Research proposals will be evaluated by the Commission for Housing and Residential Life based on the importance and usefulness of the topic to student affairs professionals and the strength of the research methodology. The submission will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Purpose and goals of project/research
• Significance of project/research
• Supporting literature and rationale for project/research
• Appropriate methodology
• Degree project supports and relates to mission & goals of CHRL
• Alignment with ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization
• Clearly outlined budget & financial need demonstrated
• Background and experience of applicant

• Does the project use inclusive, collaborative, and resourceful processes to pursue an innovative solution in supporting housing and residential life?
• Is the project plan thoughtful, realistic, and does it address the identified need?
• Is the project likely to make a significant, sustainable difference, now or in the future?

All grant recipients will be asked to present a webinar and a poster session at ACPA for the Commission for Housing and Residential Life based on their research findings.

CHRL Grant applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please submit your proposal to Ann Schafer at [email protected] and the committee will review it within 3-5 weeks of your submission date.

1. Cover Page
   1. Title of the proposed study
   2. Name, title, institution, email, and phone of researcher/co-researcher
   3. Total amount requested
2. Brief Description
   1. Researcher experience related to the grant proposal topic (not to exceed 1 page)
3. Project narrative (not to exceed 10 double-spaced pages)
   1. Abstract (150 words maximum)
   2. Introduction and literature review
   3. Purpose of the study
   4. Significance of the study and potential implications for policy/ practice in Housing and Residential Life
      • Why hasn’t this issue been addressed sufficiently in the past? Who else is working in this field, what have they done, and why isn’t that enough? Demonstrate your knowledge of the field.
      • Provide convincing evidence that what you are proposing does not duplicate other work. Replication of someone else’s work in a new environment or larger scale may be fundable.
   5. Alignment with ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization
      • How does this topic directly impact the Strategic Imperative?
      • How can this work be used to influence future practice through an intersectional lens?
   6. Conceptual framework
   7. Research questions
   8. Methods (including methodology, sample, data collection, and data analysis procedures)
4. Literature Review
5. Project timeline, including work already accomplished (not to exceed 2 pages)
6. Detailed budget (not to exceed 3 pages)
   1. List items, expense justification, amount
   2. List other sources and amounts of funding
   3. Justification for need of grant funding
7. Status of institutional review board approval
8. Appendices
   1. Two page curriculum vitae, including relevant publications, research experience, and prior grant funding
   2. Institutional review board application and approval or acknowledgement letter, if required for the study
   3. Instruments (e.g., survey or interview protocols), if applicable
   4. Letter of support from faculty member

In the tradition of the National Residence Hall Honorary’s (NRHH) Spotlight Award, this award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to her/his campus and/or the housing profession and is not eligible for any of the other awards; therefore, the nominee cannot be a student or professional housing staff member. Possible nominees could be food service personnel, night security staff, administrative assistants, or custodial staff.

Selection criteria include:

• Performance and contributions in current position
• Contributions to student success,
• Contributions to the community in which the university or college is located.

There are three categories of excellence in sustainability awards. This award is presented to a program, an individual, or a department that has demonstrated outstanding contributions toward sustainability on their campus and/or to the housing profession.

The individual award criteria for excellence in sustainability are: individual responsibility, integration, collaboration, and assessment.

Excellence in departmental sustainability criteria include: integration of sustainable practices, responsible growth and management, education, and conservation.

Outstanding initiatives or programs include: the holistic nature of the program or activity (advancing students’ understanding of the relationship between environmental stewardship, social justice, and economic growth), the relationship of initiative to the ACPA learning outcomes for sustainability, degree of collaboration, assessment, and sustainability of the initiative, embedded nature of practice and conservation.

Note: Not all initiatives will address each criterion equally.

This award recognizes and honors excellence for an innovative program, project, collaboration with student affairs or academic departments, or service sponsored by a housing or residential life department.

Selection criteria include:

• The nominated program or initiative should demonstrate improvement in the quality of life for students, the efficiency in the department and/or the effectiveness in service delivery.
• Should address a problem or need in housing and residential life
• May be student or staff initiated
• Should advance the field/profession
• Should impact campus-specific efforts
• Must be allowed to be shared with other housing operations across the nation.

This award is presented to an individual in the first three years of their professional career who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to their campus and/or the housing profession.

Selection criteria include:

• Must be a full-time new housing professional (1-3 years of professional employment).
• Must have contributed to residence life through research, a program, or related activity which was above and beyond normal expectations.
• Contributions to student affairs scholarship and or the profession, and contributions to the community.
• Must demonstrate potential for a successful career in housing or residence life.

This award is presented to an outstanding full-time graduate student employed in a paraprofessional staff position.

Selection criteria includes:

• Performance and contributions in current graduate assistantship or paraprofessional position
• Contributions within the nominee’s academic program
• Contributions to the Student Affairs profession
• Other recognitions of achievement.
• Must be a full-time graduate pursuing a Master’s Degree, currently employed in a graduate assistant position within residence life.
• Must have contributed to residence life through research, a program, or related activity which was above and beyond normal expectations.

This award is presented to an outstanding undergraduate student employed in a paraprofessional staff position.

Selection criteria include:

• Performance and contributions in a current undergraduate paraprofessional position
• Contributions to the nominee’s academic program
• Contributions to community and university, and other recognitions of achievement.
• Must be a current undergraduate student employed in a paraprofessional position in student housing.
• Should have demonstrated outstanding performance in that position above and beyond normal expectations.
• Must have contributed to residence life through research, a program, or related activity.

This award is presented to an individual with 4 or more years of professional employment who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to their campus and/or the housing profession.

Selection criteria include:

• Performance and contributions within current position,
• Contributions to student affairs scholarship, contributions to the profession and/or contributions to the community.

Awarded in two categories: 4-9 years of experience and 10+ years of experience