Planning a Project

Planning a MAP: What MAP Students and Mentors Need to Know

Summer | Spring or Fall | Dates to remember

Criteria for a MAP Detailed instructions for students on developing a successful MAP application The Top 10 Ways to Persuade an Institutional Review Board to Reject Your Research Proposal David Lopatto, Ann Ellis CUR Focus, Spring 2010, Vol 30, No 3

Funding for student travel to present their work may be requested after the project has been completed. Information on Limiting Student Debt

As you plan a Mentored Advanced Project, you should begin by thinking about the scope and desired results of your culminating scholarly or creative project. MAP applications must include a specific off-campus venue in order to be considered.  Students will not be held to this venue, but need to have a goal in mind.

The interested student and potential faculty mentor should discuss:

• different possibilities for the project;the student's educational goals;the student's course history as preparation for the MAP;how the project fits into the student's four-year academic plan;how the project can connect with the faculty member's areas of interest in scholarship and/or teaching;

The student and faculty mentor need to consider:

• the methodology and timetable for the project;how often they would meet;the type of final product resulting from the MAP (in the case of a two-semester MAP, the student must provide the mentor with gradable work in both semesters);and what resources would be needed to carry out this project.

MAP Credits The Mentored Advanced Project takes place under the direct and continuous supervision of a Grinnell faculty member. The project must comprise a total of 4, 6, or 8 credits, with no more than 4 credits earned in a single semester or summer. Although a MAP component may earn 2 credits (for example, you might follow-up a four credit summer MAP with a two-credit MAP in the fall where you finish up the research and write the final draft of a research paper) there are no 2-credit MAPs. Background or preparatory work is best pursued as a regular Independent Study in advance of the MAP. The MAP proposal, including a description of all components of the project, should be submitted at the time of registering for the first component. Multi-term MAPs should begin with a 4-credit component. Please see the summary of the Curriculum Committee's Resolutions for more details.

Applying for a MAP To propose a MAP, use the application form available from the Registrar and also online. Applications for summer MAPs and academic year MAPs can be found at http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/registrar/additionalinfo/forms/  Summer MAP students in the Humanities and Social Studies divisions must also include a Summer MAP Student Information form.

Faculty MAP Report and Compensation Faculty must file a report at the conclusion of the MAP. An on-line version of the report can be found at MAP Report Form. Compensation will be forfeit if the report is not completed within four months of completing the MAP. Multi-term MAPs require a report for each semester. There are three typical modes of compensation for accumulated MAPs: See Compensation

Clarification of Roles - Co-directorship versus 2nd reader: When a MAP is co-directed, it is assumed that both advisors share equal responsibility in mentoring the student. In a co-directed MAP, both directors guide the development, design, execution and evaluation of the product, each submit individual reports and both faculty members split the MAP credit. A second reader evaluates a draft of the product and gives feedback to the student and mentor. The second reader receives a $300 stipend for his/her evaluation. This compensation will be administered once the primary director states in the final MAP report that the second reader has fulfilled his/her responsibilities.

Dates to remember: