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2008 Davenport Study Grant Recipients
Davenport Study Grants 2008
February 15, 2008
TO: Members of the Classes of 2009 and 2010
FROM: Donald Moon, for the Davenport Committee
SUBJECT: Davenport Study Grants
Limited funds are available to
support student research and other student scholarly projects in public affairs
to begin this summer. Only current sophomores and juniors are eligible. These
funds are made available through a gift to Wesleyan University from the Surdna
Foundation in honor of Frederick Morgan Davenport, Wesleyan University Class of
1889, and Edith Jefferson Andrus Davenport, Wesleyan University, Class of 1897.
In past years, Davenport Scholarships
have been awarded to sophomores and juniors who have "demonstrated intellectual
and moral excellence and a concern for public affairs" and "who by their
personal qualities and vocational and scholarly intentions give greatest promise
of leadership in the public service." It is expected that most of the grants
will be concentrated in the social science departments and the CSS, but
applications will be accepted from majors in all areas of the University as long
as the proposed projects are related to public affairs.
Applications must contain: (1) a
title, (2) a brief description of the proposed project, its objectives and its
significance, including a discussion of the relevant scholarly literature; (3) a
statement discussing course work relating to the proposed project; (4) an
account of the methods for carrying it out; (5) a timetable for completion [a
project may continue through the academic year 2006-2007]; (6) a detailed
budget; (7) a copy of the student’s transcript [which you may copy from your
portfolio if you wish] and (8) a letter from the faculty member who will
supervise the project, carefully assessing its merit and the ability of the
applicant to carry it out successfully. Applications must be electronically
submitted AS AN ATTACHMENT and are not to exceed five double-spaced pages, in
addition to the supervisor’s letter. It is the applicant’s responsibility to
inform his or her faculty supervisor to submit a letter electronically AS AN
ATTACHMENT. Both the application and the faculty member’s letter must contain
the student’s name (with the last name listed first) followed by “Davenport
grant” in the subject line.
Funds are more limited this year than
they have been in the past, so competition for the awards will be keen and the
committee will examine each proposal closely, with special attention to the
scholarly value of the proposed research, the feasibility of the project, and
the reasonableness of the proposed budget. Students should make their proposals
as specific and detailed as possible, and support them with evidence of their
ability to complete the work according to a realistic schedule. They should
prepare the budget with special care, including only essential expenses and
showing precisely how the proposed budget supports the work being
proposed. Those planning to do research abroad should consult with Carolyn
Sorkin in the Office of International Studies about their plans and budgets.
Please note that research proposals involving human subjects may require IRB
approval; please see
http://www.wesleyan.edu/acaf/Institutional_Review_Board.html for additional
information.
All Davenport Scholars will receive a
minimum of $500, as stipulated by the terms of the Davenport Bequest.
Additional amounts of up to $2500 may be awarded, the amount depending on the
availability of funds and project needs. Total awards will generally be limited
to $3000, but successful applicants can apply for modest supplements if, during
their projects, it appears that the $3000 limit is too restrictive. An interim
report, 3-5 pages in length, is to be submitted in September. This report should
describe the work done with the grant money over the course of the summer and
how this work will advance the student's thesis or other honors projects during
the coming year. Upon completion of the project, each Davenport Scholar must
submit a brief report to the Committee on his/her activities, accomplishments,
and an accounting of expenditures beyond $500.
Applications will be judged by a
faculty committee composed of representatives of the five Public Affairs Center
departments. Criteria for judging applications include: the relevance of the
project to public affairs; the clarity and suitability of the project design;
the feasibility of the proposed project; the applicant's past academic record;
the evaluation submitted by the faculty member; and the realism of the proposed
budget. Senior thesis projects will receive priority.
All materials including
faculty recommendations must be submitted electronically to Davenport grant (davenport@wesleyan.edu),
by noon, Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Please include your WES. I.D,
Wesleyan Box No., email address, as well as your citizenship for tax purposes.
Announcement of grant awards will be made on or before May 1, 2008. Titles of
successful applications will also be posted on the PAC website,
www.wesleyan.edu/pac
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