Call for Proposals

                                                       

                                      2005-2006

                                             Middle East Studies
Committee
Grants

 for students, Faculty, and Staff

                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

Background and Purpose

 

The Middle East Studies Committee (MESC) is the result of a donation from the Saudi government to ASU to encourage an awareness and understanding of issues and peoples of the Middle East. Each year, part of the income from this endowment supports ASU student, staff, and faculty study and research in the Middle East. The awards are open to all fields of study.

 

Qualifying and Applying

 

The committee seeks proposals identifying specific areas of academic interest and a detailed plan by which the applicant will conduct the study or research. In addition, for student/staff proposals, a description of how the study will benefit the applicant is required or, for faculty, a well defined plan of how the applicant will disseminate the information.

 

The following six conditions must be met to qualify:

 

  1. The applicant must be a student or full-time faculty or staff member at ASU-Jonesboro or one of the ASU system campuses.
  2. The proposals must include on-site research in one of the designated countries of the Middle East.
  3. The applicant must submit to the Committee a one page abstract of the proposal and a four-to-five-page detailed narrative explaining the purpose of the study or research. The Proposal should include a schedule of activities and statement of benefits of the study (students/staff) or dissemination plan (faculty).
  4. Attach to the proposal a budget not to exceed $5,000 (students and stuff) or $7,500 (faculty) for individual proposals. Support for group trips may also be given not to exceed $12,000. The budget should include international travel, lodging, meal allowance, local transportation, cost of necessary supplies, and related costs such as telecommunications. For assistance in complying the University and State of Arkansas travel guidelines, consult the Office of International Programs.
  5. The proposal must include a letter of support from the applicant’s advisor and another faculty member (students), the applicant’s supervisor and another knowledgeable person (staff), or for faculty member, the applicant’s Chair, Director, or Dean and another faculty member, whether teaching at ASU or elsewhere, who is familiar with the applicant’s research abilities.
  6. If there is an international collaborator as part if the effort, have that person or institution send written confirmation of the level of involvement and an agreement to assist in the study or research defined in the proposal.
  7. Submit four copies of the completed proposal to the Office of International Programs by 5:00 pm, Friday, January 20, 2006.

 

The mailing address is:

 

Sue Marlay

Office of international Programs

Arkansas State Univ.

P.O. Box 600

State University, AR 72467

 

The physical address is:

 

200 International Education Center, 2108 E. Aggie Road, Jonesboro, AR 72401

 

E-mail for applications or more information: smarlay@astate.edu

More information at: http://intlprograms.astate.edu/mesc.htm

 

Award announcements will be made the week of 6 February.

 

Study or research should be concluded by 31 December 2006.

 

Designated Middle East Countries:

Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

 

ASU does not encourage travel to any countries considered as risk by the United State Department of State. Therefore, awards for travel to countries on the alert list of the DOS will not be considered for funding.