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Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) 2008 Program Guidelines

Program of Individual Faculty Mentorship for Miami University Sophomores and Juniors

USS Guidelines & Application
Table of Contents

Application Deadlines

Round 2* - Spring Submission Deadlines Feb 29, 2008

*Round 2 Limited to students submitting through a Fine Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences department.

Adobe pdf file version or (M.S. Word version)

USS 2008 Program Changes

Project Dual Options

Both USS Summer Scholar options described below require the student to enroll for a combined total of 12 credit hours and to complete a USS project under the supervision of an eligible Miami mentor during the designated 10-week interval between May 12, and August 22, 2008. Both options include a $2,600 student fellowship and a $400 student supply allotment as well as a $600 faculty mentor development allotment. Depending on the chosen option (A or B) the award includes up to 12 hours of academic credit, with a tuition scholarship that covers the instructional fees and tuition for the hours under 340.U (but not the General Fees). (See program features for details).

Option A - Standard USS Program Experience

requires summer enrollment for 12 hours of extended independent study credit under course number 340.U (or combined 12 hours credit, based on course designations as agreed to by individual departments and the Registrar). The USS program covers cost of tuition for 12 credit hours in which the student enrolls under Course 340.U, while the student pays for related general fees of approximately $43.15 per credit hour.

Option B - USS Program plus International Experience

encourages the synergistic combination of a departmentally approved international experience with a complimentary USS program research project. Students are required to enroll for a total of 12 credit hours comprised of a minimum of 6-hours of independent study credit under course number 340.U and a complimentary number of hours under a Miami departmentally approved international course that demonstrates a synergy between the research project and the international course. Under Option B the USS program covers cost of tuition for the number of credit hours in which the student enrolls under Course 340.U, while the student pays for related general fees of approximately $43.15 per credit hour for those credit hours. In addition, the student pays for travel costs and all costs (tuition, fees, etc.) incurred as a part of the international course experience. For example, a student who enrolls for 7 USS credit hours under course 340.U would combine an approved 5-credit hour international course experience to reach the required total of 12.

USS 2008 Submission Rounds

A second round of funding in the spring has been added to encourage application from students majoring in disciplines where the fall deadline has limited their participation due to the timing of their research methods course. Starting this year students submitting an application with a mentor in any Fine Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences department may apply in Round 1 or Round 2. All other students must apply by the fall submission deadline of November 30, 2007. Approximately, one hundred awards will be available in Round 1 and approximately fifteen awards will be allotted for Round 2 for which the application deadline is February 29, 2008. See detailed timetables for Round 1 and Round 2 submissions on pages 11 and 12.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS - USS 2008 PROGRAM

• Program Goals
• Important Summer 2008 Participation Dates
• Program Overview
  • Program Features
  • Program Benefits
  • Distribution of Awards
• Program Administration
• Program Dual Options - A or B
• Award Distribution
• Eligibility
• Application Procedures
• Roles and Responsibilities
  • Department and Department Chair Roles and Responsibilities
  • Faculty Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
  • Student Roles and Responsibilities
• Financial Matters
• Other Student-related Matters
• USS 2008 Schedule - Round 1 - Details
• USS 2008 Schedule - Round 2 - Details
• Downloads for printing in Adobe pdf format. Hint: You will need to download a copy of Adobe Reader to view and print these if Reader is not already on your computer.

Program Goals

Now in its fourteenth year, the USS program heightens the intellectual level of the learning environment at Miami University by enabling Miami undergraduates to do research or other creative activities in the summer under the supervision of an individual faculty mentor. Either a student or faculty member may initiate an application, but the application must be agreed to and signed by both the student and the faculty member.

Application to the program is open to any Miami University student in good standing completing either her or his sophomore or junior year who agrees to abide by program requirements. A student must have a minimum of 60 credit hours to be eligible for a year 2008 USS award. Each student applying for a USS award must also verify that she or he will spend at least one additional semester at Miami University as an undergraduate student after participating in the year 2008 USS program.

For printed copies of the guidelines/ application, Contact Mrs. Martha Weber (weberme@muohio.edu) or download the pdf file version of the program guidelines/application form.

Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)
Miami University 102 Roudebush Hall Oxford, OH 45056
Tel: 513-529-3600

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Important Summer 2008 Participation Dates

• October 30, 2007
  • USS Reception and Information Fair in Shriver Center - USS 2007 students present the results of their projects. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Application Deadlines
Submission open to all eligible students. See Section II for details.
Round 1 - Fall Submission Deadlines – Timetable
Student/faculty mentor applications dueby 5:00 p.m. in mentor's departmental* office.	November 30, 2007 (Friday)
Department application packets due by 5:00 p.m. in the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) 102 Roudebush Hall	December 7, 2007 (Friday)
USS 1st Round positions allocated to departments	February 8, 2008
Departments complete selection process and provide OARS student awardee names	February 22, 2008 (Friday)
Round 2 - Spring Submission Deadlines – Timetable
Submission limited to students submitting through a Fine Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences department
Student/faculty mentor applications due by 5:00 p.m. in mentor's departmental* office.	February 29, 2008 (Friday)
Department application packets due by 5:00 p.m. in the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) 102 Roudebush Hall	March 7, 2008 (Friday)
USS 2st Round positions allocated to departments	April 4, 2008
Departments complete selection process and provide OARS student awardee names	April 18, 2008 (Friday)

• May 12, 2008 through Friday, August 22, 2008.
  • Period of required participation in USS program is 10 weeks within this 15-week interval. Students who submitted in either round must carry out their USS project during this time period.

(Please see Round 1 or Round 2 Detailed USS 2008 Schedule at end of these guidelines for additional deadlines and events.)

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I. USS Program Overview

• Program Features
• Program Benefits
• Distribution of Awards
• Program Administration
• Back to the Contents

A. PROGRAM FEATURES

• a focus on learning the processes of research and scholarship under supervision of a faculty mentor
• a student fellowship award of $2,600
• depending on whether the student chooses Option A or Option B the award includes up to 12 hours of academic credit, with a tuition scholarship that covers the instructional fees and tuition (but not the General Fees)
• a project allowance of $400 for supplies, services and travel
• an additional faculty allowance of $600 that can be used to support the faculty mentor's scholarly activities and/or, at the discretion of the faculty mentor, to help the student project

B. BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM

• adds a distinctive educational experience to the undergraduate education of a significant number of Miami students
• engages students as active research agents
• offers students the opportunity to include global awareness in the learning experience
• increases interaction between faculty and students
• enhances faculty research programs by the participation of talented undergraduates
• clearly links scholarship and teaching at the University
• provides an educational opportunity shown to increase student intellectual maturity
• improves Miami's ability to attract talented students

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C. DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS Round 1 and 2 Submissions

A second round of funding in the spring has been added to encourage application from students majoring in disciplines where the fall deadline has limited their participation due to the timing of their research methods course. Starting this year students submitting an application with a mentor in any Fine Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences department may apply in Round 1 or Round 2. All other students must apply by the fall submission deadline of November 30, 2007. See detailed timetables for Round 1 and Round 2 submissions on pages 11 and 12.

For summer 2008 approximately one hundred (100) student appointments will be available to students submitting in Round 1 with a November 30, 2007 deadline. In addition, approximately 15 appointments will be available for students submitting in Round 2 with a February 29, 2008 deadline. The Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) will allocate positions in both Round 1 and Round 2 to departments based on recommendations from a panel that will review the submitted departmental application packets. In developing its recommendation, this panel will consider:

• • the quality of experiences proposed by applications from the department
• • the quality and appropriateness of the mentorship supervision and interactions proposed
• • the distribution of awards across disciplinary areas

D. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

The USS program focuses on individual student/faculty mentor relationship. While the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship helps coordinate this program, the program is administered primarily at the departmental level. Applications by individual student/faculty pairs form the basis for subsequent allocation of USS positions to departments. Departments are then responsible for selecting particular student/faculty projects, approving those projects for up to 12 hours of academic credit depending on the choice of option (A or B), and evaluating the student experiences.

A student may propose a USS program project under either Option A or Option B.

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USS 2008 Project Dual Options

A student may propose a USS program project under either Option A or Option B:

Option A – Standard USS Program Experience requires summer enrollment for 12 hours of extended independent study credit under course number 340.U (or combined 12 hours credit, based on course designations as agreed to by individual departments and the Registrar). The USS program covers cost of tuition for 12 credit hours in which the student enrolls under Course 340.U , while the student pays for related general fees of approximately $43.15 per credit hour.

Option B – USS Program + International Experience encourages the synergistic combination of a departmentally approved international experience with a complimentary USS program research project. Students are required to enroll for a total of 12 credit hours comprised of a minimum of 6-hours of independent study credit under course number 340.U and a complimentary number of hours under a Miami departmentally approved international course that demonstrates a synergy between the research project and the international course. Under Option B the USS program covers cost of tuition for the number of credit hours in which the student enrolls under Course 340.U, while the student pays for related general fees of approximately $43.15 per credit hour for those credit hours. In addition, the student pays for travel costs and all costs (tuition, fees, etc.) incurred as a part of the international course experience. For example, a student who enrolls for 7 USS credit hours under course 340.U would combine an approved 5-credit hour international course experience to reach the required total of 12.

Due to the nature, duration and intensity of the program, students accepting USS awards must agree not to take additional summer courses (except an approved international experience) during the selected 10 weeks of their USS participation, nor accept any other concurrent internships, fellowships, volunteer positions or employment that would interfere with their full-time program participation.

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II. Eligibility

• Departmental Eligibility
• Faculty Eligibility
• Student Eligibility
• Table of Contents 

A. DEPARTMENTAL ELIGIBILITY

Faculty must submit the student/faculty mentor applications through their primary academic department. All academic departments plus certain programs (American Studies, Black World Studies, International Studies, Journalism Program and Women's Studies) are eligible for participation in the USS program. By choosing to participate, these units agree to undertake the administrative burden required of them by the USS program.

B. FACULTY ELIGIBILITY

The USS program is open to all full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty of Miami University. Each student/faculty pair should make application as described below through the chair of the faculty member's academic department (or administrator of eligible program). To participate in the USS program, a faculty member must be willing and able to provide appropriate supervision and mentorship of the student with whom she or he has elected to be paired.

C. STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

Students may only receive one USS award during their time at Miami and the award must be used for the summer in which it is awarded. Research has shown that the full-time project involvement combined with faculty mentorship can have a significant effect on intellectual maturity of the student across the 10-week USS program. Therefore, program application is open to any Miami University undergraduate student who:

• is a student in good standing (minimum 2.0 G.P.A., not on probation, etc.),
• will have completed her or his sophomore year (defined as having a minimum of 60 credit hours) or junior year prior to the beginning of the year 2008 Summer Session I,
• will enroll for at least one additional semester at Miami University as an undergraduate student after the completion of her/his year 2008 USS award participation,
• agrees to full-time participation in the USS program, and
• agrees to forgo any other courses (except an approved international experience), University employment, fellowships or internships (volunteer or paid), or any employment that would interfere with the student's full-time educational commitment during the selected 10-week period of USS participation
• under Option B will provide a plan that demonstrates the synergy between international experience and the proposed USS research project. Both the faculty mentor and the department chair and must sign off on this plan.

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III. Application Procedures

A. JOINT STUDENT/FACULTY MENTOR APPLICATIONS

Round 1 Applications Due to the Department - November 30, 2007
Round 2 Applications Due to the Department - February 29, 2007

Emphasis is on individual student/faculty mentor relationships. Each individual student/faculty pair should, therefore, jointly prepare the 3-page application following instructions on the application form and submit this to the faculty member's department chair by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date designated for Round 1 or Round 2.

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B. DEPARTMENTAL APPLICATION PACKET

Round 1 Departmental Packet Due to OARS by 5:00 p.m. Friday December 7, 2007
Round 2 Departmental Packet Due to OARS by 5:00 p.m. Friday March 7, 2008

The department chair should then prepare an application packet containing 7 sets (original plus 6 copies) of the student/faculty applications. This packet should be submitted in the name of the department/program to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS), 102 Roudebush Hall by 5:00 p.m. the Round 1 or Round 2 departmental application packet date.

Each packet set should include:

• a cover page signed by the chair that specifies the total number of applications from that department and includes an unranked list of the individual student/faculty applicant pair,
• the individual student/faculty applications judged by the department to meet the criteria for either an Option A or B project

Although others may participate in a student project, each award will be to one specific student and one specific faculty mentor as identified by the department/ program. We encourage both faculty and students to initiate these collaborations. Students can submit only one application. A single faculty member can be listed as a prospective mentor on up to four applications only. Other than these restrictions, there is no limit on how many applications departments may submit.

The review procedures and granting mechanism of this program are designed to:

• provide opportunities for those who show both an interest in the program and express a willingness to commit to the effort required to make the student/faculty interactions a successful educational experience for the students,
• allow for broad participation across the University,
• provide a means by which the application process itself fosters initial student/faculty interactions and leads to discussions about the meaning and implementation of scholarly activity, and
• emphasize the fundamental role of departments in 1) establishing the form of student/faculty interactions, 2) determining the degree of supervision necessary to help achieve the student's objectives, and 3) monitoring the quality of the student's experience.

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IV. Roles and Responsibilities

Responsibility for a successful program will rest with the student scholar, her or his faculty mentor and the faculty member's department.

• Department and Department Chair Roles and Responsibilities
• Faculty Mentor Roles and Responsibilities
• Student Participant Roles and Responsibilities

A. DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT CHAIR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• 1. General Oversight and Administration of USS awards
• 2. Submission of Departmental Application Packets
• 3. Departmental Internal Review

1. General Oversight and Administration of USS awards. While the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) will coordinate this program, the program will be administered primarily at the departmental level. Individual departments will be responsible for:

1. identifying student/faculty projects to be supported
2. assuring faculty and student eligibility for the program
3. submitting a departmental application packet to OARS
4. assigning allocated awards and notifying awardees within the department
5. approving specific student projects under the requirements for an either:
   Option A – Standard USS Program Experience
   Option B – -USS Program + International Experience
   Approving the required plan that demonstrates the synergy between the departmentally approved international experience and the proposed USS research project
6. working with the Registrar's Office to reconcile any differences between the USS program and departmental course and credit requirements
7. assuring the educational value of the student experience
8. monitoring the student/faculty mentor collaboration

2. Submission of Departmental Application Packets

Student/faculty pairs should submit their individual applications to department chairs by 5:00 p.m. on either the Round 1 Application deadline (November 30, 2007) or the Round 2 Application Deadline (February 29, 2007).
Departments will then collect and compile an original set and six copies (7 total) with each set containing the departmental cover letter plus the individual student/faculty applications. This packet should then be delivered to the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS), 102 Roudebush Hall by 5:00 p.m. on the Round 1 or Round 2 departmental application packet date.

3. Departmental Internal Review

Each department will make final decisions concerning assignment of awards within the department as long as the awards are consistent with USS guidelines. The type of internal review and selection procedure a department/ program chooses to use may be affected by the number of allocations received by the department. Therefore, we suggest that departments delay their internal ranking or other selection procedure for applications submitted in Round 1 until after allocations to departments are announced on Friday, February 8, 2008. For Round 2 we suggest that departments delay their internal ranking or other selection procedure for applications until after allocations to departments are announced on April 4, 2008. In each instance, departments will still have two weeks after that date during which to make final selections. Departments will then:

• inform the students that they have been nominated for an award,
• verify that students will accept and abide by the conditions of the award, and then
• provide OARS the names of these students.

B. FACULTY MENTOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

• Preparation of Joint Applications
• Need to Comply with University and Federal Research Regulations
• Need to Comply with University Study Abroad Requirements
• Oversight of Project Allowance
• Oversight of Faculty Development Allowance
• Table of Contents

1. Preparation of Joint Applications. Faculty members will collaborate with specific students in developing and submitting applications for the USS program. If selected for an appointment, the designated faculty mentor will determine the time of the student 10-week participation in consultation with the department chair and the student. The faculty mentor is then expected to be generally available to the student during the selected 10-week period of mentorship and will be responsible to the department for assuring a meaningful and appropriate student experience. The faculty mentor will also determine, in consultation with the student participant and with approval of the department chair, whether student participation in this program will be evaluated with a letter grade or on the basis of credit/no credit for the required 6-12 credit hours enrollment in 340.U. Note, some departments only allow participation in this USS program on a credit/no credit basis.

2. Need to Comply with University and Federal Research Regulations. It is the responsibility of the faculty mentor to assure that all required regulatory committee approvals [Institutional Review Board (IRB) - human subjects, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) - vertebrate animals, radioisotopes or recombinant DNA] are obtained prior to the start of the student project.

3. Need to Comply with University Study Abroad Requirements. If the USS participant plans to travel abroad as part of the USS project, it is the responsibility of the faculty mentor to assure the compliance of the student with Miami University’s Guidelines for Study Abroad. Contact Office of International Studies (529-5628) for information or view the Miami University Guidelines for Study Abroad Programs on line.

4. Oversight of $400 Project Allowance. Each USS appointment will be accompanied by a $400 allowance for supplies, services and travel used in direct support of the student’s project. The faculty mentor will supervise spending from this account using standard University ordering and accounting procedures. All charges must be made against this allowance by February 1, 2009. This allowance account will be cleared and closed by the University Accounting Office on February 15, 2009. The faculty mentor is responsible for any charges made to that account above the $400 allotted or after February 1, 2009.

5. Oversight of $600 Faculty Development Allowance. As part of each USS program, a faculty member will receive a $600 supplies, services and travel allowance for each award on which she or he is a mentor. However, a faculty member may not be a mentor for more than four USS program students during the summer of 2008. Thus, a mentor will not receive a total of more than $2,400 in faculty allowances as a result of USS program awards. The allowance will be available for use in supporting the faculty mentor's own scholarship and professional development and/or, at the discretion of the faculty mentor, for use in supporting the student project. This allowance will be subject to standard University ordering and accounting procedures, and the faculty member is responsible for the appropriate use of these funds. The project and faculty allowances are not considered income for tax purposes and cannot be used as supplemental pay for either the student participant or the faculty mentor. All charges must be made against this allowance by February 1, 2009. This allowance account will be cleared and closed by the University Accounting Office on February 15, 2009. The faculty mentor is responsible for any charges made to that account above the $600 allotted or after February 1, 2009.

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C. STUDENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

• Appropriate Class Standing
• Participation During Specified Period
• Course Registration Requirements
• Limits on Other Course Enrollments
• Table of Contents

1. Appropriate Class Standing. For the summer of 2008, application to the Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) program is open to any Miami University undergraduate student who:

• is a student in good standing (minimum 2.0 G.P.A., not on probation, etc.),
• will have completed her/his sophomore year (defined as having a minimum of 60 credit hours) or junior year prior to the beginning of the year 2008 Summer Session I, and
• will enroll for at least one additional semester at Miami University as an undergraduate student after the completion of her/his year 2008 USS award participation,
• agrees to full-time participation in the USS program,
• agrees to forgo any other courses (except an approved international experience under Option B), University employment, fellowships or internships (volunteer or paid), or any employment that would interfere with the student's full-time educational commitment during the 10-week period of USS participation.

Students may only receive one USS award during their time at Miami and the award must be used for the summer in which it is awarded. The program provides an opportunity for full-time, intensive interaction between a student and his/her faculty mentor. Enrollment for 12* summer credit hours is a requirement of program participation and students are expected to be involved in this program for a minimum of 40 hours per week. This full time commitment to the summer scholar project precludes student participants from accepting any full time employment or internship (volunteer or paid) or taking any academic courses for credit during the selected 10-week period of USS participation. *The exception allowed under Option B for a student to combine an approved international experience that is synergistic to the USS project. Under Option B the number of credits taken for the USS must not be less than 6 hours and the total number of combined credits must equal 12 hours. Each USS credit hour is equal to 3.33 hours/week.

 2. USS Participation During Specified Period. The supervising faculty mentor in consultation with the student and department chair will determine the specific 10 weeks of a student's participation during the summer of 2008. Participation time can be divided into two different periods if necessary. Both of these times must be within the 15-week interval from Spring Commencement through the last day of Summer Sessions, which is from May 12, 2008 through August 22, 2008.

3. Course Registration Requirements. Each student who receives a USS appointment must enroll for 12 hours credit (no more, no less) either for a letter grade or on a credit/no credit basis under the course number 340.U Summer Scholars Program, (unless the student combines an approved international experience with the USS experience under Option B). The USS credit hours course number will include the acronym of mentor's department, i.e., BOT 340.U , PSY 340.U , ENG 340.U . Be aware that some departments have other arrangements that have been previously approved by the Registrar. Although the 10-week period of appointment can vary within the interval from May 12 through August 22, 2008, Summer I has been designated as the term of enrollment for the USS program. Students must, therefore, enroll for the required 12 credit hours sometime during the Summer I enrollment period, which for 2008 runs from March 17 through May 12.

Each student combining an approved international experience with the USS program must enroll for no less than 6 credit hours and no more than 12 credit hours either for a letter grade or on a credit/no credit basis under the course number 340.U Summer Scholars Program. The course number will include the acronym of mentor's department, i.e., BOT 340.U, PSY 340.U, ENG 340.U. Be aware that some departments have other arrangements that have been previously approved by the Registrar. Although the 10-week period of appointment can vary within the interval from May 12 through August 22, 2008, Summer I has been designated as the term of enrollment for the USS program. Students must, therefore, enroll for the required 12 credit hours sometime during the Summer I enrollment period, which for 2008 runs from March 17 through May 12.

4. Limits on Other Course Enrollments. Participation in the USS program precludes a student from registering for any other credits (except credits for an approved international experience under Option B) during the selected 10 weeks of USS participation. In 2008 the interval between Miami's Spring Commencement (May 12, 2008) and end of summer session (August 22, 2008) is 15 weeks.

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 V. Financial Matters

• Student Fellowship Payment
• Waiver of Instructional Fee
• Tax Considerations
• Limits on Summer Employment
• Back to Students Roles and Responsibilities
• Table of Contents

A. STUDENT FELLOWSHIP

Each student participant will receive a fellowship award of $2,600 if he or she enrolls and continues in the program. In order to insure a quality educational experience, students are expected to devote 100% effort to their project during the selected 10 weeks. It is anticipated that students will spend a minimum 40 hours per week involved in USS activities. For some students, the time they devote to their summer educational activities may well be more than 40 hours per week.

A single fellowship payment of $2,600 will be made to the USS participant through the student bursar account in the beginning of May 2008. The Bursar’s Office will then apply this $2,600 to any outstanding balance on the student account including the required general fee of $43.15 per credit hour enrolled in 340.U . The Bursar’s office will disburse any remaining funds approximately two weeks later. USS awardees would contact the Bursar’s office 529-8744 with any questions about the E-bill or bursar account. <http://www.muohio.edu/bursar>

B. WAIVER OF INSTRUCTIONAL FEE

Students who sign up for the required 12 hours of academic credit under either Option A or Option B and continue to participate in the USS program will receive a waiver of instructional fees and tuition scholarship for these hours of academic credit associated with the USS program. However, at the time of enrollment each student account will be charged approximately $43.15 per credit hour for the USS credit hours in course 340.U . Student choosing Option A – Standard USS Program Experience would expect to a charge of $517.80 in general fees. While a student choosing Option B –USS Program + International Experience would expect a charge of $43.15 for each of the USS 340 credit hours included in their project. General fee charges will appear on the students Bursar bill.

C. TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Amount of the fellowship ($2,600) will be reported on the student’s 1098T for tax considerations. Although income taxes will not be withheld from USS student fellowship and scholarship awards, portions of the fellowship payments may be considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) depending on how the money is used by the student. For additional information on Scholarship and Fellowship Grants, refer to IRS Tax Topic 421, and Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.

D. LIMITS ON SUMMER EMPLOYMENT

Because the Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program is designed to allow full-time immersion of students in research activities, students accepting USS awards agree to forgo:

• 1) any other courses (except an approved international experience)
• 2) Miami University employment
• 3) fellowships or internships (volunteer or paid), or
• 4) any employment that would interfere with the student's full-time educational commitment during the selected 10-week period of USS participation.

VI. Other Student-related Matters

• Grading
• Student Presentations
• Electronic Communications
• Evaluation
• Back to Students Roles and Responsibilities
• Table of Contents 

A. GRADING

Prior to the start of the summer program, each student and her/his faculty mentor should prepare a plan for departmental review and approval. In accordance with departmental policy or concurrence of the department chair, each pair should determine whether the credits taken under 340.U for which the student will register will be graded on a credit/no credit basis or with a letter grade. Any change in status of grading must be done by May 12, 2008. No change from a letter grade to credit/no credit or vice versa will be allowed by the Registrar's Office after that date.

B. STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

Although not required as part of the USS program, in many cases students may produce a product (paper, oral presentation, poster, artwork, portfolio, model, etc.) as a result of their USS project. In these cases, the student and faculty mentor at the beginning of the student's participation should agree as to the purpose and form of this product. Students will be given the opportunity to present this product, if appropriate, at the USS Reception and Information Fair in November 2008 and at the Undergraduate Research Poster Forum planned for April 2009.

C. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

During the USS program, most communications from OARS with student awardees and their faculty mentors will be done electronically via Blackboard and e-mail. All USS students will, therefore, be expected to use e-mail. Each USS students will also be required to register her/his preferred e-mail address with the Miami University system so that messages sent to the individual's assigned UniqueID will be received.

D. EVALUATION

USS student awardees will be asked to complete several questionnaires relating to their educational experiences and activities. At the end of the summer, they will also be requested to provide additional feedback on the USS program.

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Detailed USS 2008 Schedule - Round 1 Applications

Submission open to all eligible students. See Section II for details.
WEEKDAY	DATE(S)	INTERVAL	DEADLINE* or SCHEDULED EVENT
Monday	October 8, 2007	-	Announcement and Guidelines for Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) program are distributed
-	October 8 to November 30	7 weeks	Students, faculty and departments arrange appropriate collaborations and complete individual student/faculty application forms
Tuesday	October 30	-	USS Reception and Information Fair. Co-sponsored by OARS and the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Socieity. Students share results of 2007 activities and prospective applicants learn about 2008 USS program (Shriver Center Multipurpose Room)
* Friday	November 30, 2007	-	Individual student/faculty Round 1 applications are submitted to the mentor's department chair
-	November 30 to December 7, 2007	1 week	Departments compile packet of USS applications with cover page
* Friday	December 7, 2007	-	Departments submit to OARS their application packet containing individual student/faculty USS application forms identifying the projects for which they seek funding
-	Inter semester Interval	-	Application and departmental data compiled by OARS and distributed to review panel
-	January 11 to February 1, 2008	-	Panel reviews application packets plus other materials and recommends allocation of appointments to departments
* Friday	February 8, 2008	-	USS positions are allocated to departments
-	February 8 to February 22	2 weeks	Departments identify which applicants will be offered USS awards
* Friday	February 22, 2008	-	Departments provide OARS with names of student awardees, names of faculty mentors, and 10-week periods of specific student appointments
Monday	March 3, 2008		OARS sends award letters to selected students
*by Friday	March 28, 2008	-	Students submit Independent Study Form directly to Registrar's Office in CAB building.
* by Friday	March 28, 2008	-	Students return USS Student Acceptance Form directly to OARS in 102 Roudebush Hall
* Monday	May 12, 2008	-	All USS student awardees must have completed enrollment procedures and paid fees
-	May 12 to August 22, 2008	15 weeks	Possible interval for 10-week Undergraduate Summer Scholar activities
-	October 2008	-	OARS evaluation of USS activities
* Friday	February 1, 2009	-	All 2008 USS allowance funds must be spent, including student project and faculty mentor development allowances
Friday	February 15, 2009	-	2008 USS accounts closed and cleared

Detailed USS 2008 Schedule - Round 2 Applications

Submission limited to students submitting through a Fine Arts and Humanities or Social Sciences department
Monday	October 8, 2007		Announcement and Guidelines for Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) program are distributed
Tuesday	October 30, 2007		USS Reception and Information Fair. Co-sponsored by OARS and the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Socieity. Students share results of 2007 activities and prospective applicants learn about 2008 USS program (Shriver Center Multipurpose Room)
	January 11, 2008 to February 29, 2008	8 weeks	Students, faculty and departments arrange appropriate collaborations and complete individual student/faculty application forms
* Friday	February 29, 2008		Individual student/faculty applications are submitted to the mentor's department chair
	February 29, 2008 - March 7, 2008	1 week	Departments compile packet of USS applications with cover page
* Friday	March 7, 2008		Departments submit to OARS their application packet containing individual student/faculty USS application forms identifying the projects for which they seek funding
	Intersemester Interval March 16 - 23		Application and departmental data compiled by OARS and distributed to review panel
	March 24, 2008 - April 4, 2008		Panel reviews application packets plus other materials and recommends allocation of appointments to departments
* Friday	April 4, 2008		USS positions are allocated to departments
	April 4, 2008 - April 18, 2008	2 weeks	Departments identify which applicants will be offered USS awards
* Friday	April 18, 2008		Departments provide OARS with names of student awardees, names of faculty mentors, and 10-week periods of specific student appointments
* Wednesday	April 23, 2008		OARS sends award letters to selected students
* Wednesday	April 30, 2008		Students submit Independent Study Form to Registrar's Office
* Wednesday	April 30, 2008		Students return Student USS Acceptance Form to OARS in 102 Roudebush Hall
Monday	May 12, 2008		All student awardees must have completed enrollment procedures and paid fees
	May 12, 2008 to August 22, 2008	15 weeks	Possible interval for 10-week Undergraduate Summer Scholar activities
	October 2008		OARS evaluation of USS activities
	February 1, 2009		All 2008 USS allowance funds must be spent, including student project and faculty mentor development allowances
	February 15, 2009		2008 USS accounts closed and cleared

Application forms and printed program guidelines can be obtained from:

Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS)
Miami University
102 Roudebush Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
Tel: 513-529-3600, FAX 513-529-3762

Questions not answered in the USS 2008 guideline materials should be directed to
OARS staff members
Mrs. Martha Weber (weberme@muohio.edu) or
Dr. John Czaja (czajaja@muohio.edu)

 

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