The Department of Sociology offers Enrichment Grants to students interested in furthering their study.
Students enrolled in sociology courses at Bowdoin are eligible to apply for grants to carry out sociological research conducted during the academic year, or to participate in related conferences and programs. Preference will be given to declared majors and minors, then to prospective majors and minors; however, all students enrolled in the department’s courses are welcome to apply.
Students can apply for funds to cover travel, off-campus food and lodging costs, research expenses (such as copying or digitizing charges), and conference attendance fees. Awards will range from $50 to $500. Individuals are eligible for only one award per semester.
Projects must be completed while students are enrolled at the college. If a student receives funding for the project from another source, the student is expected to decline the department’s award unless the other funding supports a different component of the research, conference, or program, or is required to fully fund the project.
How to Apply
Sociology Enrichment Grants are due by the end (Friday) of the eighth week of the Fall or Spring semester.
Complete grant applications should be emailed to Lori Brackett. Applicants should list their last name and the grant name in the header of the email to which application materials are attached. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Criteria for Selection
Quality of the proposal
Feasibility of the project as described in the narrative
Project’s significance and relevance to the applicant’s academic career at Bowdoin
Applicant’s academic standing
For Research Projects: a narrative proposal, no more than 500 words in length, must describe:
the proposed research,
the goals of the work,
the significance to the student of the endeavor, and
the timeline for completion of the project.
For Conference Proposals: a narrative proposal, no more than 500 words in length, must explain:
the topic of the conference and any particular session that is relevant,
the student’s role in the conference,
the significance to the student of participating in the conference, and
the dates of the conference.
For Educational Programs: a narrative proposal, no more than 500 words in length, must describe:
the focus or purpose of the educational program,
the work that will be required of the student,
the program’s affiliation and duration,
the program faculty member(s) credentials, and
the significance of the program to the student’s academic program or goals.
A detailed budget and budget justification that clearly outline and explain expenses the award is expected to cover.
A statement identifying other funding sources to which the student has applied, and other funding sources that have been awarded for the project.
A current Bowdoin transcript (print-out from Polaris is fine).
A letter of recommendation written by a faculty member in the department who has worked with the student and is involved in the project, is familiar with the conference, or who has an understanding of the appropriateness of the course of study. The letter should be sent directly to the Department Coordinator by the deadline.
Presenting Your Project
Students awarded Sociology Enrichment Grants must write a short report describing their involvement in the project, conference experience, or academic program. This report must be submitted to the department chair within two weeks of completion of the project. The Chair will distribute the report to all department faculty members.
Students who cannot complete outlined work or attend the conference or program should contact the department chair to discuss what portion of the funds should be returned to the department. Students who fail to submit their reports will be expected to return award funds. Failure to handle money and reports appropriately may impact the student’s ability to receive future funding from the college.
