GPSA GRANT READER TRAINING - PDF Free Download

GPSA GRANT READER TRAINING 1

WORKSHOP AGENDA 1. Your Job as a Reader 2. Overview of Grant Application Contents 3. Scoring Guidelines and Practice 4. The Reading Process 2

YOUR JOB AS A READER 3

YOUR JOB AS A GRANT READER Read and score 12-14 applications within one week after receiving them Ultimately determine which graduate and professional students will receive funding Be available to: score last minute applications re-read applications attend appeals and explain your scores and comments in person 4

APPLICANT-READER RELATIONSHIP Readers will remain anonymous to applicants Readers will not read applications from students in their department(s) Applicants will be matched with one reader from their self-selected perspective, one reader outside their perspective, and one random reader 5

PERSPECTIVES Fine Arts & Design (FAD): Includes any visual arts, performing arts, and other forms of creative production, including some work in architecture and planning. Humanities (HUM): Includes but is not limited to work in ethnology, history, literature, languages, philosophy, or religion. Often uses methods described as critical and/or interpretive. Science, Technology, and Engineering & Mathematics (STEM): Includes any work grounded in mathematics and/or the physical sciences, including computer science and medicine. Social & Behavioral Studies (SBS): Includes but is not limited to work in area studies, communication, education, law, management, public policy, psychology, and sociology. Often overlaps with humanities and/or STEM. 6

GRANT BASICS 7

STUDENT RESEARCH GRANT (SRG) Development and dissemination of research including travel expenses Airfare, registration, hotel and per diem Supplies and materials necessary for research Software (not already available from Department) Printing Costs Presentation Materials Data Collection Some types of equipment Conference at which applicant is PRESENTING 8

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT (PDG) Travel expenses that further the professional and career development of students: Conferences Classes Workshops Interviews Auditions Conferences at which applicant is NOT PRESENTING 9

NEW MEXICO RESEARCH GRANT (NMRG) Split Between General Priority and High Priority Up to $5,000 High Priority: requires collaboration with a NM State Agency Will fund: Research expenses, including travel Permanent equipment and/or supplies not available through department Travel expenses to collect data Transcription expenses Will not fund: Salaries or stipends Travel expenses or other fees associated with a conference or workshop The purchase of computers Tuition and supplies/books for classes Any publication or subscription costs Requires letter(s) of recommendation 10

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP FUND (GSF) $1,000 Designed to help students complete their degrees Must be within (3) three semester of graduation Need based 50% of application based on financial need Requires FAFSA 11

APPLICATION COMPONENTS 1. Anonymous Proposal 2. Anonymous Budget 3. Anonymous Signed Verification Letter 4. Anonymous Letter(s) of Recommendation (NMRG Only) 12

APPLICATION ANONYMITY Applications should not include applicant s name in the proposal or budget. If an applicant s name is left on the application, the reader should score the application ONLY if the reader does not know the person. Immediately email gpsafunding@unm.edu to report a breach of anonymity. If any reader thinks s/he knows the applicant, contact the Grants Chair to request a different grant. 13

REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATION If an applicant applies for the incorrect grant If the application is not complete If the applicant is ineligible for the activity being applied for based on grants criteria If an application element is missing (eg, proposal, verification letter, budget) Send email to gpsafunding@unm.edu with disqualification information and the application ID 14

SCORING GUIDELINES 15

SCORING KEY POINTS Read entire batch BEFORE scoring Score consistently based on scoresheet criteria Determine what each score criterion means to you Do not judge one academic activity over another Do not judge applicants ideologies, research content, etc. 16

COMMENTS Comments are required on ALL applications Comments are evidential facts used in the case of appeals, so be very specific and detailed Be precise and use examples from the text Comments are available to all applicants and should be thorough, fair, and specific Give comments that will help applicants learn how to improve their next application. 17

PDG/SRG SCORESHEET Background (25 points) Benefits (30 points) Composition (15 points) Budget (30 points) 18

BACKGROUND (25 POINTS) Applicant paints a clear picture of who she is and why she is seeking funding. Professional interests and stage in program are clearly stated. Activity is described in detail (names & dates). Activity is put in context of applicant s field at large. 19

BACKGROUND EXAMPLE Poor: I am a poor student seeking funding for my dissertation research. Better: In my current studies as a second year doctoral student in the department of history, I have been researching homosexual oppression in the United States with the intent to publish a scholarly article. 20

BENEFITS (30 POINTS) Applicant shows how the activity benefits her, her field, and UNM. Benefits are clearly linked to applicant s academic and/or professional development. Benefits to the academic community are clearly stated. 21

BENEFITS EXAMPLE Poor: Presenting this research will allow me to share my highly specialized knowledge with a broader community of like-minded people. Better: My research corresponds directly with the goals of several international research societies and expands on the information surrounding freshwater ecosystems. Presenting my work that was conducted in New Mexico on an international stage will affirm UNM s position at the forefront of freshwater research programs. 22

COMPOSITION (15 POINTS) Applicants should not use jargon. Applicants should define technical terms. Applicants who sound smart should not be favored and scored higher. Academic styles vary, so content should be scored based on how well the writer communicates to a general academic audience. Applications are free of grammatical and spelling errors. 23

BUDGET (30 POINTS) The budget should be: economical (there should be a good reason for The Four Seasons) well-researched (such as airline and equipment details) complete (the entire activity budget should be line itemed) Readers should not evaluate the total budget amount requested Readers may evaluate budgets based on WHAT is requested 24

BUDGET EXAMPLE Budget Item Description Amount Funded by PDG Southwest Airlines Flight Lodging at Holiday Inn Roundtrip ABQ to Baltimore. Depart 5-9-2014 Return 5-11-2014 Cheapest flight on skyscanner.com Cheapest hotel a few blocks away from the conference (which is held at hilton). Total cost is $158.40 and I am splitting the cost with another student Other Sources of Funding $400 $400 Also requested from OGS. $158.40 $100 Requesting CFA departmental funding Other Sources $0 $58.40 Conference Registration Student Rate $145 $0 Requesting departmental funding, otherwise out of pocket expense. $145 Conference Association Membership Membership fee $50 $0 Out of pocket $50 Meals Per Diem, Wed. evening- Sun. evening Breakfast free w/ hotel Lunch provided by conference Dinner estimated $20/night $40 $0 Requesting departmental funding, otherwise out of pocket expense. $40 Shuttle to/from Baltimore airport. supershuttle.com $34 $0 Requesting departmental funding, otherwise out of pocket expense. $34 25

THE READING PROCESS 39

THE READING PROCESS Grants will be assigned to readers after application deadline (Oct.3rd) Do not start reading early! (A Green Light Email will be sent.) All applications should be scored within one week of receiving them Any re-reads will be assigned after the first round is completed Please check your emails frequently during the end process in the possibility that straggling applications are assigned 40

ONLINE SCORING SYSTEM Login in at gpsagrants.unm.edu/grants/user Dashboard shows application ID, department, and individual readers scores If there is difficulty signing in, click Log out and try again 41

SCORE NORMALIZATION Creates a spread of scores otherwise applicants are punished as average even if readers give perfect scores across all scoring categories Your score will be normalized: (Your Score) x (All Readers Average) Your Average Score = Normalized Score 42

STIPEND $50 for up to 14 grants. $100 for 20+ Stipends are paid as a scholarship (and may take up to four weeks to process) Contact Ivy at SGAO (505-277-7888) with questions 43