The Undergraduate Award for Humanistic Inquiry (UAHI) is a grant of up to $1,500 for student research or creative work in the humanities. The UAHI was established in 2018 through the joint effort of the Humanities Initiative and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) and the support of a Strategic Initiatives Grant. We anticipate funding five UAHI’s in 2019-2020.

The UAHI is available to any undergraduate student, regardless of major, who seeks to pursue a humanities-based scholarly project with a faculty mentor during the 2019-2020 academic year. For the purpose of the UAHI, humanistic inquiry is defined as research or creative work within the disciplines of Art, English, History, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Music, Philosophy, Theatre, Theology, Women’s and Gender Studies, and World Languages and Cultures.

Funding will be provided to successful applicants beginning in December 2019. A final portion of the award will be distributed after the student’s presentation of his/her work at the Celebration of Student Scholars on April 24, 2020, and the submission of a final report.

To apply for an UAHI, please submit a proposal to orsp@scranton.edu by Friday, November 15, 2019. The proposal should include:

  1. Applicant Information
    • List your name, email address, class year, and major (if applicable)
    • State your faculty mentor’s name, email address, and department
    • Indicate the title of your project
  2. Project Description (3 double-spaced pages maximum)
    • Overview: a brief description of the aims and format of your project
    • Significance: an explanation of why this project matters to you and your discipline
    • Methodology: a list of tasks that you and your faculty mentor will undertake
    • Outcome: what you expect to produce by April 2020
  3. Budget: an itemized list of expenses indicating how you will use up to $1,500 for the project
    • Funds may be used for support of travel expenses, translation services, books, and other supplies, or they may be used as compensation for work time ($10.00/hour).
    • Note: FICA must be budgeted for student assistant time at 7.65% of total student personnel costs. In other words, if you are requesting hourly compensation, you need to calculate $10.765/hour.

Applications that do not meet these guidelines will not be considered.

If you have any questions related to the suitability of your project for the UAHI, please contact Dr. Joel Kemp (joel.kemp@scranton.edu) or Dr. Aiala Levy (aiala.levy@scranton.edu). Questions concerning proposal submission should be directed to Dr. Tabbi Miller-Scandle (tabbi.miller- scandle@scranton.edu).

Other Opportunities for Student Research

The Student Opportunities in Academic Research (SOAR), sponsored by ORSP, coordinates the following programs:

  1. Faculty Student Research Program (FSRP): Transcript recognition for participation in faculty research.
  2. President’s Fellowship for Summer Research (PFSR): Stipends of $3,000 to engage in research with faculty during the summer. One award is reserved for humanities research.
  3. Student Travel Funding: Up to $300 to pay for the cost of presenting your work at a conference.
  4. Celebration of Student Scholars (April 24, 2020): Poster and oral presentations of student research.

Learn more at the SOAR Information Session on Tuesday, October 29, in the McIlhenny Ballroom (TDC 407), 11:30am-1:00pm.

Many student honors societies and disciplinary organizations offer funding, presentation opportunities, and prizes for undergraduate students. If you’d like to learn more, ask a professor! A few examples are:

  1. The Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association (MAPACA)
  2. The Middle Atlantic Council of Latin American Studies
  3. Phi Alpha Theta (history honors society) regional conference
  4. Pennsylvania Historical Association (PHA)