William & Mary Honors Fellowships support students conducting research for department Honors projects. Students may receive up to a $4,000 summer grant to enable the student to conduct 10 full-time weeks of pre-Honors research.
Eligibility
All students who have submitted their Application for Admission to conduct Departmental Honors during the current academic year are eligible to apply for W&M Honors Fellowships. Please see the Guidelines and Planning page for Arts & Sciences eligibility rules and check with your Honors advisor, department chair or program director for applicable rules.
Students submitting Honors Fellowship applications are automatically considered for Charles Center Summer Research Grants and should not apply to both for the same summer.
Monroe Scholars applying for Honors Fellowships are also automatically considered for their junior year Monroe Grant if they did not already use their $3,000 research grant funding sophomore year. They should not apply to both the Honors Fellowship and the Monroe Scholar Sophomore/Junior Grant for the same summer.
Students who have been selected for aCharles Center-sponsored internship (such as Woody, Freeman, City Scholars, etc.) will not be eligible to receive an Honors Fellowship for the same summer.
Students already fully funded for research by another internal or external summer grant for $3000 or more will not be eligible to receive Charles Center funding, in the interest of supporting other students who have no other source of funding.
How to Apply
The first step is to discuss your research project idea with your William & Mary faculty thesis advisor. Make sure they know that they will be completing a recommendation form for you, mentoring your research, and helping you with your presentation at the Graduate & Honors Symposium in spring.
Access the online application below and create an account. Note: if you use your W&M email, make sure to use a different password than the one you use for your school account for security purposes.
Deadline: February 19th, 2024 at 11:59 pm - The deadline to apply for a Summer 2024 Honors Fellowship has now passed.
Application Information Project Proposal The project proposal questions will be answered within the online application. VIEW EXAMPLE RESPONSES HERE For a general audience, summarize your research question and the significance of its outcome. Please write in the third person (no "I" statements); for example, "This project will explore..." (<150 words) Discuss your methodology. What is your research plan for the summer? Where do you propose to conduct the research? Include a project timeline, making sure that the summer portion of your project lasts a minimum of ten full-time weeks. (Note: the project may be spread out over multiple chunks of time, as long as it lasts at least 400 hours) (<350 words) What resources are available to you for this project (lab space, access to collections/ archives, additional funding, etc.)? (<150 words) What new knowledge or interpretation will emerge from this proposed project? (<150 words) What will the deliverable be from your research (article, play, website, story map, etc.)? (<150 words) Personal Statement: Why did you choose to do an Honors thesis and take on this specific project? What have you done during your academic career to prepare to do this thesis? After reading your personal statement, a reviewer should understand the context of this project within your intellectual and academic trajectory.(<250 words) Note: This proposal must be written by the student. However, we do encourage project advisors to read it and make constructive comments. Proposal Presentation It's important that you can explain your project to a non-specialist audience in your own words. We want to give you a chance to do this in a non-written format. Please explain your project succinctly in a two-slide, two-minute presentation. DO NOT take a video of yourself, just voiceover narration for two slides. We recommend using Zoom or Powerpoint to record your voice as you display your slides. These slides can include graphs, charts, illustrations, photos, or other visuals that help explain your project proposal. Include your research question, why it's important to you and how you plan to answer the question. Please use this an opportunity to explain the big picture of your project in a dynamic way; do not simply read your proposal. The presentation should be no longer than 2 minutes. WATCH AN EXAMPLE Transcript Upload an unofficial (from Banner self-service), William & Mary transcript, including the current spring registration. Research Compliance If your research involves any of the following, you or your faculty mentor must request approval from the appropriate Research Compliance committee before submitting your grant application in order for your application to be considered for funding. Approval from the committee can be pending when you submit your grant application, but approval must be received before you begin research per federal regulations. Note: Protocols can be time-consuming to complete and may take weeks to a month before you hear back. Your protocol may also require revisions to be approved. Start this process as soon as possible! 1. Work involving living human subjects (including talking to people, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or questionnaires) You and your faculty mentor/PI must complete the CITI training modules for: AREA specific human subject modules, Conflict of Interest, and Responsible Conduct of Research. Students requesting approval for their own projects that meet exempt Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements: Submit a proposal to the Student IRB. Students working on a faculty mentor's project: list your faculty mentor's Protection of Human Subjects Committee (PHSC) approval information on the research grant application form if you are working on their research project. 2. Work that uses or produces radioactive materials First, communicate with your faculty mentor to see if they have already obtained the relevant approval. Contact Eric Bradley 3. Work that involves the use and care of vertebrate animals First, communicate with your faculty mentor to see if they have already obtained the relevant approval. You and your faculty mentor/PI must complete the CITI training modules, following the instructions on the website. See the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) information. 4. Work that involves recombinant DNA, or infectious agents, or direct or indirect contact with wild-caught animals that may harbor infectious agents, or any human fluid or tissue. First, communicate with your faculty mentor to see if they have already obtained the relevant approval. Follow the procedures and guidelines on the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) webpage to submit your proposal. How to Register for CITI Training Go to https://about.citiprogram.org/. Click "Register" in the top right corner. Under "Select Your Organization Affiliation" search for William & Mary. Click the agreement checkboxes and then "Create a CITI Program Account." Complete the registration steps. You will be able to choose the courses that you need to take depending on what certification you need - please refer to the relevant Research Compliance links above. Finalize your registration. You will then be able to log in and complete your chosen courses. Please refer to the CITI Program Getting Started Guide with questions or contact cacorb@wm.edu. International Travel Please review the following information if you plan to travel internationally to conduct your summer research. 1. Review the W&M Travel Alerts website to check the status of your intended destination. If your country is listed as a Restricted Destination, travel is prohibited and you must adjust your plans to do research in another destination. If there is a W&M Travel Risk Warning, you must submit an application for approval to the Travel Warning Review Committee through the Reves Center in order for your proposal to be considered for funding. 2. If you are traveling abroad and you are notified that you have been awarded a fellowship, you will be given instructions on purchasing the mandatory CISI Comprehensive Medical and Evacuation insurance. Recommendation Form The William & Mary faculty member who has agreed to be your project mentor must complete a recommendation form on your behalf through the online portal. You must meet to discuss your proposal with the project mentor before registering them in the system. When you enter the faculty member's name and email into the application system, they will be sent a link to complete the form. Please do this before the application deadline, so they have enough time to complete the form. You may submit your application before your faculty mentor completes the form. The recommendation form is due three days after the application deadline and must be received in order for your proposal to be considered for funding. You are responsible for checking online whether the form has been submitted by the recommendation deadline. Application to Honors To apply for an Honors Fellowship, your Application for Admission to Departmental Honors must first be completed on this form. For questions concerning Departmental Honors, please email cchonors@wm.edu. (NOTE: Students applying for Honors Fellowships must have their Departmental Honors application submitted by the Honors Fellowship deadline.)
Project Proposal
The project proposal questions will be answered within the online application.
For a general audience, summarize your research question and the significance of its outcome. Please write in the third person (no "I" statements); for example, "This project will explore..." (<150 words)
Discuss your methodology. What is your research plan for the summer? Where do you propose to conduct the research? Include a project timeline, making sure that the summer portion of your project lasts a minimum of ten full-time weeks. (Note: the project may be spread out over multiple chunks of time, as long as it lasts at least 400 hours) (<350 words)
What resources are available to you for this project (lab space, access to collections/ archives, additional funding, etc.)? (<150 words)
What new knowledge or interpretation will emerge from this proposed project? (<150 words)
What will the deliverable be from your research (article, play, website, story map, etc.)? (<150 words)
Personal Statement: Why did you choose to do an Honors thesis and take on this specific project? What have you done during your academic career to prepare to do this thesis? After reading your personal statement, a reviewer should understand the context of this project within your intellectual and academic trajectory.(<250 words)
Note: This proposal must be written by the student. However, we do encourage project advisors to read it and make constructive comments.
Proposal Presentation
It's important that you can explain your project to a non-specialist audience in your own words. We want to give you a chance to do this in a non-written format. Please explain your project succinctly in a two-slide, two-minute presentation. DO NOT take a video of yourself, just voiceover narration for two slides. We recommend using Zoom or Powerpoint to record your voice as you display your slides. These slides can include graphs, charts, illustrations, photos, or other visuals that help explain your project proposal. Include your research question, why it's important to you and how you plan to answer the question. Please use this an opportunity to explain the big picture of your project in a dynamic way; do not simply read your proposal. The presentation should be no longer than 2 minutes.
Upload an unofficial (from Banner self-service), William & Mary transcript, including the current spring registration.
Research Compliance
If your research involves any of the following, you or your faculty mentor must request approval from the appropriate Research Compliance committee before submitting your grant application in order for your application to be considered for funding. Approval from the committee can be pending when you submit your grant application, but approval must be received before you begin research per federal regulations.
Note: Protocols can be time-consuming to complete and may take weeks to a month before you hear back. Your protocol may also require revisions to be approved. Start this process as soon as possible!
1. Work involving living human subjects (including talking to people, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or questionnaires)
You and your faculty mentor/PI must complete the CITI training modules for: AREA specific human subject modules, Conflict of Interest, and Responsible Conduct of Research.
Students requesting approval for their own projects that meet exempt Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements: Submit a proposal to the Student IRB.
Students working on a faculty mentor's project: list your faculty mentor's Protection of Human Subjects Committee (PHSC) approval information on the research grant application form if you are working on their research project.
2. Work that uses or produces radioactive materials
First, communicate with your faculty mentor to see if they have already obtained the relevant approval.
4. Work that involves recombinant DNA, or infectious agents, or direct or indirect contact with wild-caught animals that may harbor infectious agents, or any human fluid or tissue.
First, communicate with your faculty mentor to see if they have already obtained the relevant approval.
Under "Select Your Organization Affiliation" search for William & Mary. Click the agreement checkboxes and then "Create a CITI Program Account."
Complete the registration steps. You will be able to choose the courses that you need to take depending on what certification you need - please refer to the relevant Research Compliance links above.
Finalize your registration. You will then be able to log in and complete your chosen courses.
If your country is listed as a Restricted Destination, travel is prohibited and you must adjust your plans to do research in another destination.
If there is a W&M Travel Risk Warning, you must submit an application for approval to the Travel Warning Review Committee through the Reves Center in order for your proposal to be considered for funding.
2. If you are traveling abroad and you are notified that you have been awarded a fellowship, you will be given instructions on purchasing the mandatory CISI Comprehensive Medical and Evacuation insurance.
Recommendation Form
The William & Mary faculty member who has agreed to be your project mentor must complete a recommendation form on your behalf through the online portal. You must meet to discuss your proposal with the project mentor before registering them in the system. When you enter the faculty member's name and email into the application system, they will be sent a link to complete the form. Please do this before the application deadline, so they have enough time to complete the form. You may submit your application before your faculty mentor completes the form.
The recommendation form is due three days after the application deadline and must be received in order for your proposal to be considered for funding. You are responsible for checking online whether the form has been submitted by the recommendation deadline.
Application to Honors
To apply for an Honors Fellowship, your Application for Admission to Departmental Honors must first be completed on this form. For questions concerning Departmental Honors, please email cchonors@wm.edu. (NOTE: Students applying for Honors Fellowships must have their Departmental Honors application submitted by the Honors Fellowship deadline.)
Applications will be reviewed by theUndergraduate Research Committee. Your proposal will be read by faculty both inside and outside of your research topic area, so make sure that it does not contain jargon and is understandable to an educated person outside of your field.
Students who receive funding from the Charles Center will present their work at the spring Honors Symposium.
All general Charles Center Summer Grant and Monroe Grant applicants will receive an email about award decisions by mid-April. Notifications will go out in batches, starting in mid-March, so do not panic if someone else hears their outcome before you do. Honors Fellowship results will go out last.
In order to receive funding in late spring, your must turn in an expectations agreement signed by both you and your mentor articulating how often you will meet/communicate, the final product of their project, when you will review their presentation for the spring Honors Symposium, and other parameters.
Note that it is possible for an Honors Fellowship candidate to end up with something less than the $4,000 grant. In these cases the Charles Center will work with individual students to identify the most productive uses for the available funding for activities related to the honors project.
