Faculty Mentor Guidelines

The CSAD Democracy Scholars Program is designed to encourage original research and scholarship by undergraduates in a liberal arts setting. The program pursues this goal by funding summer fellowships for Kenyon College students who undertake a comprehensive project examining a topic pertaining to American democracy under the guidance and direction of a member of the Kenyon faculty.

In addition to the $3,500 fellowship paid to each Democracy Scholar, and up to $500 allocated for research expenses, the program provides stipends to the faculty mentors. Those faculty members who have been invited to serve as a mentor or are otherwise considering making such a commitment should become familiar with the following list of expectations and responsibilities.

1. Prospective faculty mentors are expected to provide advice and assistance to the applicants in preparing their research proposals. Guidelines for preparing successful proposals are available on the program's webpage.
2. Complete proposals require that the prospective mentors submit a "letter of support" endorsing the project. The letter should state why the faculty member thinks that the project has scholarly merit and, thus, deserving of funding; whether the student has the qualifications and skills to successfully complete the project; and confirming that the faculty member is willing and available to provide individual guidance over the course of the project. If the faculty member has separate grant funding to sponsor the student's participation in the mentor's research, such information should be conveyed in this supporting letter.  Letters may be sent to Andrea Lechleitner at lechleitnera@kenyon.edu.
3. Faculty mentors have found that the most successful projects have been the result of weekly meetings or conferences with the summer scholars; the expectation is that the mentor will be available to meet weekly and perhaps more often if and when required. Mentors should ask and schedule time for periodic updates to ensure that the summer scholars are staying on task.
4. Faculty mentors are expected to edit and critique the final research paper that will be produced at the conclusion of the research as well as provide assistance should the student choose to submit the paper for publication in a journal for undergraduate research. Mentors should assist the student in preparing for, as well as attend, the public presentation of the student's work in the fall semester.