MWCA Research Grants

The Midwest Writing Center Association (MWCA) serves to strengthen the writing center community in the Midwest through all of its activities. The MWCA offers two kinds of research grants to encourage writing center professionals to advance writing center studies:

• The Research Grant supports quantitative, qualitative, theoretical, and applied projects associated with writing center research.

• The Undergraduate Research Grants support research projects conducted by undergraduate students.

Funding from these grants can be used for equipment, transcription, and reciprocity (such as participant stipends). In addition, funding can be used for travel to support archival research. Please note that this funding is not intended to support conference travel; instead the travel must be part of a larger research program stipulated in the budget rationale. Applicants seeking support for travel to an MWCA or IWCA conference should apply for an MWCA travel grant. In addition, funding may not be used to pay indirect costs and/or overhead and must be used to fund specific research activities.

Award: Up to $1,000.00. (The MWCA reserves the right to modify this amount.)

Application Requirements

• A cover page that contains the title of the proposal, the type of grant you are applying for, the names and full contact information of the investigator(s) (institution, address, phone, email), and, in the event of multiple investigators, the designation of a principal contact. Applications for the undergraduate research grants must also include the faculty advisor’s contact information.

• A concise narrative of not more than five pages explaining the following: 1) the problem and aims of the research, 2) the research questions to be addressed, 3) the importance of the question for writing center studies, 4) previous research related to the project, 5) the evidence to be gathered and the methods of its collections, 6) the analytical methods to be applied, 7) an explanation of how the evidence and analysis are appropriate to produce answers to the research question, 8) the qualifications of the researchers to conduct this research, 9) and plans for disseminating the findings.

• A work plan with a timeline of key events and processes proposed.

• A detailed budget with rationale for all expenses.

• If working with human subjects, a statement indicating whether IRB approval has been obtained or when it will be sought.

• A brief (1-2 page) curriculum vitae for all investigators, highlighting successfully completed work relevant to the proposed project.

• Applications for undergraduate research grants must include a letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor explaining their advisory role and evaluating the project against the evaluation criteria below.

Evaluation Criteria

The application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Significance and timeliness of the research

• Appropriateness of research and analytical methods

• Feasibility of the study

• Justification of budget rationale

• Qualifications of researchers

Requirements Upon Receipt of Grant Monies

• Acknowledge MWCA support in any presentation or publication of the resulting research findings.

• File a progress report to the MWCA, in care of the Research Coordinator, due every six months after receipt of funding. Upon completion of the project, submit a final project report to the MWCA, in care of the Research Coordinator. For undergraduate research grants, these reports need to be written and submitted by the faculty advisor.

• Upon completion of the project, contribute a brief piece to the MWCA Newsletter that summarizes the project and offers preliminary findings.

How to Apply

• Applications for research and regional collaboration grants should be emailed to luke.morgan@metrostate.edu no later than 5 PM on March 29, 2024. 
• Please include "MWCA Research Grant" or "MWCA Collab Grant" as applicable in the subject of your message. 
• Applications will be reviewed by a committee of executive board members, and decisions on awards will be communicated in late April.

Regional Collaboration Support Grants

To support the writing center community at a local level, the MWCA now offers Regional Collaboration Support Grants. These grants are intended to foster communication across institutions through professional and tutor development by helping to fund regional meetings. The proposed regional activity must be held at or hosted by an institutional member of MWCA. We especially welcome applications from historically underserved or underrepresented communities and institutions.

Please note that these funds are not intended to support collaborative and individual research.

Award: The award is up to $500. (MWCA reserves the right to modify this amount.)

Application

• A cover page that contains the title of the proposal, the type of grant you are applying for, the names and full contact information of the applicant(s) (institution, address, phone, email), and, in the event of multiple applicants, the designation of a principal contact.

• A letter of application (up to 500 words), addressed to the MWCA Board, detailing the proposed regional collaboration event: this includes providing a narrative of the event itself (i.e., what will take place during the event), how much planning has been done, an idea of expected attendance and the institutions involved. The letter must also address how the event promotes regional collaboration and furthers the mission of MWCA.

• In addition to the letter, please include a proposed budget that details how much money is needed for your event, as well as any outside funding and in-kind funding you are receiving. Please note that events must have some in-kind funding to be considered.

Evaluation Criteria

A strong application will demonstrate, through the application letter, the following:

• Proof that the event will be held, as evidenced by a thorough discussion of what the event is and its funding breakdown

• Discussion of how participants would benefit from the event

• Discussion of how the event promotes regional collaboration and furthers the mission of MWCA

Preference will be given to applications that have not been awarded a Regional Support Grant in the previous award year.

How to Apply

• Applications for research and regional collaboration grants should be emailed to luke.morgan@metrostate.edu no later than 5 PM on March 29, 2024. 
• Please include "MWCA Research Grant" or "MWCA Collab Grant" as applicable in the subject of your message. 
• Applications will be reviewed by a committee of executive board members, and decisions on awards will be communicated in late April.