Writing a Successful URA Proposal

• A clear statement of purpose describing what the project will accomplish, understandable to educated professionals who may not work in the field being researched. The statement must put the project in the context of the bigger picture
• Description of independent work to be conducted by the student. The project may be a part of a larger effort by the mentor, but the student should not be solely acting as a technician for the
  mentor’s work.

What makes a successful URA proposal?
~An explanation of what new information, scholarship, knowledge, or creative work will result from the project.

• A motivation statement explaining why this research is important.
• A methods section describing how the student will accomplish the project. This should be detailed enough so that a diverse evaluation committee can clearly understand how the student will proceed.
• A description demonstrating the feasible completion of the project within the time available, given the student’s preparation and the methods described.
• Evidence that the student has conducted a comprehensive literature review on the topic and is aware of current knowledge in the field.
• Information about the student’s background with respect to the research. If the student is to work in a laboratory, has he or she worked in the lab before? If the student is to create original choreography, has he or she received appropriate training?
• Where travel is involved, a clear statement of why elements of the work need to be conducted at another location.
• Evidence that the student has identified a validated instrument if a survey is to be used.
• Where human subjects or personal data will be used, evidence that the project is certifiable by the Institutional Review Board.
• An evaluation plan describing how the project’s success will be measured.
• A dissemination plan stating where the work will be performed, published, or presented. This should include a description of how the results of the research will be shared both on and off campus including as appropriate departmental colloquia, Council of Majors, discipline-specific journals or conferences, a web page, a public show, or other activities.
• A budget that matches the proposal goals, providing some itemization and justification.
• Information regarding how the student will fund any outstanding costs if the overall project will cost more than $1,500.
• A description of the role of the mentor in the project. How will the student and the mentor communicate during the course of the project? What support will the mentor provide?
• Well-written, concise, and grammatically correct narrative.
• A transcript showing the applicant is academically successful and has completed the courses necessary to be prepared for the proposed research.
• A letter of support from the faculty mentor indicating knowledge of the student and his or her abilities as well as support of the project. The letter can further explain the importance of the work, the appropriate preparation of the student, and the feasibility of the work. The mentor’s commitment to working with the student must be included.
• Group projects must name a group leader/contact person. This person will receive the award payment. Group submissions should include a transcript for each member of the group and an explanation of how each member will contribute to the project. In a group project, all members will be considered URA Scholars.
• Two pages only addressing all topics on the proposal form; no page limit for transcripts.

• Valuable and feasible original projects submitted by students from any department, with support from a UMBC faculty mentor.
• Projects that will be completed before the student graduates. (Students graduating in December may apply for funding in February as long as their proposed URA research will be completed prior to graduation.)

Can my project be funded?
~ Students may seek URA funding for projects for independent study work, capstone projects, honors theses, and other efforts for which they will also receive credit.

• Team projects may be submitted but a single award will be provided to only the team leader.
• Proposed URA budgets may include:
  • Equipment or supplies specific to the project.
  • Payment or other rewards to subjects in a research project.
  • Photocopying or printing of project related materials.
  • Travel (local or long distance) if shown to be necessary to complete the project.
  • Cost of attending a special program which provides training or information which will then be used to complete the project. The program cannot be the URA project.
  • A stipend directly to the student researcher if explanation is provided that the student would otherwise be unable to conduct the research due to a necessity to work.

Note: URA payments are typically made via check to the URA Scholar at his or her home address. This award will be reported as income via IRS form 1099 at the end of the calendar year. With approval of the student, mentor, and departmental finance officer, funds may be transferred directly to the department, in which case they are not reported as income.

• Students may not apply in February if they will be graduating in May.

Can I get funds for a project that I have already completed?
~Students cannot receive funding retroactively for research they have already completed. They may, however, apply for funding to continue research.

• Research conducted outside of UMBC is funded only to the extent that the student is attending a conference, workshop, laboratory, archive, or event directly related to the research and will follow up with continued research, analysis, or creative work at UMBC with the support of a UMBC faculty member.
• Proposed URA budgets should not include:
  • Purchase cost of books or reference materials that can be accessed via libraries or the Internet.
  • Routine equipment that should be available through the sponsoring mentor or department. In particular, purchase of computer equipment is typically not funded. A laptop needed for field work, if not otherwise available, could be considered, with appropriate justification.
• The URA is meant to support students conducting research, not presenting completed research. Support for travel to a conference to present completed research findings is not allowed; however, funding is available for student travel to meetings, trainings, or other events that will help them conduct the research itself. For information on the Travel Awards initiative (supports students who have been accepted to present their completed research at conferences), see: https://ur.umbc.edu/travel/