Reader Training Workshop SRAC, ST & GRD

Summer 2011

Your Job as Grant Reader Determine which graduate and professional

students will receive GPSA funding!• Be fair and consistent

Score 10-15 applications 1 week after receiving them• 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 01/01/11- 12/31/11

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 01/01/11- 12/31/11

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 7/1/11- 6/30/12

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.”

Instead 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.”

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• Email unmgpsagrants@gmail.com if there is no letter.

GRD letters are scored• Score based on degree of support demonstrated• One letter from UNM faculty, one 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

SRAC/ST Score Sheet

GRD Score Sheet

Scoring Practice Key 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 Spring 2011 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

Scores due 1 week after assignment Re-reads will be due 1 week after that

Sign into your reader account to score applications Expect multiple emails about new assigned

applications

$50 Stipend Submitted after initial round of scores 3-4 weeks later you will receive a check in the

mail/direct deposit assuming you don't have a balance due in your student account

Students with monthly checks & 1.0 FTE for summer may have difficulties

Contact Student Government Accounting Office with questions 277-7888

Contact GPSA GrantsGrants Co-Chairs:Saliha Qasemi and Yury BosinGPSA Office SUB 1021(505) 277-3803unmgpsagrants@gmail.com