Proposals should be organized to include the following information:

I. Comprehensive Description (3-4 pages in length, typewritten, double spaced).

All the following are to be addressed in the proposal:

• a description of the humanities project, research, or activity planned; how the project was conceived; the basic premises or questions to be explored; the methodology or critical approaches.
• objectives and goals; significance of project; how it will enhance applicant's intellectual development.
• project schedule; research period (dates on which project will begin and will be completed); planned stages, week-by-week if possible, for completion of project.
• role and expertise of faculty advisor. The proposal is to be thoroughly reviewed by the advisor.
• any preliminary work (reading, study, research) completed prior to the grant period.
• location of project; any limited travel within the United States.
• qualifications of applicant; educational background; project-related courses and experience; major intellectual interests.

II. Bibliography

A one-page bibliography of primary sources and relevant texts that will be used; a short listing of other resources or collections. Style guidelines that are appropriate to the discipline (e.g., MLA, APA) must be followed.

III. Reference Letter Form (to be completed by faculty advisor)

• Assess value of project; can objectives be achieved within project schedule; evaluate ability of applicant to complete project successfully; how will project contribute to applicant's intellectual development.
• Discuss role as advisor; include the expected amount of time and number of meetings; confirm commitment to one in-person conference per week; agree to submit an interim report of student's progress and an evaluative assessment at the conclusion, which is to accompany the final project. 

Students

• Student projects should be designed to be completed within a fixed period of time, e.g., a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of nine weeks of full-time work during a summer, depending on the nature of the project. All projects are expected to result in a definable product (i.e., a substantial research paper based on primary sources with bibliography, a descriptive/outcome paper for internships, conferences, etc.). Successful Branigan projects (available for review in the O'Malley Library Archives) have ranged from 50-70 pages in length.
• Stipend distribution to students will be in installments with the final payment upon acceptance of the completed project by the Branigan Scholars Committee. Completed projects are deposited in the O'Malley Library Archives and may be utilized by the University in appropriate ways.
• Grant recipients will participate in summer research seminars and present their research to the University community at the Research Scholars Presentation Day in the fall semester following the deposit of their project.
• After review of the completed project, the Branigan Scholars Committee will meet with the student and advisor to discuss the work and, when necessary, will provide suggestions for further revision.

Faculty Advisors

• All projects require one Manhattan University faculty advisor (must be full time, tenured or tenure-track) with qualifications in an appropriate discipline to work closely with the applicant. The advisor must be available to the student during the grant period for a required minimum of one conference per week (in person, not by telephone). Faculty will receive a stipend of $1000 upon the acceptance of the final project. Each grant will fund only one advisor.
• Faculty advisors will submit, in paper and electronic copy, an interim report of the student's progress to the Acting Chair of the Branigan Scholars Committee and a final evaluative assessment, which will also accompany the completed project. No payments will be made to students or faculty without these reports.eports.
• It is the responsibility of the faculty advisor to review the student’s paper before it is submitted to the Committee to correct content and typographical, grammatical, or stylistic errors and to ensure that appropriate and consistent formatting style (APA, MLA) for all in-text citations and bibliography is maintained.

• Only students enrolled in the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences (Liberal arts majors) may apply.
• The grant may only be used for a humanities project.
• Students who are seniors at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
• The project must be initiated by the student and not form part of the student's past/present/future course work, tutorials or other research grants; projects may not be used for academic credit.
• A student may submit only one application per competition. If denied, reapplications (identified as such) are admissible in subsequent competitions for which the student is eligible.
• A recipient of a Branigan grant may not apply for a second one.
• Recipients of other grants are not eligible for a Branigan Grant.
• Each grant will fund only one advisor.
• Faculty advisors will work with only one Branigan scholar during a grant period.
• Branigan projects are not eligible for Egan Awards.
• Deadlines are not extended and the student may forfeit the remainder of the grant if the project is not deposited by the deadline.

The application deadline is February 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Announcements of awards will be made after the Branigan Scholars Committee has reviewed and assessed the proposals; all decisions of the Committee are final. Each completed application must include a cover sheet, comprehensive description, work schedule, bibliography, budget (only if applicable), and advisor's recommendation (not to be sent separately).

The completed application, including the faculty advisor's recommendation, is to be submitted electronically by the student. Applications will be received by Dr. Brian Chalk: brian.chalk@manhattan.edu. 

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