Purpose

The goals of this initiative are threefold. 1) To increase research and scholarship that will advance
student success; 2) To encourage staff at the University of South Carolina to pursue scholarly excellence through research related to student success and postsecondary transitions; 3) To give staff a platform to communicate their findings to both local and national audiences, which will also bring visibility and recognition to USC.

Award Package

This research grant award is for two-year research projects and includes a cash stipend and
presentation of related research at a national conference. Specifically, the grant’s award package includes:

• A research grant in the amount of $10,000.
• Registration to either the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience or the National Conference on Students in Transition.
• Announcement on the National Resource Center’s webpage, listservs, and social media.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include all staff at the University of South Carolina Columbia.

• Principal investigators may only submit one proposal.
• We encourage collaborative teams across the division and university. We also encourage each team to have at least one team member with intermediate to advanced methodological expertise.
• Note that grant-related activities are separate and in addition to staff members’ university roles and
  responsibilities. Funds received through the grant may be considered taxable income; please consult with your accountant to understand your personal tax liability.

Application Packet

Title Page (1 page): 

• The names of investigators and a brief biography of each investigator including research interests and the home unit/department of all involved.
• A 100-word abstract or brief description that includes the purpose of the project, proposed work to be accomplished, and potential impact.

Proposal Narrative (Max of 3 pages): 

• Background of the topic proposed including rationale for the study and relevant literature.
• Significance and connection to a gap in the research on student success and students in transition. How will this research positively impact students at the University of South Carolina? How will this research impact the broader student success literature and inform practice beyond our campus?
• Theoretical or conceptual framework that will frame the project and provide a lens for data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Research plan including detailed methodologies and a clear research plan. Please include research
  questions, sample selection, data collection, instruments, and plan for data analysis. Proposals must demonstrate the use of a methodological approach following qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods.
• Timeline including start date, end date, and key project benchmark dates (e.g., start/end of data collection, analysis, etc.).
• Dissemination plan including a description of what NRC conference(s) and/or publication(s) for which the project is best suited as well as other scholarly outlets the Principal Investigators plan to leverage to disseminate their work.
• *If a graduate or undergraduate student is a member of the research team, we require a 1-2 paragraph mentorship plan.

Review Process

Applications that are complete will be evaluated by a review panel. Reviewers will prioritize their recommendations based on the quality of the proposals in accordance with the review criteria below. Recommendations will be reviewed by the Assistant Vice President of University 101 Programs and the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the Director of the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition who will make final funding decisions.

Review Criteria: 

• To what extent does the proposed research project have the potential to advance knowledge in the field of student success and students in transition?
• To what extent does the proposed research project have the potential to improve practice at USC as well as nationally/internationally?
• Is the plan for carrying out the proposed research well-reasoned, well-organized, and feasible?
• Is the timeline realistic?

Requirements for Grant Recipients:

• Submission of a final report (1-2 pages)
• Submission of a conference presentation within one year of completing the research study
  Presentation of findings at either the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience or the National
  Conference on Students in Transition
• Present research at a meeting or event related to the Division of Student Affairs & Academic Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand allWill the funding cover travel?

Yes. If you are planning to attend the Annual Conference for the First-Year Experience we recommend including the cost of travel in the budget. 

Are submissions submitted by an individual person rather than a team accepted?

Yes, however, one of the goals of this grant is to promote collaboration among staff at the University of South Carolina, and therefore preference will be given to teams. 

Will there be ongoing support?

There will not be formally structured ongoing support; however, the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and University 101 Programs will serve as a resource for grant recipients.