Application Review and Decisions

A selection committee will review applications. OUR instructions to this committee are to give high priority to meaningful student experiences, both in the actual work done and the mentoring received. Fellowships emphasize experience/training, and OUR does not have expertise in most disciplines; the scientific/creative merit of a project is not under review.

Strong applications will:

• Fully engage the student in all stages of the project - contemplation, design, execution, analysis, and presentation.
• Include regular opportunities for mentor-student interaction.
  • OUR recommends least one face-to-face meeting per week. Proposals indicating that the mentor and student will be in different physical locations, limiting in-person contact, will receive low priority.
• Include a feasible timeline.
• OUR understands that research and creative work are fluid. Unexpected issues may cause delays or changes in direction. These do not need to be incorporated into the application's timeline or reported to OUR.
• Show students' strong understanding of the project and its significance to themselves and the broader community.
• Convey excitement and collaboration from both the mentor and mentees.

Restrictions

• Fellowships cannot be deferred or transferred.
• This program is for group collaboration; there must be 2-4 students working collaboratively on the project.
• A mentor can NOT have both an ICRU and GCRU Fellow for the same term.

Automatic Denial of Applications

We reserve the right to automatically deny an application without review if the application instructions are not properly followed. We will not contact mentors for resubmission. The following list details reasons that OUR will automatically deny an application without review:

• Either a mentor or student is listed on more than one OUR Fellowship application.
• Primary mentor is already mentoring an ICRU Fellow for the designated term.
  • Mentors may be primary on only one application but may still be secondary on another. If a mentor is listed as the primary mentor on multiple applications, the applications will be automatically denied.
• Students also cannot be listed on more than one application.

Disbursement

OUR Fellowship funding is disbursed within four weeks of the start of the term, contingent upon completion of the mentorship agreement in ICON. 

OUR transfers funds directly into the student's Ul account as a refundable scholarship. The Ul will first use the funding to cover any remaining UBill balance. The rest will be refunded to the student electronically as a direct deposit. Students who have scholarships meeting the estimated cost of attendance will not receive additional funds. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for questions regarding this policy.

Once disbursed, OUR has no further control of how funding is delivered. Issues with refunds should be directed to the Billing Office or the Office of Financial Aid. 

OUR retains the right to cancel awarded fellowships if either the student or mentor withdraws from or fails to complete fellowship requirements. Please contact OUR immediately for concerns regarding the completion of or adherence to requirements.

URES:4000 or URES:3995

Academic Year Fellows: OUR enrolls all Academic Year Fellows in course number URES:4000 for 1 credit hour per semester. This course is graded S/U. Mentors have no grading responsibility other than to make OUR aware if the student fails to fully participate in the Fellowship. Failure to complete OUR Fellowship requirements will result in a "U" grade for the course.

Summer Fellows: OUR enrolls all Summer Fellows in course number URES:3995. This is a zero-credit-hour course graded R (registered) or W (withdrew). No extra tuition, fees, or costs will be incurred by the student. OUR submits the grades for all Fellows. Mentors have no grading responsibility other than to make OUR aware if the student fails to fully participate in the Fellowship. Failure to complete OUR Fellowship requirements will result in a "W" grade for the course. Students will be contacted before a "W" grade is given.

Hours and Duration

GCRU Fellowships are expected to begin on the first day of classes each semester and end on the final day of classes. Fellows are expected to work 8-10 hours per week during the academic year (not including finals week or extended breaks such as Thanksgiving or Spring Break) - 15 weeks per semester. Summer fellows are expected to work 18-20 hours per week for ten weeks. OUR does not require Fellows to report or log hours. 

*Note: Hours per week can vary at the discretion of mentors and fellows. OUR is not responsible for monitoring if a student chooses to work more hours during some weeks and fewer hours during other weeks.

Withdrawal from or Failure to Complete the Fellowship

Occasionally mentors or students will need to withdraw their participation due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Withdrawals made prior to the beginning of a semester

• If either the mentor or the student decides to withdraw from the Fellowship before the beginning of the semester, OUR will consider the Fellowship to have been cancelled for both parties. No courses will be registered or funding disbursed.

Student withdrawal or failure to complete the Fellowship after the beginning of a semester

• If a student decides to withdraw or fails to complete the Fellowship, the student will need to fill out appropriate paperwork before the official drop-date or the student will incur a "W" for URES:4000/3995.

• Disbursed funds may be revoked.

Mentor withdrawal or failure to complete the fellowship after the beginning of a semester

If OUR is not informed of the mentor's decision to withdraw before the start of the semester:

• The student may need to fill out the appropriate paperwork to drop URES:4000/URES:3995 OR the student may incur a "W" for URES:4000/URES:3995
• Disbursed funds may be revoked

Because students are often dependent of Fellowship funds, OUR prefers not to penalize the student if a mentor withdraws. Please contact OUR to discuss possible solutions.

Future fellowship applications

Withdrawal from a Fellowship does not hurt a student's or mentor's future chances of receiving an OUR Fellowship UNLESS evidence suggests the withdrawal was purposefully withheld from OUR. However, failure to complete a Fellowship may negatively affect future Fellowship application results.

OUR Fellowship Requirements

Acceptance of an OUR Fellowship constitutes an agreement with OUR to fulfill the following program requirements:

• Funds will NOT be disbursed until a Mentorship Agreement, signed by both mentor and student, is uploaded to ICON.
• Student participation in Student Mentee Experiences during the funding period (summer only).
• Students are strongly encouraged to present their work at either of OUR's research festivals:
  • Fall (FURF - November)
  • Spring (SURF - April)
• Completion of any questionnaires sent by OUR during the funding period.

Questions?

Unforeseen circumstances do arise, and OUR will do its best to work on a solution with mentors or students.  Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.