Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) - Community-Based Research Fellowships
Overview
The Carolina Center for Public Service
and the APPLES Service-Learning Program,
in partnership with the Office for Undergraduate
Research awards up to seven Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowships (SURF) of $3,500
each to support community-based-research
in either domestic or global communities.
Community-based research is a collaborative
enterprise that involves students, community
members, and faculty in the design and
implementation of research projects
of shared interest that address a community
need and, ultimately, promote social
action and the common good. Community
members play an integral role in defining
the research question and objectives
as well as providing input on project
organization and direction. This approach
requires a research question that is
investigative rather than one that is
intended to prove a given agenda. Many
community-based research projects take
the form of a needs assessment, program
evaluation, data analysis, or documentary
research. Community-based research promotes
the use of various methods of inquiry
and dissemination of the findings produced.
Application Instructions
For specific information on the CBR-SURF requirements, application instructions, selection process and criteria, and the online application, please see the SURF Program page at the Office for Undergraduate Research.
If you want to be considered for a
CBR-SURF, please check the relevant
box on the SURF application and include
a brief statement within your proposal
explaining the community-based focus
of your research.
For more information, please contact
Elaine
Tola at the Carolina Center for
Public Service, or Jenny
Huq at APPLES.
Additional Requirements
In addition to project completion and
requirements from the Office for Undergraduate
Research, CBR-SURFs will be asked to
participate in the following opportunities:
• maintain a journal or blog throughout
the summer
• attend monthly reflection discussions
during the fall semester after conducting
research
• present findings at a research symposium
or conference
• submit a final report summarizing
the experience of conducting community-based
research
The Carolina Center for Public Service strengthens the University's public service commitment by promoting scholarship and service that are responsive to the concerns of the state and contribute to the common good.
“A Community Engaged University” recognized by the
Carnegie Foundation