Click here for the list of Layman Fellows

Purpose

To increase student engagement in experiential learning through research and scholarship mentored by OSU-Cascades faculty.

SOURCE OF SUPPORT

This program is made possible due to the generous support of Doug Layman and Daisy Layman.

Awards

    Each award (per student) includes:

    • $2,000 award to the student account.
    • Up to $500 for student supplies and/or student travel related to the project, which must be spent by the student's graduation or one year from the date of award, whichever occurs first.
    • Any unused funds will be returned to the Layman Fellowship program for award to future students.

    Eligible projects and requirements

    • Student awardees must be enrolled in any 6 OSU-Cascades course credits.
    • Faculty-mentored student research/scholarship projects appropriate to the discipline are eligible for funding. The faculty mentor is responsible for identifying an appropriate project together with the student.
    • All full-time (1.0 FTE) OSU-Cascades faculty members are eligible to be a mentor.
    • All OSU-Cascades students are eligible. Requirements include:
      1. Document 90 hours of work, signed by the mentor, and completed within one calendar year of the project start date.
      2. Presentation of the project at the annual OSU-Cascades Student Research Symposium with an acknowledgment indicating support from the Layman Fellowship program on their poster/project. If the student is unable to present at the OSU-Cascades Symposium, the faculty mentor and student can identify an alternative presentation venue.
      3. Completion of an online form at the conclusion of the project to summarize accomplishments and impacts on the student’s educational and/or career trajectory. The summary will also note where the student presented the project, and will include long-term contact information for after graduation such as email, phone number, and mailing address.
    • Faculty mentors agree to participate in program evaluation activities including surveys, interviews, student applications/acceptance to graduate school, job placement, etc.

    How to apply

    1. Application form can be found here.
    2. Student will connect with a faculty mentor to identify an appropriate project. The application form requires students indicate that they have approval from the faculty mentor for the proposed project. 
    3. The application includes:
      1. Information about the student and faculty mentor.
      2. Description of the project (background, aims, methods, anticipated outcomes).
      3. Role of the student, faculty mentor, and other Layman Fellow applicants on the project.
      4. Statement of anticipated impact on student’s education and/or career goals.
      5. Budget for supplies and/or travel, up to $500.
        1. For information regarding travel see the business office website.
      6. Project timeline.
    4. Submit completed application by 5 p.m. on the announced deadline.

    Deadlines

    Requests for proposals will be sent to faculty in November for funding in winter and spring term.

    Review criteria and process

    • Application scoring rubric can be found here.
    • The review committee will be comprised of at least three faculty members and administrators from a diversity of disciplines. Reviewers will not participate in review of their own students’ applications.
    • After scoring of proposals with the rubric, additional considerations will be taken into account  if necessary based on limits to funding, including student financial need and representation of multiple disciplines. 

    In future years the track-record of mentors’ students completing their projects, and the quality of symposium presentations will also be considered.

    QUESTIONS? Contact Dr. Kristina Smith, Undergraduate Research Coordinator, OSU-Cascades.