The purpose of the CAAAS Graduate Student Research & Creative Work Awards (aka “CAAAS Grad Student Awards”) are to assist University of Colorado Boulder graduate students with their research and creative work in African studies, African American studies, and African diaspora studies. CAAAS Grad Student Awards provide modest funding for a variety of projects. For example, CAAAS Grad Student Awards can be used for research materials, creative work assistance, travel for research and creative work purposes, conference presentations, exhibitions, performances, etc. Partial funding is possible, and most awards are between $750 and $1500.

All CU Boulder graduate students with demonstrable research and creative work in African studies, African American studies, and/or African diaspora studies are eligible to apply.

Proposals should be 1-2 pages (but no more than 2 pages) in length, double-spaced with a 12-point font, and include the following:

• A description of the nature of the project.

• A compelling rationale for how the project will advance the graduate student’s research and creative work in African studies, African American studies, and/or African diaspora studies.

• For requests to support conference travel, we request documentation that the paper has been accepted.

CAAAS Grad Student Awards

• A detailed budget for the proposed project, including travel.

• For travel requests, airfare needs to be documented with a quote from the travel agent. We prefer the CU travel agent Christopherson, but other sources are acceptable.

• Funds must be spent in the granting period in which they are awarded. Unused funds should be returned to the Center for African & African American Studies prior to fiscal year-end (June 1 annually).

• Funding will not be granted retroactively.

• When a publication (including master’s theses and doctoral dissertations), exhibit, or performance results from work supported by the CAAAS, the recipient must acknowledge the Center for African & African American Studies in publications, programs, flyers, etc.

• Within one month of the completion of the grant period, recipients are required to submit a 1-page final report summarizing the project and describing the impact on their research and creative work in African studies, African American studies, and/or African diaspora studies. Future CAAAS Graduate Student Awards will not be considered until the final report is submitted.

CAAAS Grad Student Award applications are accepted between September 1st and May 1st annually.

Proposals should be submitted via email in a single PDF to the CAAAS Director, Reiland Rabaka, at rabaka@colorado.edu. Make “CAAAS Grad Student Award Application” the email subject line when submitting application materials.