Undergraduate Research Center

Richter-ASP Grants

The Paul K. And Evalyn E. Cook Richter Trusts provide funds to support projects and/or travel that involve independent research or study with a significant intercultural or international emphasis by full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students over spring break. These Richter-ASP projects will be smaller in scope than a Summer Richter Fellowship, and the grants are not intended to be the sole support for any project. Support may be provided for short term independent research projects involving international travel or a significant intercultural theme that is related to the student's overall program of study.

This year we expect to make ten awards for research over spring break (March 10-18, 2012). A firm deadline has been set for 5:00 pm, February 10, 2012. We anticipate announcing these awards by February 24, 2012.

Students apply for project support by submitting an application to the Undergraduate Research Center, at Johnson Hall, Room 100. To read some of these files, you may need to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat reader.

The Richter-ASP Application Form must be completed, including an endorsement by a faculty member. The student and sponsor signatures indicate that the proposal was written by the student.

A letter of support from a faculty member is required. This letter should discuss the academic merits of the proposal, the preparation of the student, and the involvement of the mentor in writing the proposal and supervising the analysis of the results.

The application form must be accompanied by a project proposal, approximately three to four pages, written by the student, explaining the nature of the work, its significance and interest as an academic activity, and the intercultural or international aspects of the project. In general, proposals should contain a clear research question, and a methodology to answer that question. Literature citations should be included where appropriate (for tables and figures as well as quotes). The application should also address how the student plans to contact the needed resources or subjects and indicate that this process has begun. Pursuant to federal law and College policy, all research involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the College’s Human Subjects Research Review Committee (HSRRC) before any funding is released and before work begins on the project. We recommend that students begin this process by February 10.

Include a one page personal statement describing prior work which prepares the student for the proposed project and the importance of the proposed activity to the student's intellectual or professional development.

A one-page budget for the project is also required. The budget should include an itemized list of all costs of the project and all the sources of funding which may be available, including departmental support, faculty grants and self-help as well as the amount requested from the Richter-ASP fund. Include only those items which must be purchased expressly for this project. Any non-consumable equipment will become college property at the conclusion of the project. Because funds for this program are extremely limited, all proposals should include alternative funding options for a significant portion of the total cost. Travel costs (airfare, hotel, meals), supplies, and other expenses may be funded by these grants.

If work on this project has received college support in the past (e.g. Summer Research Program, Howard Hughes, faculty grant, or an earlier ASP award), please note the amount and source of past support.

Students should download and complete the Richter Academic Student Projects Waiver and Release available on the IPO website at http://www.oxy.edu/x11508.xml. Submit completed forms to IPO located in Weingart 101.

Participants are expected to share the results of their project with the community at large in a public presentation. Public presentation should occur at the annual Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR); alternatives include the Occidental summer research conference, a class presentation, an article in the Occidental Weekly, or other presentations approved by the URC. A written report on the work at its conclusion is also required. This report must consist of a one paragraph abstract, a four to five page summary of the project activities and results, a completed Richter-ASP Expense Report (Word Document) (Adobe Acrobat Document) and a copy of the email or other announcement of the public presentation. Particular attention should be paid to answering the research question posed in the proposal, or explaining why it could not be answered. These reports should be submitted by e-mail to urc@oxy.edu and should be copied to the mentor. Reports are due in the Undergraduate Research Center by April 20, 2012. Reports missing for prior year support from any URC program will disqualify applicants from consideration for additional grants.

Please address questions about the Richter-ASP program to the Undergraduate Research Center by e-mail to urc@oxy.edu or phone (323)259-1414.

Undergraduate Research Center 1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA. 90041 (323) 259-1414



Occidental College
	Richter-ASP Grants The Paul K. And Evalyn E. Cook Richter Trusts provide funds to support projects and/or travel that involve independent research or study with a significant intercultural or international emphasis by full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students over spring break. These Richter-ASP projects will be smaller in scope than a Summer Richter Fellowship, and the grants are not intended to be the sole support for any project. Support may be provided for short term independent research projects involving international travel or a significant intercultural theme that is related to the student's overall program of study. This year we expect to make ten awards for research over spring break (March 10-18, 2012). A firm deadline has been set for 5:00 pm, February 10, 2012. We anticipate announcing these awards by February 24, 2012. Students apply for project support by submitting an application to the Undergraduate Research Center, at Johnson Hall, Room 100. To read some of these files, you may need to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat reader. The Richter-ASP Application Form must be completed, including an endorsement by a faculty member. The student and sponsor signatures indicate that the proposal was written by the student. A letter of support from a faculty member is required. This letter should discuss the academic merits of the proposal, the preparation of the student, and the involvement of the mentor in writing the proposal and supervising the analysis of the results. The application form must be accompanied by a project proposal, approximately three to four pages, written by the student, explaining the nature of the work, its significance and interest as an academic activity, and the intercultural or international aspects of the project. In general, proposals should contain a clear research question, and a methodology to answer that question. Literature citations should be included where appropriate (for tables and figures as well as quotes). The application should also address how the student plans to contact the needed resources or subjects and indicate that this process has begun. Pursuant to federal law and College policy, all research involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the College’s Human Subjects Research Review Committee (HSRRC) before any funding is released and before work begins on the project. We recommend that students begin this process by February 10. Include a one page personal statement describing prior work which prepares the student for the proposed project and the importance of the proposed activity to the student's intellectual or professional development. A one-page budget for the project is also required. The budget should include an itemized list of all costs of the project and all the sources of funding which may be available, including departmental support, faculty grants and self-help as well as the amount requested from the Richter-ASP fund. Include only those items which must be purchased expressly for this project. Any non-consumable equipment will become college property at the conclusion of the project. Because funds for this program are extremely limited, all proposals should include alternative funding options for a significant portion of the total cost. Travel costs (airfare, hotel, meals), supplies, and other expenses may be funded by these grants. If work on this project has received college support in the past (e.g. Summer Research Program, Howard Hughes, faculty grant, or an earlier ASP award), please note the amount and source of past support. Students should download and complete the Richter Academic Student Projects Waiver and Release available on the IPO website at http://www.oxy.edu/x11508.xml. Submit completed forms to IPO located in Weingart 101. Participants are expected to share the results of their project with the community at large in a public presentation. Public presentation should occur at the annual Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (SCCUR); alternatives include the Occidental summer research conference, a class presentation, an article in the Occidental Weekly, or other presentations approved by the URC. A written report on the work at its conclusion is also required. This report must consist of a one paragraph abstract, a four to five page summary of the project activities and results, a completed Richter-ASP Expense Report (Word Document) (Adobe Acrobat Document) and a copy of the email or other announcement of the public presentation. Particular attention should be paid to answering the research question posed in the proposal, or explaining why it could not be answered. These reports should be submitted by e-mail to urc@oxy.edu and should be copied to the mentor. Reports are due in the Undergraduate Research Center by April 20, 2012. Reports missing for prior year support from any URC program will disqualify applicants from consideration for additional grants. Please address questions about the Richter-ASP program to the Undergraduate Research Center by e-mail to urc@oxy.edu or phone (323)259-1414. Undergraduate Research Center 1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles, CA. 90041 (323) 259-1414