Summer Time Academic Research (STAR) Award

The STAR Awards (Summer Time Academic Research) program is a competitive, early-career program through which Human Ecology graduate students engage in mentored research or scholarly creative projects during the summer. The award provides up to $2,500 and is designed to enable the student to: (a) engage in innovative research/creative scholarship-related learning that enriches and informs their scholarly portfolio; and (b) be mentored by a SoHE faculty member or an expert outside the School (approved by Dept. Chair).

Note: Students applying for the Dissertation, MS Thesis, MFA Project Awards are not eligible to apply for a STAR Award. Priority will be given to students who have not yet received STAR award support.

Required Application Materials

1. Project description (no more than two pages) that includes the purpose, methods/approach, and significance. Quality project descriptions will address how the project relates to the student’s career goals, including how they may use the award as a stepping stone to future research/creative scholarly endeavors. Students should also address how the faculty/expert mentor will be involved in seeing the project through to completion.
2. Budget page and justification of expenditures needed in order to complete the project
3. Timeline for completing the project
4. Curriculum vitae—one page maximum, including cumulative GPA
5. A confidential letter from the faculty advisor* regarding the merits of the student’s proposal, including a statement on how the student’s project will be completed in a timely manner

*Advisors submitting recommendations for more than one student should make clear distinctions between students regarding the merits of each individual’s work. Students whose project is mentored by an expert outside of the School should request a letter of support from that individual and a letter of approval from the student’s Department Chair.

Review Criteria
Applications will be evaluated and ranked by the SoHE Graduate Program Committee (GPC) according to the following criteria:

1. Overall quality and clarity of proposal;
2. Clear case made for the relevance of the project to the student’s scholarly and professional work;
3. Student’s academic record (GPA and other indicators of academic and professional achievement);
4. Appropriateness of the proposed budget; and
5. Confidential letter of support from the student’s faculty advisor