AMS Project Proposal Guide

Proposal Process

The following are the steps you must follow to complete your proposal for an AMS grant:

Review documents on writing proposals, requesting letters of recommendation, preparing a budget, and more.

Schedule a meeting to discuss your proposal ideas with Steve Wright, Assistant Dean and Director, Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships.

Submit a full proposal by the deadline: Monday, March 4, 2013. This includes:
- Application form
- Abstract of the proposal (up to 250 words)
- Formal proposal (six to ten pages)
- Two letters of recommendation from Colgate faculty members
- Unofficial transcript
- Detailed budget and explanation
Find additional information about each component of the proposal below.

Projects are reviewed by the Colgate AMS Review Committee. You will receive an e-mail notification of their decision shortly after the review process.

If awarded a grant, complete additional forms, as requested.

Components of a Proposal

To be considered for an AMS grant, your proposal must include each of the following components:

Application form

Download, complete, and return the AMS grant application form.

Abstract

Submit an abstract that briefly outlines your project, its academic merits, and how you will benefit from it as a student. The abstract should be no more than 250 words.

Formal proposal

This is the essay in which you fully describe the proposed project or experience and its academic merits. Typically, these proposals are 6-10 pages long, double-spaced.

At the top of each page place the title of your proposal, your name, and your class year. Proposals must be explicitly include the sections and sub-headers outlined here.

Letters of recommendation

You need to please submit two recommendations from members of the Colgate faculty. Your recommenders must be clearly informed of your project proposal.

Please follow the guidelines as presented on the Requesting Letters of Recommendation handout. Faculty recommendations should speak to the following:

the academic significance of the student's project;
how the student has prepared for the fellowship;
the relevance to the student’s major, related academic interests, or future goals and plans;
the quality of work that may be expected;
the student's ability to work independently;
and, if applicable, knowledge of the country and organization for which the student will be working or affiliated.

Transcript

Please submit your unofficial transcript -- accessible online -- as a component of your proposal.

Budget

Please use the budget worksheet, to be submitted as an appendix to the proposal. This document should be as detailed as possible.

Also, please attach detailed information on how you calculated your budget estimates and what sources you used to collect your data (prices for flights, lodging, etc.)

Advice from Kelsie Anson '13: "It is important to allow yourself some wiggle room in budgeting for any extra fees like the exit fee that I was charged in the airport to leave the country, or currency exchange rates."

Richard Markhofer '12 on site in Mali in front of a straw-roofed home

Upon Completion of Project

When you complete your project, you must submit the following to Renee Coperwheat in 109 Lathrop by the designated date on your award letter (Thursday, February 7, 2013):

Four-page AMS Fellowship Award Report:
- A project summary including the title, objectives, methodology, experience, and findings. Please describe notable successes and goals not realized. (3 pages)
- A personal reflection on how the fellowship impacted you, how did you grow intellectually and personally (1 page)
An itemized budget report with receipts for all funding, unused funding must be returned to Colgate University

You will be asked to give a public presentation about your work at an AMS Symposium during the semester following the award.

Past Recipients

Course Offerings

AMS Project Proposal Guide

Proposal Process

Components of a Proposal

Upon Completion of Project

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