Information for Advisors/Administrators

Every student who applies for a SURG grant must have a faculty advisor to oversee/supervise the student during the research process. Advisors login here.

Advisors:

Give feedback to the student as she or he drafts the SURG proposal and write a letter of collaboration to the SURG selection committee stating whether or not:

- the proposed project is feasible and worthwhile
- the student is capable of pursuing the research
- you, as the advisor, are willing to provide oversight
- you will meet with the student regularly during the course of the research project

Please see more information on Enhancing Education at Carnegie Mellon.

When the project is finished, sign the Final Report Form, which includes a record of used funds.

Committee Review:

SURG proposals are read and rated by a selection committee of faculty representing all the colleges on campus, with at least one member from the student's college. Students should target their proposals to all "educated readers," not only to experts in their field, so that all readers can understand the research question and the significance of the research.

Notification:

Students and their advisors are notified of the committee's decisions, by e-mail, within a month of the SURG deadline. If a proposal is not funded, we try to give appropriate feedback so that the student can learn from the process. The committee may also request clarification of a proposal before making a funding decision.

Disbursement of Funds:

If a student is awarded a SURG grant, he or she will be issued a check, in his or her name, by the Undergraduate Research Office.The student must come to an Open House to pick up the check. By accepting the check, students are agreeing to the conditions listed in the URO Funding Agreement form. Students are expected to manage the money, with advice from the faculty advisor. Many students have the check deposited into the advisor's discretionary account and access the funds this way.

Contact us:

If you have any questions about these expectations or anything else about the SURG program, please feel free to contact the Director of the Undergraduate Research Office, Stephanie Wallach at sw4s@andrew.cmu.edu, or the Associate Director, Jennifer Keating-Miller at jkeating@andrew.cmu.edu, or call 8-5702.