volunteer-Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Volunteer Registration Form<\/a> from Human Resources\u00a0<em>before they begin working on the project.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Please inform the CURI office when you accept volunteers into your project so we can include them in communications.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Procedures and Criteria for<\/strong> <strong>Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowships<a id=\"Magnus\"><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Magnus the Good awards support faculty-student collaborations dedicated to research and\/or reflection in any discipline. Supported by the &#8220;Magnus the Good Endowed Fund,&#8221; these Fellowships celebrate the ideals of the former Paracollege, by encouraging opportunities to extend and apply classroom learning.<\/p>\n<p>Initiated in 2003,\u00a0 the \u201cMagnus the Good Endowed Fund,\u201d established by friends of the former Paracollege, honors several important values of the college, including that (1) both faculty and students learn and grow when they collaborate in one-on-one partnerships for research and\/or reflection, and (2) students learn well through having opportunities to extend and apply classroom learning. Magnus the Good projects support any and all disciplines. Projects can run in the summer, fall semester, J-term, spring semester, or any combination of terms.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Applications are collaboratively submitted by the student-faculty partnership. They open in February and are generally due in mid-March. The specific due date for a particular academic year is posted on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/summer-undergraduate-research-2\/\">applications page<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>If you are offered and accept a position, you will be a \u201c<strong>Magnus the Good Fellow.<\/strong>\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Students receive a stipend (not to exceed $1500) based on the number of hours they work for the duration of the project; they will not receive academic credit for their Magnus the Good work.<\/li>\n<li>A faculty member will receive a $1000 stipend for their work on a collaboration, prorated if the student works fewer than 40 hours. If there is more than one faculty mentor, the stipend will be shared.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a527a\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship Details\"    >Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship Details<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a527a\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Awards support faculty-student teams with stipends as described above and support budgets of up to $2000. Faculty\/student teams needing more than $2000 in support (e.g. if travel expenses are high) can choose to forgo all or part of their stipends. Please contact the CURI Director if this is the case.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Depending on the length of the project, teams will be required to submit progress reports on one or more of the following dates: July 15, October 15, February 15, and May 15. Stipends will be paid in equal amounts after each required reporting date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Funds may be used to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>help with specific costs of the proposed project, such as supplies or travel;<\/li>\n<li>the cost of presenting the work at appropriate forums;<\/li>\n<li>provide incidental materials support for the faculty member involved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>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 who will be enrolled at St. Olaf for the duration of the project.<\/li>\n<li>Projects can be based in any and all disciplines and fields. Fellows may pursue their project during the summer or academic year.<\/li>\n<li>The award can fund projects to be carried out at any time starting June 1, but must be completed by May 31 of the following year.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a529e\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship Expectations\"    >Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship Expectations<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a529e\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<\/em><\/strong>The selection committee seeks applications that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Situate the proposed project in the context of the student\u2019s interests and work, and also in the context of the faculty member\u2019s interests and work, making clear the value of participating in the project to each of the applicants.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em><span class=\"collapseomatic \" id=\"id69deb812a52c3\"  tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship Application Process\"    >Magnus the Good Collaborative Fellowship Application Process<\/span><div id=\"target-id69deb812a52c3\" class=\"collapseomatic_content \">\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Proposals must be submitted collaboratively by the student(s) and faculty mentor(s), generally due in mid-March. The information needed includes the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the names of the proposers;<\/li>\n<li>the title of the proposed project;<\/li>\n<li>a full description of the project, as well as an abstract that can be used for announcements and other public uses;<\/li>\n<li>a total support budget for the project, not to exceed $2000, and details on how it will be used;\n<ul>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>an estimate of the number of hours per week that the student(s) will work and the number of hours per week that the team will be on contact with one another;<\/li>\n<li>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;<\/li>\n<li>specify which collaborator is working on what pieces of the project;<\/li>\n<li>a statement of how the results of the project will be shared with the public.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A review committee convened by the CURI Director will announce recipients of the Fellows by end of March.<\/div>\n<p><!-- begin-migrated-from-panel-builder --><!-- end-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research\/artistry is a great opportunity for faculty to collaborate with enthusiastic and high-quality undergraduate students, further enriching their education. This can also be a chance to spark a student\u2019s interest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-213","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213"}],"version-history":[{"count":103,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4133,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213\/revisions\/4133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/curi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}