Step 2: Discuss Your Project with Your Faculty Sponsor
Step 3: Completing all parts of the Application Forms
Download the following five (5) forms by clicking on them
- Application Cover Form / Timetable
- Proposal Narrative
- Itemized Budget Request Form
- Expected Outcomes and Description of Faculty/Sponsor's Involvement in Project
- Faculty Sponsor Recommendation Form
A complete application must include all five (5) forms:
Application Cover Sheet (form provided)
Please provide all requested information.
Group Projects(if applicable): On the Application Cover Sheet, please list the name of the student who will be the spokes person for the group. One a separate page, list the names of all individuals involved in the project and indicate each individual's expected contribution or role.
Projects dealing with the use of human subjects: Institutional Review Board approval must be obtained for any research that involves the use of human participants. This includes questionnaires, interviews, surveys, observations and secondary use of data such as medical charts. Projects in psychology, sociology, education, political science, journalism, and nursing often require IRB approval. Please contact MSU’s IRB Administrative Coordinator, Sally Mateja, in the Institutional Review Board Office (Room 328 Wells Hall) to obtain the necessary forms before you submit your proposal or access the forms on line at campus.murraystate.edu/administ/irb/msu_irb_home_page.htm . The e-mail address for the IRB is IRB@murraystate.edu and the phone number is 809-2916. If possible, a copy of the IRB Committee’s decision should be included with your application. URSA Grant funds may not be used until a copy of the IRB Committee’s approval is on file in the URSA Office.
Projects dealing with the use of animals: For projects that in any way deal with animals, approval must be obtained from Murray State University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Submit a paper copy of your proposal to the chair of IACUC, Mr. Michael Wetherholt, Office of Sponsored Programs (Room 328 Wells Hall). URSA Grant funds may not be used until a copy of the IACUC approval is on file in the URSA Office.
Other required approval: If your project deals with toxic, flammable or reactive chemicals, ionizing radiation, biologically hazardous agents, recombinant DNA or carcinogenic substances, approval must be obtained from MSU’s Laboratory Safety and Officer, Ms. Gay Rollins (Room 09, Blackburn Science Hall).
Project Proposal (forms provided)
The proposal narrative must provide a thorough and specific discussion of your research, scholarly or creative work. When writing your proposal, please keep in mind that it will be read by a panel of individuals who represent a broad cross section of disciplinary areas. It is, therefore, best to keep the use of technical jargon to a minimum.
In your proposal, you must address each of the four topics listed below. Failure to address any one of these issues may disqualify your application.
1. Proposal Narrative (maximum length: 3 double-spaced, typed pages): This section of the proposal must include a statement of the problem, a discussion of your method of inquiry and a description of your expected outcomes. It is not sufficient to simply state the problem. This section of the proposal should also include relevant citations and a discussion of what your final product will be (paper/presentation/work of art).
2. Timetable (maximum length: 1 page): Provide a timetable showing the time allotted to perform each major element of your project.
3. Relation of Project to Faculty Member’s Work (max. length: 1/2 page, double-spaced, typed page): Discuss the relationship of your work to that of your faculty mentor’s research, scholarly or creative interests.
4. Educational Objectives (max. length: 1/2 page, double-spaced, typed page): Discuss your educational objectives in undertaking the project. Describe any past experience relevant to the project that you might have had.
The above materials are to be prepared by the student submitting the URSA Grant application. Faculty are encouraged to provide guidance but the majority of the work should be that of the student.
Itemized Budget Request Form (form provided)
You may request up to $500 for supplies, expenses and research-related travel directly related to your project. List each item and its cost, briefly explaining its importance to your project. Non-itemized expenses will not be funded. The Itemized Budget Request Form must be used for this part of your proposal.
· Travel: Expenses for local travel are not covered, though travel outside your immediate area to a research site or to a library in another town to do literature search are allowed. The URSA Grant will cover mileage and lodging, but not food. Mileage should be computed at 35 cents per mile.
· Office supplies: Minor expenses for standard office supplies (e.g., file folders, paper, computer paper, pencils, etc.) or books available in a library are not covered.