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STUDENT GRANT Guidelines, FAQs. & Application

How much money can I expect from a Dean Rusk grant?

How much time should I spend abroad?

Does Dean Rusk provide grants for study abroad?

What if my plans change or my project is cancelled?

Are there any other requirements to receive a grant?
 
Can I receive funding to perform missionary work?

Can seniors receive grant money?

Can international students receive grants to their home country?

Who decides whether I get a grant?

Igauzu Falls, Argentina

Remember, this is a competitive process; a project's merit is the most important factor in determining if a project will receive a grant. Approximately 75% of applications received some funding in past years, but we are asked for over three times the amount that we are able to grant each year.

Grant applications for winter and spring travel are due:
October 27, 2006 at 5 pm.
Grant applications for summer travel are due:
March 1, 2007 at 5 pm.

No late applications will be accepted.
APPLICATION FORM

REMEMBER:
1) YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION ON TIME.
2) It is very important to review the FAQs before completing your application.

1) Start Early
The earlier you begin work on your proposal and the more thought you give it, the more likely you are to have an impressive project planned by the application deadline. For example, if you are corresponding with a rural hospital in a developing country, letters may take a month or more to travel each way, so starting early is a matter of necessity. If you're not sure exactly what you want to do or how to get started, make an appointment to talk with the Director or Assistant to the Director. Communicating with the Dean Rusk International Studies Program staff as you develop your proposal will not only help you to write a better proposal, it will mean we are well acquainted with your application when we consider it. Although we frequently accept proposals that are not completely finalized (you've applied to a program but haven't heard if you have been accepted or you have set up a project but haven't heard from all your contacts, for example), the more complete your proposal is the more likely you are to receive an award. If your proposal is tentative and the Committee approves it, you will be given a grant contingent on your plans actually working out. You are on your honor to use the money for your approved project; if your plans change, you must clear them with the Program before transferring your grant; if your plans fall through you must return the money.

2) Maximize your exposure to the culture
In the past, the Faculty Advisory Committee has shown a strong preference for independent projects. This preference reflects the Committee's belief that independent projects allow for more cultural exposure and learning than group trips, which are often more insular because most interaction occurs within the group. Recent examples of proposals that impressed the Committee include a study of post-apartheid race relations in South African schools, volunteer work at a refugee camp on the Thai/Burmese border, and the study of the causes of poverty in an Indian village, so feel free to use your imagination. If you are applying for money to help fund a semester abroad or participation in a group trip, let us know how you plan to immerse yourself in the culture at your destination. Consider designing a complementary project that you can do on your own: find an internship, set up an independent study, learn a language or do volunteer work. Although monies are often awarded to students attending traditional organized programs, you should realize that such proposals are a lower priority.

3) Be specific in your proposal and your budget
The last part of the application asks for a detailed description of your project: that's your opportunity to tell us why we should fund it. Include where you will be going (and give as many details as you have), why this project interests you, what you hope to get from it, and what you plan to contribute to Davidson when you return. We are not in the business of paying for your vacation. Your project ought to be fun, but it should also have merit (and the committee can usually see through attempts to fake the latter). Do research, find out what you can reasonably expect to accomplish and how much you should expect it to cost (if you're going to India, estimating $30/day as living expenses is excessive; if you're going to Sweden, it may be entirely realistic), then make your budget as specific as possible. If you are unsure of how well your proposal answers these questions or whether it is sufficiently detailed, ask the Assistant to the Director to read it and give you suggestions.

Plane tickets: The prices for plane tickets can vary enormously. Look early, look everywhere, and look for student rates. Some places you might want to try include the following: Studentuniverse, Counciltravel, International Student Exchange, Expedia, Travelocity, and the websites of the individual airlines. Priceline and Hotwire offer discounted flights with some restrictions on purchasing.

4) Request a reasonable amount of funding and look for other sources
Although the Committee does take financial need into account, Dean Rusk International Studies Program grants are not primarily financial aid. They are merit-based, so the better your proposal, the better your chances. Grant requests always exceed available funds, so remember that it is unlikely that we will fund the entire cost of your project. Look for alternative sources of money -- you can talk to someone at the Program or the professor who helped you design your proposal for ideas. Try your local Rotary Club or church, get a job, do whatever you need to do to indicate to the Committee that you are committed to your project (as opposed to having a "sure, if it's free I'll go" attitude). If you make a sincere effort to help pay for it, we will take your proposal more seriously.

5) Take the presence of special funds into account
Most grants come from general funds. Special funds are available for study in East Asia and the Middle East, economics-related projects in the developing world, for an internship with World Vision, for a religious diversity experience, countries with significant Muslim populations, extended study abroad, and the Medical Volunteers in Developing Countries Program. These funds are earmarked and cannot be used for other purposes and they are one reason that grant amounts vary so widely. If you are the only person applying to study in the Middle East, for example, you will have less competition for funds.

6) Edit! Edit! Edit!
Read and re-read your application before you hand it in --make sure that it is understandable, that your commas are in the right place, that spell-check didn't miss anything. Make a good impression; it shows that your project is important to you.

7) Talk with others about your proposal
We recommend that you seek out faculty members who are knowledgeable about your subject or destination in order to draw on their expertise and experience. The DRP staff can suggest professors who may be of assistance. You must speak to at least one faculty of staff member about your project and list them on your application.

How much money can I expect from a Dean Rusk grant?

Grant amounts vary considerably -- the average award is around $700, but grants ranged from $300 to $3000. There is no representative sum, because 1) applicants' requests vary, 2) the factors below affect how much different applicants receive, and 3) we don't have enough money to fund every worthy application fully.

How much time should I spend abroad?

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

As much as possible!  The mission of the Dean Rusk Program is to immerse students in a foreign culture for an extended period of time.  Therefore, the longer you plan to spend abroad, the more likely it is that the Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) will take your proposal seriously. 

Does Dean Rusk provide grants for study abroad?

  Yes, the Dean Rusk Program does give some financial support to students who are studying on traditional study abroad programs.  If you are participating in a Davidson-sponsored semester or year study abroad program, the cost of the program is equal to the cost of studying on campus at Davidson.  Therefore, you probably will not need any additional financial assistance from Dean Rusk.  Unless you are an international student, your financial aid should transfer to a Davidson-approved study abroad program through another university.  If you are participating in a summer program sponsored by Davidson or another university, you are responsible for covering the entire cost of the program and may wish to apply for money from Dean Rusk for some assistance. 

What if my plans change or my project is cancelled?

Any changes in your project after it has been submitted MUST be approved by the Director of the Dean Rusk Program.  In some cases, adjustments to your project will cause the amount of your grant to be changed (for example,   if you plan to travel for 3 weeks instead of 6, you may only receive half your original award).  CHANGES IN YOUR PROJECT THAT ARE NOT APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR MAY RESULT IN THE FORFEITURE OF YOUR GRANT.  If you are going on a study abroad program or group trip that is canceled, the Dean Rusk Program will work with you to apply your grant money to a different program. 

Are there any other requirements to receive a grant?

It is important to share your experience with others after your return. Accordingly, you are required to do so through such activities as talks, participation in panels, or visits to schools, at the request of the Program. While you are putting together your proposal and during your trip, you should reflect on the nature of a presentation when you return. You are also required to write a two to three page report on your experiences on your return. We hope that you will provide photos.

Can I receive funding to perform missionary work?

Be aware of the role that religion may have in your project. We frequently fund religiously oriented projects such as student volunteers in missionary hospitals, work with church youth groups, and study of other faiths. If you are interested in this kind of project, the role of religion in it should be that of a personal motivating force for you rather than evangelism. We help students go to other cultures to learn, absorb, and share different ways of thinking and living, so begin your journey with a mind that is open to whatever you may encounter.

Can seniors receive grant money?

Although all students may apply for grants, you should be aware that awards are not normally given to seniors whose travel will take place after graduation. The reasoning behind this is simple: the College invests money in grant recipients, and the return on that investment is the contribution to internationalism on campus that the grant recipient makes when he/she returns. Any senior's application should address the issue of how the project will benefit the Davidson community.

Can international students receive grants to their home country?

In the past the Committee has voiced concern about merely sending people home. If you have a proposal for a project in your home country, address that issue up front -- explain why giving you a grant would be more than just paying to see your family. One-year international students are eligible for grant money for travel occurring during their time at Davidson.

Who decides whether I get a grant?

Grant awards are decided by the Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC), a committee composed of professors   from different disciplines who are interested in international issues.   

Applications are due October 27 and March 1.
No late applications will be accepted. CALL US AT x2170 or x2440 WITH QUESTIONS.

REMEMBER: YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION ON TIME.