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Class of 1971 Robert J. Holtz Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate English Research Grants  

Class of 1971 Robert J. Holtz Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Research

The Class of 1971 established this fund in honor of its 25th reunion and in memory of their classmate Robert J. Holtz to help pay the costs of research projects proposed by students. Grants are awarded by a committee composed of the Director of CURF, two faculty members, and one member of the class of 1971

The grants will be administered according to the following guidelines:

  1. The project shall represent original research or scholarship allowing the student to make a significant contribution to knowledge.
  2. The project shall be largely conceived and executed by the student and not simply represent faculty research in which the student assists.
  3. While students inherently must investigate their projects before applying for funding, grants will be made only for projects to be carried out after the proposal has been approved. Decisions will be made in April of each academic year for projects that are to be conducted during the summer or the following academic year. In no case will projects already completed be funded.
  4. Each project shall have a faculty advisor who will normally be a member of the SAS standing faculty. In some cases, a qualified advisor from outside the SAS faculty may be appropriate, subject to the approval of the student's undergraduate chair or program director.
  5. Students awarded these grants are expected to prepare a formal research paper on their project and to present their work orally at a meeting of faculty and peers. Presentation meetings will be organized by CURF and held during or before the next Alumni Weekend. Copies of the papers shall also be submitted to the Class of 1971. Recipients are expected to complete their projects before graduation, and therefore students in their final semester are ineligible to apply.
  6. Funding provided should be used to help defray the student's research costs and should not be a substitute for financial aid nor for the advisor's research funding. Types of expense to which the funds may be applied include travel to libraries, museums, archives, and research sites; living expenses that would enable the student to remain at the University during the summer; research equipment and supplies, including books, films, and photocopying; computer or laboratory fees; and, specialized computer peripherals and software. (Reimbursement of living expenses may be taxable.) Items that cost $500 or more with a useful life of one year or more must be purchased with a University purchase requisition and will remain the property of the University. The maximum award is $1,000 and students will be expected to submit a final report of expenditures to CURF.
  7. All applicants must be members in good standing of the University of Pennsylvania community.

Application Procedures

Prepare your proposal in consultation with a prospective faculty advisor and with the undergraduate chair in your major department or your major program director. Your proposal should take the following form:

  1. Completed Application Form. Download Application form. Printed copies are available at CURF.
  2. Short abstract (on a separate page; no longer than 100 words)
  3. Objectives and Methodology (2 pages maximum)
    • State the objectives and relevance of the proposed work in terms intelligible to an educated non-specialist.
    • Evaluate existing knowledge and work in the area and provide a brief background summary to the proposed work.
    • Describe the design and procedures to be employed and provide a timetable and implementation plan for completion of the project.
  4. Itemized Budget, plus total (on a separate page). List each budget item in order of priority and justify it in terms of the work proposed. The amount given may be less than requested.
Request a letter of recommendation from your advisor. In this letter, your faculty advisor should discuss the feasibility of the project and the adequacy of your preparation to undertake it. The letter should make clear the nature and extent of the your contribution in formulating and carrying out the project. This letter should be sent directly to CURF. Please give your advisor the attached form including the optional waiver of your right of access to that letter.
Download Recommendation Form

Obtain the signature of your project advisor and your undergraduate chair on the application form.

Make copies of the entire application (items 1, 2, 3 and 4 from above). Submit 5 collated but unstapled copies, plus the originals with signatures for a total of 6 sets), to Cheryl Shipman, Research Coordinator, Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF), The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk/6224.

Research involving animal or human subjects or hazardous materials must also be submitted at the same time for approval by the relevant University oversight committees. Students should consult with their advisors to correctly complete those forms.

Deadlines and Timeframes

Completed applications and letters from advisors must be submitted by March 1. Applications with late material risk being not considered. Proposals will be reviewed in late April and all applicants will be notified promptly of selection results.

Your funds will be transfered to your departmental business administer (BA) along with a copy of your budget. The BA will be asked to reimburse you for receipts you present which reasonably match the amounts and purposes you listed on your budget.

Contact

Cheryl Shipman
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6224
shipman@pobox.upenn.edu
215-898-6066

 

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Last updated on October 31, 2006