Institute for the Humanities Graduate Student Summer Research Support Program

Request For Proposals

Calendar Year 2024

Recognizing that graduate students working towards their degree need time and resources to pursue research, internships, or other projects, The College of Arts & Sciences’ Dean’s Office and the Institute for the Humanities with departmental support is providing Summer Support of $1000.00 to graduate students pursuing humanities and social science projects. Graduate students who obtain the summer research support will be required to provide a sample of that research or project (a short paper or video, for example) that the Institute can display on its website.

INSTITUTE FOR THE HUMANITIES GRADUATE STUDENT SUMMER RESEARCH SUPPORT PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

General Information:

  • Eligibility: Graduate students pursuing either a masters or a PhD in the College of Arts and Sciences who are working on a humanities or humanities-related project are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to applicants who are able to demonstrate graduate-level knowledge of their field and who are able to explain their discipline and project clearly to non-specialists.
  • Awards will be announced April 2024. The support is for Summer 2024.
  • Graduate students who receive the support will be required to write a brief, one-paragraph report on what they achieved during the summer period with the funding. In addition, they must provide a sample from their project, internship, or research that demonstrate contributions to their field, which will be posted on the Institute for the Humanities website. Samples can include brief essays summarizing their findings or analysis; excerpts from book chapters, articles, or conference papers; or videos demonstrating their work at an internship, or in which they describe their project and research.

Proposal Specifics:

  • A complete proposal submission will contain a Proposal Cover Sheet (web form) and a Full Proposal Document described below and must follow the format described in this RFP.
  • You can enter the proposal submission portal by clicking theLogin button in the upper right of the Institute for the Humanities Graduate Summer Support webpage.
  • To create a new proposal and to enter the submission portal, click on the +New Proposal/Submission box.
  • The submission portal will request that you enter the following information in a web form (Cover Sheet):
    • Applicant NetID, Name, and Contact Information
    • Graduate advisor information
    • Departmental Affiliation
    • Project title
    • Abstract/Project summary (type in or cut and paste into box provided)
    • Status with the department: Do you plan to be enrolled or have an assistantship during the support summer? This information does not impact eligibility for the support but how it will be distributed.
  • The portal provides a browse and upload function to upload the Full Proposal Document (PDF format). The Full Proposal Document must consist of the following in a single PDF document not to exceed 10 pages (12-pt, Times New Roman font; one-inch margins, double-spaced):
    • A description of the degree field (for example English, history, communication), including the subject matter and methods specific to the field.
    • A detailed description of the applicant’s area of specialty within the degree field.
    • Specific goals for the summer, what exact project or internship the summer support would facilitate.
    • Description of the sample or excerpt of that summer project or internship that the student would provide at the end of the summer support period.
    • CV (2 pg)
  • Department Head and Business Manager information is required.
  • When you have entered all required information, uploaded the Full Proposal Document, reviewed all and are ready to submit, click the Submit for Approval box at the bottom of the page.
  • After successful submission, you will receive a confirmation screen and your Proposal will be routed to the Graduate Advisor and Department Head for review and approval. If you do not receive an electronic confirmation, please contact sknox@deanas.msstate.edu.
  • Once the department head approves, all are sent a confirmation and the proposal is routed automatically to the Institute for the Humanities director, where it will remain until the review process is complete.
  • Proposals must be submitted and approved through the department head via the A&S Funding Opportunities (IH Summer Support) Web Portal by April 19, 2024.
  • Questions about the nature of the Summer Support Program, the application process, or submission process can be directed to humanities@msstate.edu.

SRI Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel comprised of current A&S faculty that represent humanities fields of the college. Note that these reviewers are knowledgeable but not experts in your specific field. Please keep this in mind when writing the proposal summary and description. Proposals review much better when jargon is kept to a minimum and written for a knowledgeable non-expert audience. It is highly recommended that applicants discuss the project they would pursue with the summer support in advance of applying.

Merit review guidelines are as follows:

  1. Does the applicant demonstrate that they are knowledgeable in their field?
  2. Does the project or internship they are engaging for the summer contribute to the field or towards their growth as a scholar of their field?
  3. Are the goals for the time and funding allowed by the summer support clearly stated and achievable in that time frame?
  4. Is the project clearly described?
  5. Is it clear how this project is a humanities project or will make use of the humanities?
  6. Is there a clear path to peer-reviewed publication, performance, or exhibition?
  7. Will the sample or demonstration from the project or internship from the summer support be clear to a non-specialist viewer and help them understand the nature and importance of the applicant’s field?