There will be two virtual optional application prep sessions. Drop in on one of the following dates:

• September 28, 4pm
  
• September 29, 4pm
  

For more information or questions about this award contact:  

Laurie Baefsky
laurie.baefsky@ucdenver.edu
Associate Dean of Research & Strategic Partnerships
College of Arts & Media | University of Colorado Denver

Dean’s Student Innovation Award for Collaborative Research, and Creative and Scholarly Work

$5,000 has been made available for College of Arts & Media (CAM) students to undertake team projects to conduct original student-led research, and creative and scholarly work spanning more than one academic department.

PURPOSE

The Dean’s Student Innovation Award for Collaborative Research, and Creative and Scholarly Work is to:

1. Encourage collaboration and new ideas between students across all of the College of Arts & Media
2. Support research and creative work that feeds into Colorado’s creative economy and creative industries nationally
3. Animate CAM’s three strategic initiatives below:  

• Support an outstanding educational and creative student experience
• Embed entrepreneurship across the College of Arts & Media
• Support relevant research in the creative industries

Additionally, there will be a Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Recognition Prize of $500 to one or more of our CAM team award winners.

USE OF AWARD

• Projects connected to a course, capstone, or junior/senior thesis project, or can be an independent endeavor
• Working in a community or industry setting with community partners outside of the university
• Bringing expertise to CAM, in the form of outside speakers, performances, workshops
• Diffusion of research and creative work results (publication, fabrication, dissemination costs)
• Tangible materials for projects
• Participation in an interdisciplinary conference is allowable
• Your request can be part of a larger project
• All projects and activities must adhere to CU Denver, CDC, and industry health and safety guidelines. 

Award funds may not be used for the following:

• Tuition support, to include academic semesters, study abroad, and internships
• No single-themed conference support
• Award must be used for completion of project
• Payment or honoraria to members of the applicant team
• Fulbright or Guggenheim support
• Cash awards given out in any form
• Projects funded by this award must be student-led (not for faculty-led projects)

Please note, the award is a taxable amount.

ELIGIBILITY 

This award is open to all full-time CU Denver College of Arts & Media students working collaboratively across more than one discipline. Student teams must include a minimum of three students from at least two different departments. Teams may include students inside and outside CAM, with preference given to all-CAM teams. All students team members must be enrolled at CU Denver.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• All student team members must be full-time CU Denver students at the time of application. The lead applicant must be from the College of Arts & Media.
• Team size: a minimum of three students per team from at least two different departments. No maximum limit to team size.
  
• Applications deadline: Sunday, October 4, 2020, 11:59pm. No late applications.
• All funds must be used by the end of May, 2021.
• A final project report is required by April 2021, to align with CU Denver’s Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS).
• Final projects may be publicly displayed by CAM.

Include the following:

1. Names, major and contact information of all team members (three minimum), with a single student identified as primary contact to accept the award.
2. A single page description of your project, describing your project and addressing the four criteria below:
3. Budget breakdown—itemize what you’ll spend the award on. How much does your proposed project cost?
   
4. A letter of project support from an active CAM faculty member endorsing you, your project, and your ability to follow through and complete the work.
   

Each application is scored in four categories (address these four areas in your one-page project description):

1. Creativity of idea/approach. Is the proposed research supporting a bold collaborative idea? Is it original? 25%
2. Clarity of plan. Describe the project. What are the objectives and intended outcomes of your project? 25%
3. Potential Benefit to CAM & CU Denver. Does the proposed research relate to wider CAM & University initiatives (e.g., CAM’s Strategic Initiatives above, and/or CU Denver’s Strategic Priorities?) 25%
4. Scope and viability of project. Is the project doable? Outline your project budget details and timeline. 25%

NOTE: All participants must play an active and significant role in the completion of the project. Projects containing participants and disciplines that do no demonstrate a meaningful contribution will be scored lower.

SELECTION PROCESS

An evaluation panel will include: CAM students, faculty, and leaders in the creative industries. The Dean of the College of Arts & Media has final decision.

STUDENT RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES RESOURCES

9/18/2020 - 11:30 - 1:00 - Writing UROPs: Where to Begin 

10/2/2020 - 11:30 - 1:00 - Less Stress and More Success: Getting Organized

11/6/2020 - 11:30 - 1:00 - Cultivating Your Talent: Clifton Strengths

12/4/2020 - 11:30 - 1:00 - Research Sandbox: Ideas in Progress 

2/5/2021 - 11:30 - 1:00 - UROPs & Summer Fellowships: Where to Begin

3/5/2021 - 11:30 - 1:00 - Writing an Abstract: Breaking it Down

4/9/2021 - 11:30 - 1:00 - Sharing Your Research: Poster & Presentation Skills

Visit the URCA website for more information.

Comcast Media and Technology Center (CMTC), is a catalyst to inspire transdisciplinary innovation, creativity and research, located on the ground floor of the Tivoli Student Union. Contact: Brandon Vargas, CMTC Technology and Media Specialist, Brandon.Vargas@ucdenver.edu.