Graduate Student Grant Guidelines

Proposal review

Graduate Student Grants project proposals must contain two essential elements. Reviewers need to see:

A direct link to agricultural sustainability

The project must have a direct link to key themes in sustainable agriculture. These themes are incorporated into the Northeast SARE outcome statement. Proposals should address at least one (although two or more is better) of the following:

• the reduction of environmental and health risks in agriculture
• the prevention of agricultural pollution
• improved productivity, the reduction of costs, and the increase of net farm income
• the conservation of soil, the improvement of water quality, and the protection of natural resources
• the enhancement of employment in rural areas
• the improvement of quality of life for farmers, their employees, and the farm community

Potential to improve farm practices

The project must focus on building knowledge that farmers and farm service providers can use to improve profitability, stewardship, and the fabric of rural communities.

In addition to the above, proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria.

Innovation and significance

The project should develop new information and explore innovative approaches that address a demonstrated need on the part of farmers or the wider agricultural community. The project should avoid replicating known practices or confirming known results.

Clear objectives

Clear objectives, sound methods, and measurable results: Proposals should specifically describe the goal of the project, the details of what will be done to achieve the goal, and how tangible, measurable results will be collected.

Effective outreach

How others will learn from the project is a key to long term impact. A thoughtful outreach plan for sharing project information and results--expected as well as unexpected--should be provided.

Capacity for success

Proposals should describe the key people in the project and their relevant experience, including their commitment, expertise, and ability to see the work through to its conclusion.

Familiarity with related work

The proposal should describe previous efforts to address similar problems, and go on to explain how this project would build on that work.

Sensible budget

It must be clear how the money will be spent, why budget items are needed, and whether the project is a sound investment for SARE.