The NCAA Research Committee is looking for recipients for the 2008 NCAA Graduate Student Research Grant Program. The program's goals are: (1) to stimulate research on college athletics; (2) to foster contributions to the empirical research on college athletics; (3) to provide financial support to graduate students interested in engaging in high-quality research related to college athletics, and (4) to assist NCAA member colleges and universities and the general public in gaining access to new and outstanding research and researchers in the field.

The Research Committee consists of athletics administrators and faculty who collaborate with NCAA research staff to produce high-quality research on issues related to college athletics. The research is seen by member colleges and universities as crucial to facilitating an environment of informed decision-making on matters of NCAA policy and procedure. By encouraging new researchers, the Research Committee hopes to widen and strengthen interest in and quality of research directly relevant to student-athlete well-being and college athletics participation.

In 2007, the Research Committee awarded four grants through the Graduate Student Research Grant Program:

• Predictors of Retirement Distress among Male Former Intercollegiate Athletics in Revenue-Producing Sports, Mercedes Carswell, Michigan State University.
• Exploring the Relationship between Athletic Injury and Coaching Behavior, Sarah Halbert, Miami University
• Perceptions of Stakeholder Salience and Dimensions of Influence for Campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committees in Governance of Intercollegiate Athletics, Lori Hendricks, University of Michigan
• A Chameleon on the Court: Understanding Factors that Contribute to Invisibility/Visibility for Division I Intercollegiate Gay-Athletes, Paul Tontz, University of Denver

NCAA Research Committee

2008 Graduate Student Research Grant Program
Call for Proposals

Background
The NCAA Research Committee consists of athletics administrators and faculty who collaborate with NCAA research staff to produce high-quality research on issues related to college athletics. The research is seen by member colleges and universities as crucial to facilitating an environment of informed decision-making on matters of NCAA policy and procedure. By encouraging new researchers, the Research Committee hopes to widen and strengthen interest in and quality of research directly relevant to student-athlete well-being and college athletics participation.

Description
The NCAA Research Committee invites research proposals within the general topic area of student-athlete well-being and college athletics participation.  Research grants are available for graduate students only and are intended to support the student while conducting research to be used for a doctoral dissertation, master’s thesis, or external publication.  Awards for these research grants are set at a maximum of $5,000 for one-year projects.  Institutions may not charge indirect costs on these awards.  Recipients will be expected to culminate their project in an article suitable for publication in a scholarly journal, or in a completed master’s thesis or dissertation.  Grant recipients will also be expected to submit a brief summary of the research that is suitable for publication in the NCAA News.

Students studying topics of specific interest to the NCAA and its membership and demonstrating the competencies necessary to successfully complete the proposed study will receive highest consideration.  Research topics may include but are not limited to: the impact of participation in athletics on the academic or social experiences of the student participant; best practices for academic advisement of student-athletes; the relationship between athletic time demands andacademic success; student-athlete integration into the campus community; the relationship between athletic department finances and on-field success; and student-athlete satisfaction with the college experience. 

Proposals related to health and safety issues should not be submitted for this grant program. Rather, please contact David Klossner, Director of Health and Safety for grant opportunities in these areas.

Application Requirements
All applications for Graduate Student Research Grants must include the following:

1.      Abstract.  Limit to 250 words or less.

2.      Timeline.  List the beginning and termination dates for the proposed re­search.  A list of the projected dates of completion of major milestones in the progress of proposed research should be included.  This list must include a date for submission of the final report.

3.      Proposal.    The proposal should not exceed seven double-spaced pages and should be structured as follows:

           a.   purpose statement and description of specific research questions;

         b.   background information (brief review of relevant literature / context);

         c.   research methods (e.g., research design, participants) including specific information on likely response rates if a survey will be administered;

         d.   data analysis techniques, and

         e.   significance and practical application to the field and to the NCAA.

4.      Copies of any survey instruments or other written materials that will be used in the study. 

5.      Reference Letter(s).  A minimum of two reference letters from graduate advisors or others who can speak to the specifics of the research proposal must be provided. 

6.      Graduate Transcript.  A transcript from your current graduate program or, in the case of new students, a letter documenting that you have enrolled in a graduate degree program. 

7.      Brief Outline of Budget.  Prospective grant recipients must provide a brief request for funds (maximum award is $5000) and a justification for how these funds will be used in the research project.  Funds may be used to provide tuition relief. 

8.      Biographical Sketch.  A brief biographical sketch or curriculum vitae with a list of relevant publications should be attached as an ap­pendix. 

9.      Human Participants Certification.  If this research involves the use of human participants, certification must be provided that this proposal has been or is in the process of being re­viewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or human subjects committee of the originating institution, in compliance with Department of Health and Human Services policy on protec­tion of human subjects.  Funds will not be released until human participants approval has been granted for the proposed study.

Each award application will be judged on (1) the importance of the topic to the field and to the NCAA, (2) the strength of the methodological approach, (3) the appropriateness of proposed analyses, (4) the innovative nature of the project and (5) the acceptability of the proposed budget.  The review panel will ask such questions as: Is the student’s research question clearly defined?  What literature already exists on this topic?  How does the methodology relate specifically to the research question?  Is there a high likelihood that the study can be carried out as designed?  Does the analytic plan fit the question and the data?  Is the applicant qualified to carry out the proposed study?  Will this study contribute to the field?

Application Submission
Proposals for Graduate Student Research Grants will be reviewed once a year, with funding decisions made within a month of the review date.  The upcoming deadline for proposals is:

Thursday May 1, 2008 

A total of two (2) hard copies of all required materials must be submitted and received by the deadline above.  Electronic submissions will be accepted.  It is preferred that letters of reference be included with the application materials and sent as a package.  However, letters will be accepted separately from the package of other materials, so long as they are received by the submission deadline.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Contact Nicole Bracken, 317/917-6328 or nmbracken@ncaa.org, if you would like to submit your proposal electronically or have questions regarding the application or submission process.

Applications should be sent to:

Nicole Bracken

Assistant Director of Research

NCAA

P.O. Box 6222

Indianapolis, IN  46206

 Additional Information Regarding Grants

Grant recipients are encouraged to consult with NCAA research staff regarding their proposed research prior to submitting a proposal. 

All grant recipients will agree to submit a brief (3-6 pages double-spaced) progress report mid-way through the grant period.  A final report will be submitted at the end of the grant period.

Total funding will be provided upon approval of the proposal.  In most cases awardees may choose whether to have funds sent directly to them or to their institutions.