ASAM Undergraduate Research / Arts Grants Program for 2011-2012

Application Deadline: October 28, 2011

The UIC Asian American Studies Program is pleased to announce the ASAM
Undergraduate Research / Arts Grants Program for 2011-2012. These
competitive grants, of up to $1000, are designed to facilitate and
encourage Asian American and Pacific Islander students to pursue
independent research and/or creative-arts projects about and with
Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. A total of up to
twenty grants will be awarded on a merit basis. Projects that have a
Chicagoland and/or Midwest component will be prioritized in order to
encourage local and community-engaged work.

Awardees will be supervised by a faculty mentor, and must demonstrate
adequate progress to receive full funding. Awardees will be required
to present their completed projects at the 2012 ASAM Expo in April to
share their work with the broader UIC community.

Critical Research Grants

This grant provides funds for undergraduate students to develop
original research beyond the bounds of the classroom.

Creative Arts Grants

This grant provides funding to assist students in completing
substantial creative projects in the arts.

Eligibility:

This program is open to all UIC undergraduate students who are Asian
American (with origins from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia)
and/or Pacific Islander (with origins from Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, and
other Pacific Islands).

Evaluation Criteria

Applications consist of the following materials:

a) a short (less than 250 words) autobiographical statement,
describing yourself and your work thus far; be sure to note your
specific Asian American and/or Pacific Islander heritage (i.e., Sri
Lankan-American), as well as any relevant publications / presentations
/ performances.

b) a short (250-300 word) project statement, describing your project's
topic and timeline for completion

c) a sample of your work:

- for critical researchers: up to 10 pages of academic essay (typed,
double-spaced); you may include multiple shorter essays, or one longer
one; choose your best work

- for creative writers: up to 10 pages of poetry, 20 pages of
drama, or up to10,000 words of fiction or creative nonfiction -- if
sending a segment of a novel, novella, or novelette, please include a
one-page synopsis as well.

- for visual artists: up to 10 slides / images, preferably sent as
a link to a web page displaying the work; attachments are also
acceptable

- for composers & musicians: up to 10 minutes of sample
compositions / performances, preferably sent as a link to a web page
displaying the work; attachments are also acceptable

- for actors & dancers: up to 10 minutes of sample performance,
preferably sent as a link to a web page displaying the work;
attachments are also acceptable

- please inquire if you work in a medium not covered above

d) please name an academic or professional reference that can speak to
your ability to complete the project, with contact info (e-mail &
phone)

e) a project budget (give examples of how you would use grant funds if
awarded; for example, project supplies, recording materials, travel
costs, time relieved from outside work, etc.)

f) you will need a UIC faculty member to serve as mentor for your
project; if you have someone you would like to work with, please meet
with them and confirm their willingness to serve as your mentor; if
they agree, please list them here. If not, please contact Mary Anne
Mohanraj (mohanraj@uic.edu) so that she can assist you in finding a
mentor before you submit your application.

Please Note: If awarded the grant, the recipient agrees to provide a
brief excerpt from their work, and an autobiographical statement
describing themselves and their writing (250-500 words) for our files
and for possible public dissemination on our website, and to also have
their work included in our annual Expo event. The student does retain
copyright to their work, and is free to publish / produce it
elsewhere.

Application Procedures

1. Send the six items listed above to the project coordinator, Mary
Anne Mohanraj (mohanraj@uic.edu), in an attached Word .doc file, along
with any supplementary sample work files. Please use the SUBJECT line:
ASAM RESEARCH GRANT. Be sure to include your full name, UIC ID
number, e-mail address, and phone number. If you have questions,
direct them to that same address.

2. Applications must be received by October 28th, 2011.

3. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application
via e-mail by mid-November.

This program is cosponsored by the UIC AANAPISI Initiative, which is fully
funded by the U.S. Department of Education.