1. GPSA Funding Workshop
Fall 2018

2. November 18
Funding Overview

3. Learning Objectives Describe your responsibilities as a reader
Recognize the required components of each grant or scholarship application
Understand and apply the scoring guidelines
Discuss the reading process

4. Grants & Scholarships Offered in Fall
Student Research Grant (SRG) - $500, offered each semester
Professional Development Grant (PDG) - $500, offered each semester
Graduate Scholarship Fund (GSF) - $1000, offered each semester
New Mexico Research Grant (NMRG) - $ $5000, offered fall only

5. Student Research Grant (SRG)
Development and dissemination of research including travel expenses
Airfare, registration, hotel and per diem
Supplies and materials necessary for research
Software (not already available from Department)
Printing Costs
Presentation Materials
Some types of equipment
• Conference at which applicant is PRESENTING
• Requires anonymous 750 word proposal and line item budget
$500

6. Professional Development Grant (PDG)
Travel expenses that further the professional and career development of students:
Conferences
Classes/Workshops
Interviews
Auditions
Conferences at which applicant is NOT PRESENTING
Requires anonymous 750 word proposal and line item budget

7. New Mexico Research Grant (NMRG)
Up to $3,000 General Priority / Up to $5,000 High Priority: requires collaboration with a NM State Agency
Will fund:
Research expenses, including travel
Permanent equipment and/or supplies not available through department
Travel expenses to collect data
Transcription expenses
Will not fund:
Salaries or stipends
Travel expenses or other fees associated with a conference or workshop
The purchase of computers
Tuition and supplies/books for classes
Any publication or subscription costs
Requires letter(s) of recommendation

8. New Mexico Research Grant (NMRG)
Letter of Recommendation is required for general- and high- priority applications
General priority requires a 700 word proposal
High priority requires an 1,100 word proposal
IRB approval is required before release of funds for any research involving human subject or participants
Research involving animals will require approval by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Research involving biohazardous chemicals and materials must be reviewed and approved by the Biosafety Committee

9. Graduate Scholarship Fund
The Graduate Scholarship Fund shall award up to $1,000 to cover the cost of tuition and fees for graduate students
The Graduate Scholarship fund shall be awarded based on need and merit
Need will be demonstrated through a financial aid score provided by the Financial Aid department; all applicants will need to fill out a FAFSA
Merit will be determined through a 500 word essay submission and letter of recommendation
Essay should indicate the current stage of education, professional goals, and describe financial need, as well as other lines of current financial support
Need will comprise 40% of the score; merit 60%
A complete Graduate Scholarship Application will include:
A 500 word essay, which will not include the applicant’s name
The completion of a FAFSA
A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or advisor, which must not include the applicant’s name

10. Scoring Guidelines

11. PDG/SRG Scoresheet SRG Background (30 points) Benefits (30 points)
Composition (10 points)
Budget (30 points)
PDG
Background (35 points)
Benefits (25 points)

12. SRG/PDG Scoring Rubrics: Background
SRG – 30 Points
Applicant’s academic/professional interests are clearly stated. (0 or 5 points)
Activity is described in detail: (0-20 points)
What exactly will the applicant do? (5)
Where and when is the activity happening? (5)
Why is it significant for the applicant’s interests? (10)
Activity is put into context of the applicant’s academic/professional field at large. (0-5 points)
PDG – 35 Points
Applicants professional goals are clearly stated (0 or 5 points)
Activity is described in detail:, (0-20 points)
How is it significant for the applicant’s goals? (10)

13. SRG/PDG Scoring Rubrics: Benefits
SRG Updated – 30 Points
Proposed activity’s benefits to applicant are clearly stated and linked to academic interests. (0-10 points)
Benefits of applicant’s work to the UNM community are clearly stated. (0-10 points)
Benefits of applicant’s work to academic and/or professional community are clearly stated. (0-10 points)
PDG Updated – 25 Points
Specific benefit(s) is clearly stated and explained (0-10 points)
Proposed activity’s benefits to applicant are clearly linked to professional development and/or career goals. (0-15 points)

14. SRG/PDG Scoring Rubrics: Composition
SRG Updated – 10 Points
Proposal flows logically and writing is clear. (0-5) points
Proposal is suitable for a general academic audience. Technical terms are defined. (0-5 points)
PDG Updated – 10 Points

15. SRG/PDG Scoring Rubrics: Budget
SRG Updated – 30 points
Applicant has or will attempt to secure other sources of funding within the University or academic community (e.g. department, Office of Graduate Studies, Career Services),from outside organizations, or personal finances; explanations shall be included for each additional funding source. (0 OR 5 points)
Budget has been completed using the GPSA Budget template; items to be funded by SRG/PDG, applicant, or other sources are indicated as such. (0 OR 10 points)
Budget appears well-researched and complete for scope of project (names of facilities, dates, itineraries, etc.), listing all spending related to activity. Choices appear to be economical and/or are explained. (0-15 points)
PDG Updated – 30 Points
Applicant has or will attempt to secure other sources of funding within the University or academic community (e.g. department, Office of Graduate Studies, Career Services),from outside organizations, or personal finances; explanations shall be included for each additional funding source. (0 OR 5 points)
Budget has been completed using the GPSA Budget template ; items to be funded by SRG/PDG, applicant, or other sources are indicated as such. (0 OR 10 points)

16. Rules and Eligibility Requirements
Must be an enrolled graduate student who has paid GPSA fee
One application per semester for each grant/scholarship
Anonymous Proposal and Budget (do not include your name in proposal or budget)
Proposals must be your sole, original work
For Grants:
Can fund one event or activity in the current, next, or previous semester (ie, retroactive funding)
No salaries, internships, tuition, organization fees, or social function expenses
An applicant is only eligible for the remaining amount of funding for GPSA Student Research Grant or Professional Development Grant if the applicant has not yet been awarded the full amount of GPSA Student Research Grant or Professional Development Grant funding per year. Per year means per summer-fall-spring funding cycle.
Read bylaws online for full details

17. Writing a proposal

18. Know Your Audience
Assume that at least two of the three readers scoring your proposal have limited knowledge of your field
Avoid field-specific and technical jargon
Answer all of the scoresheet requirements:
Background
Benefits
Composition
Budget
Review and revise
Narrative flow
Grammar (when in doubt, check Purdue Owl at or schedule a free appointment with a volunteer editor at the GRC )

19. Know Your Audience, cont.
Per the GPSA Bylaws, all grant submissions are scored by three other graduate students:
one from within your perspective
One from outside of your perspective
A third determined at random
There are seven unique academic perspectives, and each reader will self-identify with the one that most closely corresponds with their academic program of study

20. Perspectives
Fine Arts & Design (FAD): Applies to any creative arts whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their artistic, aesthetic or intellectual content. Examples: Studio Art, Music, Theatre, Dance, Film, Creative Production
Humanities (HUM): Applies to academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, or process and document the human experience. Examples: Ancient and Modern Languages, Literature, Philosophy, Geography, History, Religion
Social Sciences (SOS): Applies to disciplines dealing with the institutions and functioning of human society, or with a particular phase or aspect of human society. Examples: Economics, Business, Management, Public Administration, Public Policy, Law, Political Science
Behavioral Sciences (BES): Applies to disciplines dealing primarily with human action, and often seeks to generalize about human behavior in society. Examples: Psychology, Sociology, Education, Anthropology, Women Studies, Communication.
Natural Sciences (NAS): Applies to sciences that deal with matter, energy, or the physical world, and their interrelations and transformations or with objectively measurable phenomena. Examples: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Astronomy, Physics.
Formal Sciences (FOS): Applies to disciplines concerned with theoretical formal systems, and the theoretical branches of computer science. Examples: Computer Science, Math, Geometry, Statistics, Logic, Information Theory, Systems Theory, Linguistics.
Applied Sciences (APS): Applies to disciplines that apply scientific knowledge to practical problems. Examples: Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering.

21. Narrative suggestions
Paint a clear picture of who you are and why you are seeking funding.
Give specific, vivid details on why you are attending a conference.
State why attending this conference is important

22. Example:
Poor: “I will be able to network with super interesting professionals in my field at the conference.”

23. Example:
Better: “I will be networking with Dr. Cornel West from Princeton whose research on the U.S. Mexico Border intersects with my dissertation chapter on reforms to U.S. federal immigration policy.”

24. Benefits Describe benefits clearly and explicitly
Be as specific as possible - poor applications suffer from being too vague
How does the activity benefit:
You
Your academic field
The reputation and academic community of UNM?

25. Example:
Poor: “Presenting this research will allow me to share my highly specialized knowledge with a broader community of like- minded people.”

26. Example:
Better: “My research corresponds directly with the goals of several international research societies and expands on the information surrounding freshwater ecosystems. Presenting my work that was conducted in New Mexico on an international stage will affirm UNM’s position at the forefront of freshwater research programs.”

27. Budget Include the entire budget for the project and
Remember to include other funding sources
You will not be evaluated on the amount requested, but you should make sure your budget is cost-effective
Demonstrate that you have researched your budget (cite web links, name special deals, etc).
When possible, list specific dates, hotels, airlines, etc.

28. Example

29. Scoring and awards

30. Reading Process Three readers total One reader from your perspective,
One reader from outside your perspective, and
One reader will be randomly assigned
Readers are fellow graduate and professional students
Readers will NOT be from your department
Readers will start to be assigned as early as 9/21
All Readers MUST complete a Reader Training this semester
Fall Reader Trainings will be offered at the end the cycle period

31. Reading Process 3-4 week reading/scoring process
Readers’ scores are normalized and normalized ranking determines who is funded
(Raw Score x Group Average)
Reader Average
Applications sent for rereads when there is a 25 point difference in highest and lowest normalized score
Appeal process
Any appeal must be submitted in writing within 14 calendar days of the date of notification
Please see the GPSA Bylaws for appeal requirements and criteria
Normalized Score

32. Successful Applicants:
Write for a general academic audience
Avoid jargon and define all terms
Make sure proposal is free of grammatical and spelling errors
Find someone to proofread. (Seriously!)
Peer in department
Peer outside department
Peer who has received a grant
Graduate Resource Center (GRC)

33. Grounds for Disqualification
If an applicant applies for the incorrect grant
If the event does not fall within the current semester, one previous, or one future semester.
If the application is over 750 words (SRG/PDG)
If the application does not use the correct budget template
If the applicant is ineligible for the activity being applied for based on grants criteria
If an application element is missing (e.g., proposal, budget)
Send to with disqualification information and the application ID

34. Deadlines Deadline for submission: Friday, September 21, 2018
Late applications will not be accepted
Please plan ahead – the grants site can get overwhelmed and crash when lots of submissions come in at the same time, so PLEASE don’t wait until the last minute
All applications must be submitted online at: gpsagrants.unm.edu

35. Questions?? Email GPSAFunding@unm.edu PREFERED METHOD of communication
Stop by the GPSA Office during Grant Chair Office Hours
Grants Website: gpsagrants.unm.edu
GPSA Website: gpsa.unm.edu
Please be patient – there are more than 5,000 of you, and only one of me