Summer Research Opportunity Program
Guidelines for Participants
The Summer Research Opportunity Program for 2008 will begin June 23rd and end August 15th. The research project must be completed, and a final written report of the project must be prepared by August 15th. An oral presentation of the research will be made by each participant at the Research Forum on August 15th. A final abstract must be submitted to The Graduate School by August 7th.
SROP participants must be prepared to make a full-time commitment to their research, work energetically on their projects, and develop a professional attitude toward their research, their faculty mentors, and their colleagues. Participants should schedule a meeting with their faculty mentors prior to the start of the program so that they can begin their research the first week of the program. During the eight-week period of SROP, participants are expected to work on their research at least 30-40 hours per week. The research is to be done on or near the campus to permit each participant to meet with the faculty mentor at least once or twice per week. The role of the faculty mentor is to guide the research. Each participant is expected to seek and to follow the faculty mentor's recommendations and advice.
A writing consultant will be available to work with students to improve their research writing skills. Participants may not register for the Summer Session, nor may they undertake additional employment responsibilities without prior written permission from The Graduate School.
SROP participants are required to attend the following events:
- The SROP orientation program scheduled for Monday, June 23rd at 9 a.m.
- All meetings at the times and places listed in the 2008 SROP Calendar. The CIC SROP Conference for SROP participants and faculty mentors from all the "Big Ten" universities and The University of Chicago. (Date to be announced)
- The Research Forum August 15th, at which all Northwestern SROP participants will present the results of their research. The Forum is followed by a luncheon for participants, faculty mentors, and invited guests.
The $4,000 stipend will be paid in several installments. Distribution of stipends is contingent on participants completing the requirements of the program and meeting all the deadlines published in the SROP calendar. A limited set of health services will be provided to SROP participants by The Graduate School; however, all participants must have their own health insurance.
In addition to the stipend, $500 will be provided for research supplies.
Stipend checks may be held, reduced, or withdrawn by The Graduate School if a participant fails to comply with the above conditions.
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Guidelines for Faculty Mentors
Faculty mentors are expected to play a significant role in shaping a research experience that will encourage SROP participants to consider graduate study.
Specifically, faculty mentors are expected to:
- help design and monitor an appropriate full-time research project, not an independent study assignment, for the student or incorporate the student into ongoing research
- work with the student on an outline, rough draft, abstract, and final paper which summarize the research
- work with the student on an oral presentation of the research in preparation for the Research Forum which concludes the program
- permit time in the student's research schedule for meetings required of all SROP participants and for the SROP conference
SROP students will meet their deadlines if they follow a clearly established time line. Past experience indicates that a 1-2 page working proposal should be expected by the third week of the program; a 3-5 page paper by the fourth week of the program; the first draft of the final paper should be ready by the sixth week; the second draft and a hard copy of the abstract signed by the faculty mentor should by ready by the seventh week; the final paper and the oral presentation should be ready the early part of the eighth week.
All faculty mentors are welcome to attend the SROP Orientation on June 23rd; the SROP Conference; and any scheduled meetings on the 2008 SROP calendar. Faculty mentors are expected to attend the Research Forum on August 15th, at which all Northwestern SROP participants will present the results of their research. The Forum is followed by a luncheon for participants, faculty mentors, and invited guests.
Faculty mentors are also expected to complete an interim and a final evaluation of the student's research. The student's second stipend check will be released after the SROP conference upon receipt of the student and faculty mentor interim progress evaluations, 3-5 page report, biographical sketch, and conference evaluation; the third check will be released upon receipt of the abstract, final paper, and student and faculty mentor final evaluations.
It is important to ensure that any student who is participating in the faculty mentor's research has a meaningful role in the project. Ongoing advice and guidance will be necessary for students engaging in more independent research projects. Because the purpose of the SROP is to provide students the opportunity to work with experts in an area of research interest, faculty mentors should meet with their students at least once or twice a week throughout the eight weeks of the program.
The first week of the 2008 program, $500 for research-related costs will be transferred into a departmental or research account designated by each faculty mentor.
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