Reader Training Workshop SRAC, ST & GRD Spring 2011

Your Job as Grant Reader Determine which graduate and professional students will receive GPSA funding! –Be fair and consistent Score applications by March 10 –Be available to score last minute apps –Score 2-3 re-read apps –Attend appeal meetings and defend your scores/comments in person or in writing

Training Plan –What grants does GPSA offer? –Application Contents –Scoring Guidelines –Scoring Practice & Discussion –Equity & Inclusion Discussion

Student Research Allocations Committee (SRAC)‏ Research materials and expenses, travel to conduct research Conference at which you are presenting research Funds up to $500 For activity between 8/15/10- 8/14/11

Specialized Travel (ST)‏ grant Clinicals, Mock Trials, Workshops, Interviews, Auditions, Classes, Schools Conferences you are NOT presenting research Funds up to $500 For activity between 8/15/10- 8/14/11

Graduate Research & Development (GRD)‏ Larger research projects that require substantial funding High priority projects fund up to $5,000 (supported documentation of collaboration with a NM State Agency)‏ General Research projects fund up to $3,000 For activity between 7/1/11- 6/30/12

Application Parts Form fields: activity dates, department Proposal Budget Letter(s) of recommendation

Applicant-Reader Relationship –You will remain anonymous to applicants –You may be asked to explain your scores/comments to an appealing applicant –You will not read any apps from your department –Applicants will be matched with one reader from their perspective, one reader outside their perspective and one random reader

Perspectives Quantitative Methodologically and/or theoretically based in measurable, numerical, and/or empirical information, data, and/or phenomena Qualitative Methodologically and/or theoretically based in describing and investigating phenomena via various methods. It is context-specific and fundamentally interpretive Critical Theoretically based in interrogating and contesting power dynamics. It is often invested in researching and accounting for histories and enduring practices of oppression and resistance Creative Engages in performative and/or artistic processes and/or products Applied Implies the acquisition and/or development of professional or vocational skills

Online Application

Proposal: Applicants should know their audience Applicants should not use jargon Applicants should define technical terms It is the applicant's responsibility to write to a general academic audience Do not grade an application highly just because it “sounds smart”

Proposals should be specific Vague Benefit Section “I will be able to network with professionals in my field at the conference.” Instead look for specific details: “I will be networking with Dr. Patrick Ettinger from New York University whose research on the U.S. Mexico Border intersects with my dissertation chapter on reforms to U.S. federal immigration policy.”

Proposals should be specific Vague Introduction: “I am a graduate student seeking funding for my dissertation research.” Look for a better picture of who the applicant is and why they are seeking funding: “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.”y current studies as a doctoral student in the history department I have been researching the history of homosexual oppression in American society with the intent to publish a scholarly article.

Budgets Do not evaluate on the amount requested or the total budget You may evaluate based on what is requested The budget should be –Economical: there must be a good reason for The Four Seasons –Well-Researched: airline/equipment details –Complete: entire activity budget in line items

Letters of Recommendation SRAC/ST letters are not directly scored –Use these letters to give you a better idea of applicant and activity GRD letters are scored –Score based on degree of support demonstrated –1 letter from UNM faculty, 1 from state agency –Optional letter from non-profit Do not let the faculty do all of the talking for the applicant

Application Anonymity If you see an applicant's name, Score the application if you don't know the person. If you think you know the applicant (name, department, subject material, travel destination),

Always Score An Application Submit your score no matter what you think is incorrect Send an to with the disqualification information and the application Things to look for –Anonymity, activity dates, appropriate grant applied for, completeness of application, eligibility of activity

Score Normalization (Your App Score) x (All-Reader Avg) = Normalized Score Your average You must create a spread in your scores –Otherwise your applications are punished as 'average' even if you give them perfect scores –The bigger the spread, the more influential you are as a reader

Score Consistently Compare applications to one another The top ½ of your apps might be funded; the bottom ½ will not be Make a deliberate choice about which ½ is which Feel free to adjust scores after your first round of scoring Give/take points consistently for each score category

Score Comments Comments are now required on all applications Comments are often a basis for appeals Comment carefully, honestly and usefully Always comment on how the app could be improved Comment in detail on the bottom 2/3 of your apps

Scoring Practice & Discussion

SRAC/ST Score Sheet

GRD Score Sheet

Scoring Practice & Discussion Key Points Benefits –Don't judge one academic activity over another –Score based on clarity of description/progress of applicant We all score differently, but be consistent –Your scores will be averaged. Speak your mind! –What does each score criterion mean to you? Professional/academic writing styles vary –Score based on content communicated to a general academic audience

That was the last funded SRAC application from the Fall 2010 cycle Applications better than this will be funded Apps worse than this will not be funded Score your apps appropriately

Online Scoring System Sign up Dashboard shows app ID, department, your score Look at score sheet and app simultaneously If you have difficulty signing in, click 'Logout' and try again Back-up your scores & commentsBack-up your scores & comments

Score Due Date Tentatively Friday, March 11 at noon –Rereads will be due March 18 Applications available for scoring no earlier than Feb 24 Sign into your reader account to score applications Expect multiple s about new assigned applications next Thursday

$50 Stipend Submitted after initial round of scores 3-4 weeks later you will receive a check in the mail assuming you don't have a balance due in your student account Contact Student Government Accounting Office with questions

Equity & Inclusion Chair: Rachel Levitt

Contact GPSA Grants GPSA Office SUB 1021 (505) Grants Chair Katie Richardson: