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Willamette University  The First University in the West

Office of Student Academic Grants & Awards

Information Sheet for Carson Scholars

Carson Scholars Program: Carson Grants offer Willamette undergraduates the opportunity to undertake a scholarly, creative, or professional research project during the summer.

The Award:

 Approximately 10 grants of up to $3,000 are available each year.

 All currently enrolled sophomore and juniors are eligible to apply for a Carson Grant.[*]

 Proposals must be approved and endorsed by a Sponsor, who is responsible for overseeing the project to completion and evaluating the finished product.

 Projects may be individual or collaborative.

Selection Criteria:

 The applicant has the demonstrated ability, and the academic or creative background necessary to carry out and complete the project.

 The project is sufficiently significant and challenging that it will enhance the student's intellectual and creative development. Sponsors will be asked to address the project's contribution to the student's development in their recommendation.

 The project is well-conceived, well-planned, and likely to be completed within the summer grant period.

 The project will lead to a definable product, as in a scholarly paper, a public presentation, performance, or exhibit.

 The project is conceived independently of coursework, and is not designed to be used as academic credit.

 The Sponsor's role is adequately articulated, and the Sponsor has the necessary time, training, and expertise to supervise the student.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can the $3,000 be used for?

You can use a Carson Grant to fund travel, purchase equipment, or for personal expenses. Former Scholars have used their funds to pursue research in Cuba and in Okinawa, Japan; to purchase computer or video equipment; or for room and board.

Can I apply for both a Carson and study abroad my junior year?

Many Carson Scholars have applied for grants while studying abroad; applications may be emailed to Dr. Monique Bourque, Student Academic Grants and Awards. However, if you are considering studying abroad in the fall semester, you may not be able to complete a Carson Grant successfully, particularly if the program begins as early as July or August.

Can I do a Carson Project during the school year?

No. Carson Grants are intended to fund summer projects, and cannot be used for independent study or research projects during the academic year.

What if I can’t finish my project over the summer?

You should design a project that can be successfully completed in three months. Projects should be completed, approved by the sponsor, and submitted to Student Academic Grants and Awards by Nov. 1.

Do I have to do a presentation?

Yes. A requirement of the Carson Grant program is for all Scholars to give a formal presentation to the campus community. Presentations are normally given in the fall semester.

Is it necessary to stay in Salem?

No. You can work on a Carson project anywhere. It all depends on the individual project. Some projects involve travel; some, like science research, require specialized laboratory equipment. Many projects can be done anywhere.

What is the difference between the Carson Grant and the Presidential Senior Scholar Program?

The Presidential Senior Scholarship is awarded to two CLA juniors who will write a “super senior thesis” the following year. Presidential Scholars also receive academic credit for their project.

Carson grants fund summer projects only, and are not for academic credit. Moreover, Carson projects do not have to be in the student’s major.

Can I apply for both Carson and Presidential Grants my junior year?

You may apply for both. However, students will not be awarded both a Carson and a Presidential Scholarship.

Application Requirements:

A complete Carson Grant application consists of:

1. The application form, also available at http://www.willamette.edu/dept/saga/doc/carson_application_form.doc
2. A Sponsor recommendation http://www.willamette.edu/dept/saga/doc/carson_sponsor_form.doc
3. Current transcript (unofficial is fine).
4. Research Proposal: Your proposal should be typed, double-spaced, up to a maximum of eight pages. Please observe the following format:

a) Project Description. Explain the purpose of your project. Be specific and direct. Include your anticipated arguments/hypotheses, references to literature relevant to your discipline, and the significance of your research.

b) Methods. Describe, as specifically as possible, your research methods (how you will accomplish your project's goals). For example, if your project includes a survey, indicate how you will select a sample population and the ways in which you will analyze your data. If you are conducting a study of literature, provide an annotated bibliography of your principal sources and specify your critical/theoretical approach. For science projects, indicate what lab techniques you will employ and the methods of analysis.

c) Schedule. Provide a specific timetable for implementing the various steps of your research project.

d) Budget. As specifically as possible, provide a budget outline that covers personal expenses, supplies, travel expenses, per diem, or expenses related to attending conventions, festivals, etc.

e) Student Background. Identify your academic courses, extracurricular activities, or other experiences that will enable you to accomplish this project. Be thorough. The information you provide should convince the committee of your interest in and ability to carry out the proposed project. If there are inconsistencies or gaps in your academic record, or additional causes for concern, you should also address those here.

f) Importance to Student. Explain why this project is important to you, and the role it plays in your development--personal, academic, and/or professional.

For more information and tips on submitting a Carson application, please visit our Carson website at http://www.willamette.edu/dept/saga/carson/index.htm

Writing Grant Proposals

Proposals—for scholarships, grants, or study programs—share a principal goal: persuading the readers that your project deserves their support. The best proposals anticipate the kinds of questions that an evaluator is likely to ask.

Proposal formats will vary, but in general, proposals should answer the following questions:

1. What are you going to do?

2. Why does it need to be done?

3. Where have you gone for other information?

4. How are you going to do it?

5. Why should we think you can do it?

For example, looking at the format for the Carson Grant proposal, the first three questions are components of section I, “project description.” Question #4 includes methods, schedule, and budget—sections II, III, and IV. And Question #5 consists of your background and the project’s importance to you.

As you draft and revise your proposal, use the following questions to guide you. (Not every question will be applicable to your particular project.)

Project Description

What do you propose to do? What are your goals? What do you anticipate the results will be? Where does your project fit within the relevant discipline or area of study? How is your project distinct from other studies, research, or creative endeavors? Why is it important? Why does it need to be done? (This is different from “why I want to do it.”)

Methods, Schedule, Budget

How will you collect the data and information that you need? What sources will you consult? What approach will you take? What techniques will you use? How long will it take? Have you broken the project down into phases? How much will it cost? Have you itemized expenses? Can you justify them?

Background and Importance to You

What relevant coursework have you taken? Do you have other experiences—work, volunteer, extracurricular activities—that will be useful? If this is a creative project, can you demonstrate that you have experience writing, drawing, composing? Why do you want to undertake this project? Does it fit in with your academic goals or career plans?

Tips for a good proposal:

Ask your sponsor to read and critique a draft of your proposal. Ask friends whose advice you value to read a draft as well (former Carson Scholars are excellent resources). Is your project description clear? If they don’t quite get it, chances are the committee won’t either.

Be kind to the Grants and Awards committee. We have many applications to read in a short time.

• Follow the prescribed format; don’t make us hunt for information. It slows us down and makes us cranky.
• Don’t use jargon; chances are, we are not experts in your field. Write for the educated generalist.
• Get rid of all grammatical, typographical and spelling errors. Mistakes are annoying—not to mention unprofessional. Make sure your proposal looks and sounds professional; it shows us that this is important to you and that you care what we think.
• Put your name and the page number at the top right-hand corner of each page.

Finally, don’t miss the February deadline! We’re on a tight schedule; late proposals won’t be considered.

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[*] Juniors who received a grant as sophomores may not apply for a second grant.