--RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION--

Purposes of the WASFAA Research Grant Program
WASFAA has funded a research grant program to help facilitate research activities in areas of interest to WASFAA and its membership. Grants are awarded to assist recipients in covering project costs, including temporary personnel, printing, postage, data entry, computer time, and preparation of papers and reports. Grants are not intended to provide a salary or stipend for the grant recipient. WASFAA members are eligible to apply, as are non-members as long as a WASFAA member sponsors them. Grants are not awarded for program start-up expenses. Projects that involve experimental activities and new initiatives should emphasize evaluation of program effectiveness.

Amount of the Research Grants
At this time WASFAA has chosen not set minimum or maximum awards. All reasonable requests will be considered. In the future, as the WASFAA Research Grant Program evolves, the WASFAA Research Committee will access the need for establishing a maximum or minimum award.

Recipient Responsibilities
Grant recipients must sign an agreement to submit progress reports throughout the life of the project and a final report at the conclusion of the project. WASFAA reserves the right to withhold project funding if progress reports are not submitted. Where appropriate, WASFAA may request that authors adapt their work for publication in the WASFAA Newsletter, for a WASFAA Conference presentation, or for other professional publications and presentations. Recipients are also asked to acknowledge WASFAA's support of their projects in all written and oral presentations.

Preparing Your Proposal (Information on identifying a research topic and some helpful resources follows this section.)

• Required Materials
  Applicants are required to submit the following materials:
  1. Application form (see below), including a brief abstract. The abstract should summarize the problem being addressed, proposed research activities, and intended outcomes.
  2. Statement of Proposal describing the research project. This statement must be limited to a maximum of 10 single-sided, double-spaced pages and must include a complete description of all of the following:
     1. The problem to be investigated.
     2. Review and discussion of relevant literature that demonstrates an understanding of previous research, if available, and how it relates to the topic to be addressed.
     3. Project methodology, including, where applicable, drafts of data collection instruments, listing of databases to be used, a description of the variables to be examined, and statistical analysis techniques.
     4. Expected results and their relevance to student aid policy issues.
     5. Timeline for completion of the project.
  3. Budget. Grants are intended to assist recipients in covering direct project costs, including temporary personnel, printing, postage, data entry, computer time, and preparation of papers and reports. They are not intended to provide a salary or stipend for the grant recipient. Projects that involve experimental activities and new initiatives should emphasize evaluation of program effectiveness; in general, funds are not available for program start-up expenses.
  4. Attachments. Draft questionnaires and other instruments, charts and tables, if applicable and available.
  5. Statement of Capability. Submit a brief biographical statement that describes how your education and experience enable you to carry out the proposed project. Include resumes, list of previous research projects, if any, and professional association memberships and activities.
  6. Letter of Reference/Sponsorship: Non-WASFAA members only must have an academic sponsor who is a WASFAA member and will be responsible to WASFAA for the successful completion of the project. If you are not a WASFAA member please attach a letter of reference and sponsorship that attests to your ability to conduct the proposed research.

Proposal Submission and Evaluation
Applications and proposals can be submitted by regular mail or via e-mail to the Research Committee co-chairs.

          Cheryl A Kibarian
          Regional Director, Business Development
          PHONE: (602) 692-3370
          FAX: (402) 479-6762
          cherylk@nslp.org

          David R Tolman
          Director of Financial Aid
          PHONE: (208) 426-1540
          FAX: (208) 426-1305
          dtolman@boisestate.edu

Incomplete application packets will not be considered. Proposals are accepted year round. Proposals are evaluated by WASFAA's Research Committee and appointed judges from the WASFAA Executive Council. Award notification will usually be made 4-6 weeks after receipt of the application material.

If You Have Questions
For further information on the WASFAA Research Grant Program, please contact:

          Cheryl A Kibarian
          Regional Director, Business Development
          PHONE: (602) 692-3370
          FAX: (402) 479-6762
          cherylk@nslp.org

          David R Tolman
          Director of Financial Aid
          PHONE: (208) 426-1540
          FAX: (208) 426-1305
          dtolman@boisestate.edu