ACPA Commission for Housing and Residential Life Research Grant

CHRL Grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please submit your proposal to Ann Schafer at annschafer@ou.edu and the committee will review it within 3-5 weeks of your submission date.

Process for submission 

  • Provide a program description and its link to the Housing and Residential Life.
  • Outline intended outcomes.
  • Detail the intended population and expected number to be impacted by this initiative.
  • Describe how this research showcases new information.
  • Show how this research aligns with ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization (more info found here: http://www.myacpa.org/sirjd)
  • Provide a timeline with proposed activities and an estimated completion milestone for each activity.
  • Submit an anticipated budget.
  • Provide contact information for those researchers coordinating this initiative.

Evaluation Criteria

Research proposals will be evaluated by the Commission for Housing and Residential Life based on the importance and usefulness of the topic to student affairs professionals and the strength of the research methodology. The submission will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Purpose and goals of project/research
  • Significance of project/research
  • Supporting literature and rationale for project/research
  • Appropriate methodology
  • Degree project supports and relates to mission & goals of CHRL
  • Alignment with ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization
  • Clearly outlined budget & financial need demonstrated
  • Background and experience of applicant

Additional review considerations

  1. Does the project use inclusive, collaborative, and resourceful processes to pursue an innovative solution in supporting housing and residential life?
  2. Is the project plan thoughtful, realistic, and does it address the identified need?
  3. Is the project likely to make a significant, sustainable difference, now or in the future?

Presentation of Research

All grant recipients will be asked to present a webinar and a poster session at ACPA for the Commission for Housing and Residential Life based on their research findings.

Grant Proposal Outline

CHRL Grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please submit your proposal to Ann Schafer at annschafer@ou.edu and the committee will review it within 3-5 weeks of your submission date.

  1. Cover Page

    1. Title of the proposed study
    2. Name, title, institution, email, and phone of researcher/co-researcher
    3. Total amount requested

  2. Brief Description

    1. Researcher experience related to the grant proposal topic (not to exceed 1 page)

  3. Project narrative (not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages)

    1. Abstract (150 words maximum)
    2. Introduction and literature review
    3. Purpose of the study
    4. Significance of the study and potential implications for policy/ practice in Housing and Residential Life
      • Why hasn't this issue been addressed sufficiently in the past? Who else is working in this field, what have they done, and why isn't that enough? Demonstrate your knowledge of the field.
      • Provide convincing evidence that what you are proposing does not duplicate other work. Replication of someone else's work in a new environment or larger scale may be fundable.
    5. Alignment with ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization
      • How does this topic directly impact the Strategic Imperative?
      • How can this work be used to influence future practice through an intersectional lens? 
    6. Conceptual framework
    7. Research questions
    8. Methods (including methodology, sample, data collection, and data analysis procedures)

  4. Literature Review

  5. Project timeline, including work already accomplished (not to exceed 2 pages)

  6. Detailed budget (not to exceed 3 pages)

    1. List items, expense justification, amount
    2. List other sources and amounts of funding
    3. Justification for need of grant funding

  7. Status of institutional review board approval

  8. Appendices

    1. Two page curriculum vitae, including relevant publications, research experience, and prior grant funding
    2. Institutional review board application and approval or acknowledgement letter, if required for the study
    3. Instruments (e.g., survey or interview protocols), if applicable
    4. Letter of support from faculty member