Deadlines: Usually in January and July

The International Writing Centers Association (IWCA) serves to strengthen the writing center community through all of its activities. The IWCA offers its Research Grant to encourage scholars to apply and advance existing theories and methods or create new knowledge. This grant supports quantitative, qualitative, theoretical, and applied projects associated with writing center research and application.

While travel funding is not the primary purpose of this grant, we have supported travel as part of specific research activities (e.g. traveling to specific sites, libraries or archives to conduct research). This fund is not intended to support conference travel only; instead the travel must be part of a larger research program stipulated in the grant request. (Travel Grants are available for the IWCA Annual Conference and the Summer Institute.)

Please note: While a graduate student can be part of a team who applies for a Research Grant, individual graduate students and teams of graduate students are not eligible for this award. They should seek support through the Ben Rafoth Graduate Research Grant or the IWCA Dissertation Grant.)

Award

Applicants may apply for up to $1000. NOTE: IWCA reserves the right to modify the amount.

Application

Complete application packets will contain the following items:

  1. Cover letter addressed to current chair of the Research Grants Committee; the letter should do the following:
    • Request IWCA’s consideration of the application.
    • Introduce the applicant and the projectInclude evidence of Institutional Research Board (IRB) or other ethics board approval. If you are not affiliated with an institution with such as process, please reach out to the Grants and Awards Chair for guidance.
    • Specify how grant monies will be used (materials, in-process research travel, photocopying, postage, etc.).
  2. Project Summary: One to three (1-3) page summary of the proposed project, its research questions and goals, methods, schedule, current status, etc. Locate the project within relevant, extant literature.
  3. Include evidence of Institutional Review Board (IRB) or other ethics board approval. If you are not affiliated with an institutional with such a process, please email IWCA for guidance at iwcaofficer@gmail.com BEFORE submitting an application.
  4. Curriculum Vitae

Those receiving grants then agree that they will do the following:

  • Acknowledge IWCA support in any presentation or publication of the resulting research findings
  • Forward copies of resulting publications or presentations to iwcaofficer@gmail.com.
  • Strongly consider submitting a manuscript based on the supported research to an IWCA publication: The Writing Center Journal or The Peer Review. Be willing to work with the editor(s) and reviewer(s) to revise the manuscript for possible publication
  • File a progress report to the IWCA. This report is due within twelvemonths of receipt of grant monies. Upon completion of the project, submit a final project report to the IWCA Board, in care of the chair of the Research Grants committee. It should be sent to iwcaofficer@gmail.com

Process

Proposal deadlines for the Winter cycle are usually late January/early February and late June/early July for the Summer cycle. After each deadline, the chair of the Research Grants Committee will forward copies of the complete packet to the committee members for consideration, discussion, and vote. Applicants can expect notification 4-6 weeks from receipt of application materials.

Stipulations

The following stipulations adhere to supported projects: All applications must be made through the IWCA portal. Submissions should completed by deadline listed in the membership portal depending on grant cycle. For further information or questions, contact the Grants Committee via iwcaofficer@gmail.com.

Recipients

A list of past recipients can be found here.