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Summer Scholars Mentorship Program | CRCA Pilot Initiative

Proposal Deadline: Friday, May 10, 2024, 11:59 pm

This pilot program, sponsored by the Center for Research and Creative Activities, supports summer research or creative experiences for undergraduate students and faculty mentors. Student participants will work closely with faculty and peers, engage in community-building activities, develop a variety of research skills, and come to identify themselves as emerging scholars in their field.

Student researchers gain highly valued experience including critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and communication. Such experiences are high-impact indicators for improving retention, degree completion, and student success.

This is an entry-level opportunity for students, with no prior research experience required. In addition to rising seniors, faculty should have a plan to involve students from other stages in their academic development (first-year students, sophomores, or juniors).

Faculty mentors lead a team of students in a proposed research or creative project. Proposals should offer opportunities for undergraduates to gain skills like problem-solving and collaborating toward the design, implementation, and/or outcomes of a faculty-led project. Priority will be given to projects already in development with a plan for involving and mentoring students at a variety of stages in their academic development.

Role and Expectations of Faculty Mentors

CRCA is seeking proposals from faculty for projects that provide a mentored research or creative experience for students. Faculty mentors should have experience or willingness to mentor undergraduate students. Faculty should be available during the summer to ensure their student team receives mentorship.

Faculty can also propose a collaborative team project that includes more than one faculty mentor. The ratio of faculty to students should remain 1 faculty mentor for every 3-5 students.

Expectations:

• Engage in a summer research or creative project with 3-5 students.

• Lead team meetings, delegate specific tasks for students, and offer community-building experiences.

• Lead at least 3 team meetings that offer students resources, training in research-ready skills, and community building experience.

Award Amount

• Faculty will receive a $2,000 stipend for summer undergraduate mentorship.  

• Each student will receive $1,000 (for approximately 59 hours at the rate of $17/hour for participation over the summer).

• Possible funding for equipment and community-building events that bring students together on campus and/or locally.

Eligibility

All full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty and librarians at ´ºÃÎÖ±²¥ are invited to propose a summer research project or creative activity.

Details and Application Instructions

Applications for the Summer Scholars Mentorship Program pilot initiative should be , which contains more details about the program, expectations, deliverables, and more.

Applicants will submit basic identifying details, their CV, and a 2-3 page proposal document.

Application Review  

Proposals are reviewed by the University Research Advisory Committee, which is composed of faculty and librarians appointed by the MSCA union and administrators from CRCA. Since applications are read by faculty from various disciplines across the campus, applicants should avoid highly specialized terms and address their proposal to a well-educated general audience.  

The deadline for all applications is May 10, 2024 at 11:59pm.

Questions can be directed to CRCA at ssu-crca@salemstate.edu