Mentorship of UConn IDEA Grant Projects
Every UConn IDEA Grant project must have appropriate mentorship. Students who are awarded the UConn IDEA Grant select their own project mentors. Mentors are typically UConn faculty or professional staff, though in select cases, mentorship may come from someone in the wider community who has appropriate expertise.
In some cases, students may have multiple project mentors. This is most common with interdisciplinary projects, where it may be appropriate for students to seek guidance from multiple sources on different aspects of their project. In these situations, only one mentor needs to complete the Project Mentorship Agreement. For group projects, students have the option of having a project mentor who advises all group members, or having separate project mentors who advise on individual project components and responsibilities.
Firm mentorship arrangements must be in place and this signed Project Mentorship Agreement must be on file with the Office of Undergraduate Research prior to disbursement of UConn IDEA Grant funds.
Online Project Development Course Requirements & Research Compliance
UConn IDEA Grant recipients are required to complete a non-credit online project development course. During the course they refine their project plan, project budget, and timeline for completion, among other activities.
We value the expert opinions and feedback project mentors provide students during the planning stage and while they engage in their project work. As students go through the process of refining their plan, they will be required to discuss their project plan, budget, and timeline with their project mentors, and incorporate feedback and make any necessary adjustments to their plan to assure it is appropriate and feasible.
Mentors will be asked to sign or initial the final version of the students’ materials (plan, budget & timeline); the students will need to submit these signed documents to the Office of Undergraduate Research as part of the online course.
If research compliance authorization is needed for the proposed project work, students are responsible for working with their faculty mentor to ensure that their research project meets the requirements of and has necessary approvals from Research Compliance Services. Award funding will not be disbursed until appropriate documentation has been submitted to OUR.