Program Guidelines for Rowan Research Experience for Diversity and Inclusion (REDI)

Announcement Date: February 15, 2018

Application Due Date: March 31, 2018

Award Period: May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019

The Rowan Research Experience for Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) grants for students are designed to support research activities of Rowan students that promote and enhance diversity and inclusion at the University and furthers Rowan University’s diversity mission statement.

“Rowan University promotes a diverse community that begins with students, faculty, administration and staff who respect each other and value each other's dignity. By identifying and removing barriers and fostering individual potential, Rowan will cultivate a community where all members can learn and grow. The Rowan University community is committed to a safe environment that encourages intellectual, academic, and social interaction and engagement across multiple intersections of identities. At Rowan University, creating and maintaining a caring community that embraces diversity in its broadest sense is among the highest priorities.”

This funding program is the result of a collaborative partnership between the President’s Office and the Office of Research.

Who is eligible?

All Rowan students are eligible to receive a grant. Student research grants are for individual students.

How many grants will be awarded and for what amounts?

Up to $20,000 will be awarded for individual student research grants with a maximum of $2,500 per calendar year to encourage and foster undergraduate/graduate research activities that promotes diversity and equity. Students can budget for funding during the years in which they are a full time student and for a maximum period of 3 years.

Funding Information

  • Funding must be used during the period in which it is awarded.
  • Awards are for a maximum of $2,500 per year renewable up to a maximum of 3 years during which you have to be a full time student.
  • Funds must be transferable to a campus account. This includes departmental accounts in which your research will be housed.
  • Proposals must contain complete budget information outlining proposed project costs.

Application Procedure

To apply, please complete the application form online. As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload a file containing your proposal. Directions for preparing the proposal are provided in the following section.

Proposal Preparation

You must submit a proposal of no more than two single-spaced pages (upload as requested in the online application). No proposal longer than two pages will be considered. All pages of the proposal should have one-inch margins on all sides and all type should be 11 points in size or larger.

Applicants must submit the following information through the online Application Module. The narrative should be broken down into the following required sections:

  • Personal statement — briefly describe your personal background including any financial hardships you had to endure, special circumstances that speak to your strength and perseverance and why you are interested in research.
  • Education, work and other experience — explain any work or other experiences that speak to your commitment to diversity and inclusion.
  • Proposed research — explain your research project. You can seek out assistance from your faculty advisor for this portion of the proposal.
  • Future goals — describe your future career goals and how this research experience will be beneficial in achieving your future goal.

The following sections of the proposal, while also required, are excluded from the two-page limit:

Reference Letter — Please seek out a research mentor/advisor as soon as possible, if you do not have one yet. They must provide you with a reference letter, which you can then upload on to the submission site. The reference letter has to be included in your application to be considered complete.

    Detailed Budget (one page maximum) — Funds can be requested for any approved university expense. Rounding all figures to the nearest dollar, please include line items for each of the following categories:
    • Tuition
    • Stipend
    • Supplies (please itemize)
    • Travel
    • Other

    Download the REDI Student Budget Template.

    Literature cited in proposal or selected bibliography — Cite materials relevant to the proposed project.

    A subcommittee composed of members of the Faculty Research Committee and the Undergraduate Research Committee will evaluate proposals.

    The following criteria, with respective weights, will be used to screen applications and select recipients for the Rowan REDI student awards.

      • Personal statement (25%)
      • Educational and work experience (25%)
      • Research statement (25%)
      • Future goals (25%)

Please address questions to Beena Sukumaran at sukumaran@rowan.edu.

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