Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students at Rutgers University in good academic standing and majoring in arts, humanities, and social sciences disciplines, or in interdisciplinary studies that include such disciplines.
The Center for Latino Arts and Culture (CLAC) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey has established the CLAC Undergraduate Grant to support projects that significantly advance undergraduate student creative practice of Latino, Latin American, or Caribbean art (i.e. verbal art, folk traditions, literature, film, visual art, music and dance, theatre, etc.) and/or that significantly advance student knowledge of Latino, Latin American or Caribbean culture (broadly defined as the socially transmitted systems of beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors and systems of social organization, production and exchange that define a people’s way of life).
The goal of the program is to encourage curiosity, creativity, risk-taking and scholarly investigation into a project or subject of interest relevant to a student’s major. Senior-level capstone projects that draw on the expertise of a faculty sponsor/mentor are preferred. Projects may be conducted as part of theses, independent study, internships, research seminars, fieldwork, and similar activities. Grants must be used to defray the costs of conducting the project and/or disseminating its results to the scholarly or artistic community. Funds may not be used toward tuition at Rutgers or other institutions, or to cover expenses normally incurred during regular coursework.
Some examples of fundable projects include: travel to access primary sources, texts, and works of art and/or cultural sites; surveys of artistic practice or analysis of cultural practices, policies and institutions; creation of performances, exhibitions, or media projects that are accompanied by a substantial research component; and presentation of a student’s project findings and products at exhibitions, conferences or symposia. Projects that explore linkages between Latino arts and culture and other fields such as health, social work, education, media studies, and politics are also welcome.
Before undertaking a project, students should carefully examine their work load and the strength of their commitment. They are also encouraged to contact faculty in Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies, Latin American Studies or other relevant departments to discuss their projects. Students who wish to apply to the grant are invited to contact CLAC Director Carlos Fernandez (cafernan@echo.rutgers.edu) with their questions or concerns.
GRANT REQUEST
The Grant Request itself should be no more than three (3) doubles-spaced pages. It should be typed in 12 point font and stapled to the Application Form, and include the following:
- Title of the project
- Abstract, i.e. a concise (300 words or less) summary of your project, including description of the research question or problem under investigation, or scope of the creative project; plan of the work, including methodological approach/research design you plan to use; and anticipated results.
- Time schedule for completing your project, including start and end dates, and estimated number of hours per week you plan to dedicate to this work;
- Significance of your project or the expected benefit of your research. Why is it important? How will the project contribute to your understanding of Latino arts and culture? How will this opportunity contribute to your academic career and professional development?
- Describe your relationship with your research sponsor/mentor, his/her role in helping you develop your project and how you will work together over the course of the project.
- Itemized budget for how you will use the grant, which may include purchase of necessary equipment, supplies, travel, and/or other justifiable expense.