Ben Rafoth Graduate Research Grant

Award Description: 

The International Writing Centers Association (IWCA) offers The Ben Rafoth Graduate Research Grant to encourage the development of new knowledge and the innovative application of existing theories and methods. 

Award Amount: 

Applicants may apply for up to $1000. 

Application Deadline:

Proposal deadlines are January 31 (winter) and July 15 (summer).

Eligibility:

Applicants must be IWCA members in good standing. This grant, established in honor of writing center scholar and IWCA member Ben Rafoth, supports research projects associated with a master’s thesis or a doctoral dissertation. While travel funding is not the primary purpose of this grant, we have supported travel as part of specific research activities (e.g. traveling to specific sites, libraries or archives to conduct research). This fund is not intended to support conference travel only; instead the travel must be part of a larger research program stipulated in the grant request.

Expectations of Awardees:

1. Acknowledge IWCA support in any presentation or publication of the resulting research findings.

2. Forward copies of resulting publications or presentations to iwcaofficer@gmail.com.

3. File a progress report to the IWCA. This report is due within twelve months of receipt of grant monies. Upon completion of the project, submit a final project report to the IWCA Board, in care of the chair of the Research Grants committee. It should be sent to iwcaofficer@gmail.com.

4. Strongly consider submitting a manuscript based on the supported research to an IWCA publication: The Writing Center Journal or The Peer Review. Be willing to work with the editor(s) and reviewer(s) to revise the manuscript for possible publication

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted through the IWCA website by the respective due dates (see below). The application packet consists of the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to the current chair of the Research Grants Committee that sells the committee on the mutual benefits that will result from financial support. More specifically, it should:

   • Request IWCA’s consideration of the application.

   • Introduce the applicant and the project.

   • Specify how grant monies will be used (materials, in-process research travel, photocopying, postage, etc.).

2. Project Summary: 1-3 page summary of the proposed project, its research questions and goals, methods, schedule, current status, etc. Locate the project within relevant, extant literature.

3. Evidence of Institutional Review Board (IRB) or other ethics board approval. If you are not affiliated with an institutional with such a process, please email IWCA for guidance at iwcaofficer@gmail.com BEFORE submitting an application.

4. Curriculum Vitae

5. Upload your completed application materials here.

Grant Committee Process:

After each deadline, the chair of the Research Grants Committee will forward copies of the complete packet to the committee members for consideration, discussion, and vote. Applicants can expect notification 4-6 weeks from receipt of application materials. For further information or questions, contact the Grants Committee via iwcaofficer@gmail.com.

Recent Recipients:

2024: Isabelle Lundin for a study of  walk-in tutoring

2023: Philip Montgomery, “Writing Center Language Policy: Negotiating Language Ideologies through Tutor Training and Consulting Practices”

2022: Olalekan Tunde Adepoju, “Difference in/at the Center: A Transnational Approach for Mobilizing International Graduate Writers’ Assets during Writing Instruction”

All Grant & Award Recipients