Resources for Undergraduates
Undergraduate Research > Learning Beyond the Classroom
Learning Beyond the Classroom for Students
**NEW Policy for 2009-2010**
Learning Beyond the Classroom grants provide funding up to $1,500. Student applications are limited to one per year and can only be accessed through a new online application at
https://urapply.nd.edu
- Paper proposals will no longer be available.
Who is Eligible?
All undergraduate students in good standing pursuing a degree in the College of Arts and Letters.
Fall 2009
The deadline for submitting proposals for fall 2009 was Friday, October 2, 2009; this included Christmas break proposals.
Spring 2010
LBC grant proposals for Spring 2010 semester deadline is February 12, 2010; this includes Spring break proposals. All proposals will be reviewed and decisions made a week AFTER the deadline date. When contacting our office with questions concerning your application submission, you will need to refer to your PROPOSAL I.D. NUMBER.
Mission
With Learning Beyond the Classroom Grants, we hope to give students occasions to attend conferences (as opposed to presenting their own research), conduct classroom research (i.e., unrelated to a thesis), attend cultural events, conduct research at relevant archives, museums, and exhibits, and under certain circumstances, plan service projects in the U.S. or abroad.
Guidelines for Students
- Students should submit ONE proposal per student.
- Students should submit a 500-word single-spaced proposal, providing a detailed description of the following:
- The proposed event, cultural excursion, or other activity
- A clear explanation of learning goals – the ways attending a specific excursion, event, or activity will help advance learning beyond the classroom
- An itemized budget for expenses (e.g., for travel, lodging, tickets for a performance) - Applications should be accompanied by a faculty letter of recommendation, explaining the ways that a specific excursion, event, or activity will help advance student learning. Finally, please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to insure that a faculty member submits a letter of recommendation in a timely manner. We will not review your proposal until we receive this letter. Your recommender should address your ability to successfully complete the project proposed. You can go back into the online application to verify receipt of your letter of recommendation. Do not contact our office.
- Students who seek funding for research in a class must show how a given course paper goes above and beyond course requirements.
Although you can apply for up to $1,500, we limit expenses to travel; on occasion, we provide conference fees and lodging. Proposals requesting funding for travel need to be in at least two weeks prior to the travel date. We cannot provide tuition, food, books, baggage fees, and the like.
LBC provides funding though reimbursement only; however; we will prepay airline tickets if you use Anthony Travel located on campus in the LaFortune Student Center. Expenses, along with receipts, will need to be submitted through an online expense report http://controller.nd.edu/forms/travel_expense_excel.xls; please note, we do not honor per diems.
In order for us to complete the processing of reimbursement, we expect you to submit a one-page report describing what you did to fulfill the learning goals you described in your proposal.
Also, please understand that we will not fund projects that take you out of class.
Note: Learning Beyond the Classroom Grants should not be confused with the grants offered by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program which are available for students undertaking research projects with a faculty supervisor – particularly projects that lead to or are a part of students’ capstone experience or thesis research. Proposals for these projects should be directed to the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) in 101 O'Shaughnessy. Similarly, students who seek funding to present research at a conference should seek funding from UROP.
Types of Proposals Funded in 2008-09
Learning Beyond the Classroom Grants provided support for four kinds of activities during the 2008-2009 academic year:
- Students received grants to conduct preliminary research that in the future would lead to a capstone project or thesis. Students also received funds to do research for course papers when the proposed research entailed going well beyond the expectations of the course requirements. This was the case for one student who in studying papal leadership traveled to Rome to conduct interviews with Church leaders.
- Students received support for internships, but students and faculty are encouraged to work with the Nanovic and Kellogg Institutes before applying for funding from the Learning Beyond the Classroom Grants program.
- Students received funds to attend professional conferences when students have demonstrated that the topic is related to students’ coursework or their major. (Students presenting their own research should apply for a grant from UROP.) Students participating in University-sponsored clubs have also received grants to attend conferences when they can show that the experience will influence or change the work they are doing on campus.
