Tribal Services and Solutions Project

Proposals for

Post-Graduate Research Fellowships and Undergraduate Research Projects

Eligibility:  Dartmouth students with a major or minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies, who are in academic good standing, and who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0, including in courses for the major or minor in NAS, are eligible to apply for funding to support a post-graduate research fellowship or a leave-term undergraduate research project.

Proposal for Post-Graduate Research Fellowship

These funds provide recent Dartmouth graduates with support up to $35,000 to undertake research projects of 9–12 months conducted under the auspices of a tribal nation, or an organization or government entity whose primary mission is dedicated to the study, support and/or advancement of Native American/Indigenous Peoples.  This funding source is not available to support projects at any Dartmouth College office, department, or program.  Fellowships supported by the Dartmouth Tribal Service and Solutions Project must be oriented around three critical areas of renewal in Native American and Indigenous communities: (1) Entrepreneurship & Economic Development; (2) Health Care and Public Health Innovation; and (3) Inter-governmental Relations and Policy (among tribal, state, and federal governments).

            Written proposals are due by the start of Spring Term prior to graduation and must be submitted to the chair of NAIS.  Proposals will be vetted and approved by NAIS faculty. Proposals must include the following information:

1. A description of the sponsoring tribal nation, organization, or government entity with whom the applicant will be working and, if the sponsoring party is an organization or government entity, a description of their mission as it relates to Native Americans/Indigenous Peoples;
2. the name, title and role of the supervisor who will oversee the applicant's work;
3. a description of the applicant's assignment(s) and work schedule during the term of the project, including particular outcomes or work product;
4. a brief description of the applicant's preparation for the fellowship, including relevant coursework and/or prior work experience;
5. a statement of how this fellowship advances or complements the applicant's academic work in NAIS and/or their longer-term career interests as they relate to Native Americans/Indigenous Peoples.

Upon conclusion of the project, fellow(s) will be required to submit a final report to the faculty of NAIS summarizing their experiences and outcomes of their work.  Their findings and recommendations will be shared with the host community or organization.

Proposal for Undergraduate Research Projects

These funds provide up to $5,000 to support Dartmouth students pursuing independent research relating to Native American/Indigenous Peoples in projects of their own design and away from campus during a leave term.  Preference will be given to projects that relate in some tangible way to a student's on-going academic research interests in the study of Native American/Indigenous Peoples, e.g., foundational research preparatory for a thesis or fellowship project (whether in NAIS or another college department or program).  As these projects are undertaken during a leave term, students may not earn academic credit for their work, though their research may serve as the basis for an independent study course (NAIS 85) taken upon their return to campus. 

Research projects supported by the Dartmouth Tribal Service and Solutions Project must be oriented around three critical areas of renewal in Native American and Indigenous communities: (1) Entrepreneurship & Economic Development; (2) Health Care and Public Health Innovation; and (3) Inter-governmental Relations and Policy (among tribal, state, and federal governments).

            Written proposals are submitted to the chair of NAIS at least one term prior to the leave term of the proposed project.  Proposals will be vetted and approved by NAIS faculty. Proposals must include the following information:

1. an overview of the project that clearly explains your academic plan in some detail, including the subject matter and the essential research question(s) to be investigated;
2. a description of the research site, community, or archive where you will be working; evidence that you have the requisite permission from an authorized source to conduct such work (including the necessary clearances from the host and the college to conduct research involving human subjects); and the name, title and role of your community-based supervisor (if applicable);
3. a description of your preparation for undertaking such work; here, your basic goal is to show that you're prepared to undertake a project of this magnitude & have the requisite academic and personal qualifications to do so, working mostly independently (though with faculty and/or community-based supervision). Your evidence could include prior coursework; other independent study projects; work experiences, etc. that respond to the points above;
4. a description of prior research in your proposed research area, including a bibliography of source material (primary and secondary sources) that you have or will consult as part of the research for this project;
5. the name of your faculty supervisor (you should consult with and confirm the agreement of an NAIS faculty member to serve as your advisor before submitting your proposal).
6. a budget detailing your anticipated expenses for transportation, accommodations, food, local travel, and other necessary expenditures.

Students receiving funding for an undergraduate research project will be required to make a presentation before the NAIS faculty (and any invited guests) during their next term in residence describing their experiences and any work product developed during their time away from campus.  Their findings and recommendations will be shared with the host community or organization.