Diversity Mini-Grants for Student Led Collaboration with Faculty/Staff
Submission and Selection Criteria

**Rolling Deadline**

Proposal Cover Sheet

General Information

The Diversity Program Planning Committee of the Associated Colleges of the South invites students, in collaboration with faculty/staff, at all sixteen ACS member institutions to submit proposals for mini-grants made possible by funding from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation of Atlanta, GA. The purpose of these grants is to encourage new and collaborative models of campus diversity efforts that will address the critical diversity challenges faced by our member institutions.

While ethnic diversity and campus climate are the primary foci of the current ACS Diversity Initiative, proposals may be submitted for any type of diversity issues/concerns that affect and challenge campus climate.

Collaborative opportunities, those engaging two or more campus groups, cross-generational activities, curricular and co-curricular activities, or two or more ACS campuses, are especially encouraged. The kinds of projects that may be considered for funding include, but are not limited to, workshops, research, internships, service projects, campus leadership projects, conferences, summer activities, etc.

I. Availability and Amounts of Mini-Grants

Applications for this grant will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning February 9, 2007 and ending March 10, 2008. Any changes in this schedule will be posted on the ACS Diversity Website and announced in the ACS Palladian.
Up to $2,500 per awarded grant will be available. Additional funds may be available if justified. A maximum of 2 grants per institution may be awarded for the entire mini-grant period.

II. Acceptance Guidelines

A. For a proposal to be accepted for consideration, it must:

• Identify and directly address a diversity issue that is affecting campus climate
• Be initiated
  • by a student or students and clearly identify the role and involvement of the student(s) and the faculty/staff sponsor(s) OR
  • jointly by student(s) and faculty/staff member(s) and clearly indicate the role and involvement of each of the co-initiators in the project.
• Be able to be completed and a final report submitted no later than May 15, 2008.
• Contain all of the proposal elements listed below.
• Provide evidence of institutional support for each mini-grant proposal in the form of (1) a joint letter of support from the proposal author's senior student affairs officer and the academic dean and (2) a letter from the faculty/staff collaborator/sponsor outlining his/her specific involvement and support.

B. Proposal Elements

Proposals should be prepared in 12 point double-spaced type with 1 inch margins and conform to the page limit recommendations listed below. Sections 2-4 may not exceed seven [7] pages. A completed full proposal consists of a single hard copy and a copy submitted via email, and must include the following:

1. Standard Cover Sheet (click on the link to download the required document)

• Title of Project.
• Name(s) of student(s) submitting the request, e-mail address, phone number, class year, and name of student group(s) sponsoring the project.
• Name(s) of faculty/staff collaborator/sponsor, phone, e-mail address, department/office.
• Institution and mailing address, and relationship to project.
• Date of submission and date of proposed period of grant.
• Signatures of applicant (s), faculty/staff collaborator(s), and chief academic officer and senior student affairs officer.

2. Summary recommended not to exceed one [1] page that includes:

• Issue, topic, problem, or process addressed by the proposal.
• Goals and objectives of the activity.
• Description of how the goals and objectives will be accomplished and evaluated.
• Anticipated outcomes and benefits to the campus.
• Description of collaborative relationships, if any.

3. Project Description recommended not to exceed four pages that describe:

• Goals and objectives
• Significance and campus context
• Role of student(s) and the faculty/staff mentor(s) proposing the project
• Detailed project plan for the activity, demonstrating adequate planning and evaluation
• Prior activities related to proposal
• Projected timetable
• Requested budget, with justification for each line item
• Impact on the institution, including number of students per year
• Evidence of institutional support

4. Evaluation, Dissemination, and Continued Support recommended not to exceed two [2] pages including:

• A description of evaluation/assessment process. How will success be measured?
• Plans for dissemination of results. Include a plan to showcase the results of the project. For example, presentation of results at ACS and other conferences and workshops; publications in appropriate journals.

5. Literature Cited

List all references cited in the proposal. Each reference must include the title, names of all authors, book or journal, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication.

6. Student Biographical Statement and C.V. of Faculty/Staff collaborators

• Maximum of one (1) page for a short biographical statement about the primary student, including class year and campus activities.
• Maximum of two (2) pages for faculty/staff. If multiple institutions are involved, include a c.v. for the principle faculty and at least one faculty c.v. from each collaborating institution.

7. Disclosure Statement

Please include with the proposal information regarding any other grants, either being sought or already received, that will coincide with the submitted proposal. Each applicant is further requested to include current and pending funding information relevant to these activities.

C. Interim Progress Report

A specific due date and Guidelines for the Interim Report will be sent to the mini-grant recipients as part of the award/acknowledgement confirmation. The Interim Report Guidelines also will be available on the ACS Diversity website.

D. Conditions of Mini-Grant Acceptance and Final Report

When a mini-grant is awarded and as conditions of acceptance, the recipient(s) will agree:
(1) to submit an interim report on or before the due date noted in the grant award notification.
(2) to submit a detailed written report within 30 days of the end of the funding time frame, addressing project activities, outcomes, lessons learned, finances, and any follow-up plans. Final Report Guidelines will be sent to the mini-grant recipients as part of the award/acknowledgement confirmation and will be posted on the ACS Diversity Website. All reports must be received by May 15, 2008 or earlier.
(3) to participate in the Diversity Gathering in 2007, to share information about the funded project and the results.

Submit an electronic copy of your proposal to mwhite@colleges.org and a single hard copy (by mail, UPS, FEDEX, etc.) to:

ACS Diversity Mini-Grants
Associated Colleges of the South
1975 Century Blvd., Suite 10
Atlanta, GA 30345
Phone: 404-636-9533; FAX: 404-636-9558

Proposals will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the ACS Diversity Program Committee and the designated ACS staff person(s). Awards will be announced as soon as possible after receipt of the necessary documents.

III. Project Evaluation Criteria

• Does the project address the goals of the ACS Diversity Initiative? (See http://www.colleges.org/diversity/)
• Does the proposal meet the submission guidelines and provide the requested information?
• Is the approach or design of the project appropriate to the goals and is it feasible?
• Is the project innovative and a potential model for adaptation?
• Are there adequate plans for evaluation and dissemination?
• Is this a one-time event, seed money to begin a new program/activity, or enhancement of an existing program/activity? If this is to be a continued activity, how will future offerings be supported?
• What is the context of the activity on the campus?
• Is the proposal cost effective?
• What is the projected impact of the proposal on the Institution?
  

IV. Committee Review Process

Proposals will be read and discussed by a review committee. The following guidelines will be used to ensure that the review and selection process is fair and unbiased, review committee members who are directly or closely involved in any project must remove themselves from participation in the review process to avoid a conflict of interest

• Campaigning on behalf of any one project by members of the larger planning committee or the review committee is discouraged.
• The designated ACS staff person will coordinate/facilitate the submission and review process.
• The review process will be confidential.
• Feedback will be provided to the applicants.

V. Questions

If at any time there is a question related to the preparation of the proposal, please contact Marcia White, mwhite@colleges.org, Director of Program Development.