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Introduction
The International Journal for Service Learning in
Engineering (IJSLE) is proud to partner with the Jimmy and
Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation, Inc. (JRCPF) in
offering Carter Academic Service Entrepreneur (CASE) grants
to support engineering service learning projects. The
overall purpose of this program is to facilitate
collaborative preliminary engineering design efforts in
community projects. Partnerships are strongly encouraged
between the student grant recipients and either: a)
university students located near the project location, or b)
members of a host community organization at the project
location.
The IJSLE-CASE grants include $1,000 to implement the
project along with certificates of merit signed by President
Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter. Winning projects will
be published online at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
Partnership Foundation website (http://www.jrcpf.org/),
at servicebook.org, an Internet community for academic
service learning sponsored by JRCPF, and on the IJSLE
website (http://www.ijsle.org/).
IJSLE-CASE awards provide prestigious recognition for
students, faculty and their community partners for academic
service. Online application for the grant in the US is
available at
servicebook.org. Winners are chosen by the IJSLE editorial
board.
What We Are Looking For
The purpose of this program is to have engineering students
benefit from the real-world application of the principles
they have learned in class which also benefit community.
Long-term, sustainable partnerships are sought between the
student grant recipients, the host university students, and
the members of a host community.
IJSLE-CASE grant applications are to be submitted in form of
proposals. The grant may be viewed as encouraging
development of 'Preliminary Design Reports' (PDRs). These
PDRs would seek to have students engaged in the development
and implementation of community assessments, feasibility studies of potential solutions,
resource identification, best available technology and cost
comparisons. The team is encouraged to follow through on a
rigorous, faculty-mentored research/design and
entrepreneurial activity and see the project through to its
conclusion – construction. This more rigorous effort could
then be submitted for review for publication in the IJSLE.
Application Process
Proposals should contain the following:
1. Identify an innovative academic service learning project.
2. Identify a faculty to guide the team.
3. Identify a community organization as a partner and a
local contact person who is willing to help with the project locally.
4. Detail a Plan of Action
- Discuss the role and the goals of the team.
- Discuss the community assessment plan (who, what, where
etc?)
- Identify anticipated data needed (soils, topography,
climate,
precipitation, customer needs assessments, etc.)
- The framework for collecting, organizing and utilizing the
data
- Identify the community resources available
- Discuss the role of community representatives in the
preliminary
design process (conducting site investigations,
detailing space
program requirements, evaluating preliminary
design concepts, etc.)
- The means that will be used to communicate and interact
with the
community (telephone, travel, email, Internet
collaboration, etc.)
- Identify the goal(s) of the project along with the
perceived
constraints
- The proposed final form of the preliminary study (drawings,
reports,
website, models, etc.)
5. Develop a budget for the preliminary design process. This
may include, for example, the purchase of: satellite
imagery, surveys of the site, geotechnical data,
communication or computing equipment for the
community, software for community representatives or
students to participate in the design process, communication
software to enable a link to the community, etc. Unfortunately,
funds may not be used for travel support.
6. Log on to http://www.servicebook.org/ to register and make
application for the award (2 pages maximum plus support
letters) by posting the above proposal.
7. Notification of receipt of the award will be made upon
completion of the IJSLE review of proposals, usually within
a few weeks of submission. IJSLE will forward the check to
the student team leader.
Requirements of the Grant
Applicants for this grant must be full-time university
students. Upon notification of award of the Grant, the team
will begin keeping a running account of project activities
on ServiceBook. At the conclusion of the project completed
in one semester, the following are required:
a.) Preliminary Design Report
b.) Project Assessment
Winners will be sent a suggested outline for the preliminary
design report. The students MAY CHOOSE to continue on with
the project through the more rigorous design/research
stages, including construction, and submit the formal
manuscript for publication in the IJSLE.
IJSLE-CASE Project Assessment Criteria
Impact:
- Impact on the economic development of the community, it's
social/civic networks,
public systems, etc.
- Documentation of anticipated results
- Sustainability of the project
Partnership:
- Identifying and building upon the strengths of the
community partner
- Collaborative decision making between the student and the
community partner with
regard to the project.
- Efforts to enlist other collaborators like businesses,
civic organizations, government agencies, faith-based institutions, etc.
Academic Service Learning:
- Integration of the project with a student's coursework.
- An optimal blend of learning, research and service for the
applicant.
Deadlines for Submissions
The deadlines for student teams to submit their Grant
applications will be near the beginning of each semester,
and will remain open until all funds for the grants have
been awarded. This will enable
funding to be in place for use by the teams during the academic semester
being applied for, as the selection process will be undertaken efficiently. The
deadlines are as follows:
Fall Semester.........September 6th
Spring Semester.....January 14th
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