THE GAINES FELLOWSHIP JURY PROJECT

THE JURY PROJECT

As a major part of the Gaines Fellowship Program, each student is required to undertake a jury project during the junior year of the Fellowship. Fellows are asked to design and, whenever possible, implement a project that enhances the community in some way (by adding value, solving a problem, filling a need). Fellows must combine research, community analysis, and imagination in support of a project that is presented to a jury in writing and orally. Jury members serve as mentors during the design phase (fall semester and the beginning of spring semester) and as evaluators of the project midway through spring semester. A list of prior jury projects may be found on the Gaines Center’s website.

Jury members are selected in consultation with Gaines Center director of student services. The four-person jury is typically made up of one “gown” individual, a UK faculty or staff member or administrator; one “town” individual, someone who is not directly affiliated with UK; the Fellow’s senior mentor; and the Gaines Center’s director of student services.

THE FELLOW'S RESPONSIBILITY
/ THE JURY’S RESPONSIBILITY
Each Fellow or small team of Fellows is responsible for selecting the project’s focus and providing a prospectus for it; for carrying out the research, site analysis, and project design and for keeping records of those activities; for meeting with jurors to obtain advice and feedback throughout the duration of the project; for presenting the final project to the jury; and for responding to the jury’s comments and questions during the presentation. The final project consists of
(1) a well-written essay of some seven to ten pages that creates an argument for the project based upon research, lays out the goals of the project, and explains how the project serves those goals; and
(2) demonstrative materials such as a well-prepared model that might be put on public display, mock-ups or actual copies of a publication, a visual report or archive (e.g., PowerPoint or website) documenting actions serving the community according to the project rationale.
The Fellow is also responsible for keeping in regular contact with his or her jurors (scheduling mutually convenient meetings, providing progress reports or drafts of work to the jury members, etc.). The Fellow should spend approximately 40-45 hours on the jury project; the jury project is worth one hour of the four-hour course Gaines seminar course given in the spring. / The jury oversees and guides the Fellow’s preparation of the project. Although the bulk of the responsibility for the project is the Fellow’s, jurors should offer adviceand constructive criticismto the Fellow throughout the course of the project, with the goal of helping the student structure the project so that it may be implemented and have a positive impact in the community for which it is designed. Such advice should be directed to methodology, critical commentary in the field, site analysis, and organization of the proposal or presentation.
Jurors are asked to meet with the Fellow twice before the final presentation in mid-spring, though more frequent meetings may be scheduled at times that are mutually convenient for the juror and Fellow.
The time commitment for jurors is approximate: two consultation meetings (typically 1 hour or less) and one presentation meeting in February or early March (typically 1 hour). The Gaines Center and its Fellows are grateful for any additional time given to communicating about the project by phone, email, or in person.
The jury evaluates and provides feedback onthe project based on the general criteria given below. Jury project guidelines and sample evaluation forms are available on the Gaines Center’s website,
  • Appropriateness of the project to its intended purpose and site or community (including the sustainability of the project, when appropriate). Does the project enhance the community? Does it have the intended impact?
  • Overall quality of presentation, usefulness of the essay, effectiveness of other demonstrative materials.
  • Has the fellow managed the project’s development professionally (scheduling meetings, receptive to constructive criticism, keeping in regular contact with jury, submitting essay a week in advance of the presentation, etc.).

THE SCHEDULE

Project proposals due—10/4/2016

Jury participation agreements due—11/15/2016

Project Progress Report due (share with jurors)—12/08/2016

Project Progress Report including date/time of final presentation due (share with jurors)—2/07/2017

Complete drafts of written portion of Jury Project due to jury one week prior to presentation.

Jury Project Presentations scheduled at mutual convenience of Jury and Fellow in the month of February (can be scheduled earlier, but must occur no later than 3/03/2017).

Jury member’s name and email (please print): Jury member’s signature and date:

Fellow’s name and contact information (please print):

Note to Gaines Fellow: Please fill out the information above before asking your Juror to sign the agreement form, and then return the signed copy to the Gaines Center director of student services.