Reader Training Workshop SRAC, ST & GRD

Fall 2010

Your Job as Grant Reader

• Determine which graduate and professional students will receive GPSA funding!– Be fair and consistent

• Score 10-15 applications by Oct 15– Be available to score last minute apps– Score 2-3 re-read apps– Attend appeal meetings and defend your

scores/comments in person or in writing

Training Plan

– What grants does GPSA offer?– Application Contents– Scoring Guidelines– Scoring Practice & Discussion– Equity & Inclusion Discussion

Student Research Allocations Committee (SRAC)

• Research materials and expenses, travel to conduct research

• Conference at which you are presenting research

• Funds up to $500• For activity between 6/1/10- 5/31/11

Specialized Travel (ST) grant

• Clinicals, Mock Trials, Workshops, Interviews, Auditions, Classes, Schools

• Conferences you are NOT presenting research

• Funds up to $500• For activity between 6/1/10- 5/31/11

Graduate Research & Development (GRD)

• Larger research projects that require substantial funding

• High priority projects fund up to $5,000 (supported documentation of collaboration with a NM State Agency)

• General Research projects fund up to $3,000

• For activity between 7/1/10- 6/30/11

Application Parts

• Form fields: activity dates, department• Proposal• Budget• Letter(s) of recommendation

Applicant-Reader Relationship– You will remain anonymous to applicants– You may be asked to explain your

scores/comments to an appealing applicant– You will not read any apps from your

department– Applicants will be matched with one

reader from their perspective, one reader outside their perspective and one random reader

PerspectivesQuantitativeMethodologically and/or theoretically based in measurable, numerical, and/or empirical information, data, and/or phenomena

QualitativeMethodologically and/or theoretically based in describing and investigating phenomena via various methods. It is context-specific and fundamentally interpretive

CriticalTheoretically based in interrogating and contesting power dynamics. It is often invested in researching and accounting for histories and enduring practices of oppression and resistance

CreativeEngages in performative and/or artistic processes and/or products

AppliedImplies the acquisition and/or development of professional or vocational skills

Online Application

Proposal: Applicants should know their audience

• Applicants should not use jargon • Applicants should define technical terms• It is the applicant's responsibility to write to a

general academic audience• Do not grade an application highly just

because it “sounds smart”

Proposals should be specific

• Vague Benefit Section“I will be able to network with professionals in my field at the conference.”

• Instead look for specific details: “I will be networking with Dr. Patrick Ettinger from New York University whose research on the U.S. Mexico Border intersects with my dissertation chapter on reforms to U.S. federal immigration policy.”

Proposals should be specific

• Vague Introduction: “I am a graduate student seeking funding for my dissertation research.”

• Look for a better picture of who the applicant is and why they are seeking funding: “In my current studies as a second year doctoral student in the department of history I have been researching homosexual oppression in the United States with the intent to publish a scholarly article.”y current studies as a doctoral student in the history department I have been researching the history of homosexual oppression in American society with the intent to publish a scholarly article.

Budgets• Do not evaluate on the amount requested or

the total budget• You may evaluate based on what is

requested• The budget should be

– Economical: there must be a good reason for The Four Seasons

– Well-Researched: airline/equipment details– Complete: entire activity budget in line items

Letters of Recommendation

• SRAC/ST letters are not directly scored– Use these letters to give you a better idea of

applicant and activity• GRD letters are scored

– Score based on degree of support demonstrated– 1 letter from UNM faculty, 1 from state agency– Optional letter from non-profit

• Do not let the faculty do all of the talking for the applicant

Application Anonymity

• If you see an applicant's name, email unmgpsagrants@gmail.com. Score the application if you don't know the person.

• If you think you know the applicant (name, department, subject material, travel destination), email unmgpsagrants@gmail.com.

Always Score An Application

• Submit your score no matter what you think is incorrect

• Send an email to unmgpsagrants@gmail.com with the disqualification information and the application ID

• Things to look for– Anonymity, activity dates, appropriate grant

applied for, completeness of application, eligibility of activity

Score Normalization• (Your App Score) x (All-Reader Avg) = Normalized Score

• Your average

• You must create a spread in your scores– Otherwise your applications are punished

as 'average' even if you give them perfect scores

– The bigger the spread, the more influential you are as a reader

Score Consistently

• Compare applications to one another• The top ½ of your apps might be funded; the

bottom ½ will not be• Make a deliberate choice about which ½ is

which• Feel free to adjust scores after your first

round of scoring• Give/take points consistently for each score

category

Score Comments

• Comments are now required on all applications

• Comments are often a basis for appeals• Comment carefully, honestly and usefully• Always comment on how the app could be

improved• Comment in detail on the bottom 2/3 of

your apps

Scoring Practice & Discussion

SRAC/ST Score Sheet

GRD Score Sheet

Scoring Practice & DiscussionKey Points

• Benefits– Don't judge one academic activity over another– Score based on clarity of description/progress of

applicant• We all score differently, but be consistent

– Your scores will be averaged. Speak your mind!– What does each score criterion mean to you?

• Professional/academic writing styles vary– Score based on content communicated to a

general academic audience

That was the last funded SRAC application from the Summer

2010 cycle• Applications better than this will be funded• Apps worse than this will not be funded• Score your apps appropriately

Online Scoring System

• Sign up• Dashboard shows app ID, department, your

score• Look at score sheet and app simultaneously• If you have difficulty signing in, click

'Logout' and try again• Back-up your scores & comments

Score Due Date

• Tentatively Friday, October 15 at noon– Rereads will be due Oct 22

• Applications available for scoring no earlier than October 1

• Sign into your reader account to score applications

• Expect multiple emails about new assigned applications this Friday

$50 Stipend

• Submitted after initial round of scores• 3-4 weeks later you will receive a check in

the mail assuming you don't have a balance due in your student account

• Contact Student Government Accounting Office with questions 277-7888

Equity & InclusionChair: Rachel Levitt

Contact GPSA GrantsGPSA Office SUB 1021

(505) 277-3803 unmgpsagrants@gmail.com Grants Chair Katie Richardson: 505-720-

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