Catalyst Application - The Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking

Changemaker Catalyst Award Application

1Application

2Review Responses

Applicant Information
Overview
To be an effective changemaker, one must have a deep knowledge of the social problem they wish to solve. This award is an opportunity to learn from and work collaboratively with effective changemakers and allies to better understand social and environmental problems through apprenticing with a problem or pursuing academic research.

Student learning on changemaking is a critical part of the award process and outcomes. As such, all awardees must demonstrate a critical analysis of the experience and its role in their academic studies, personal growth, and professional aspirations.

All students who receive a Changemaker Catalyst Award must complete a series of blog posts to demonstrate the impact of their award.

Please consider the core concepts highlighted by Taylor while developing your application.

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Please visit the Taylor Center website for information on deadlines.

If you have any questions about this application, email taylor@tulane.edu.
1.1 Name*
First Last
1.2 Tulane Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
1.3 Alternate Email*
(Not your Tulane email address.)
Enter Email Confirm Email
1.4 Phone Number*
1.5 Student ID Number*
1.6 Please share your pronouns*
(Why is this important?)
1.7 Academic Standing*
1.8 Classification*
1.9 Tulane School*
1.10 Majors/Area of Study*
1.11 Expected Graduation Year*
1.12 Expected Graduation Semester*
1.13 Are you currently a SISE minor?*
- Yes
- No
1.14 How did you hear about the Changemaker Catalyst Award?*
- Flyer in dorm or school building
- Taylor website
- Taylor Newsletter
- Instagram
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Linkedin
- Email
- Word of Mouth
- Taylor Center staff/faculty
- TYLR instructor
- SISE instructor
- Other professor
- Other
1.15 If you selected "other," please explain.
• Did you hear about us from a class, professor, friend, Tulane institute, or other sources?
• Any information you share will help us reach more changemakers like you.
1.16 Select the option that best describes your changemaker experience.*
- Conference Attendance
- Conference Presentation
- Internship/Apprenticeship/Fellowship
- Research/Learning (dissertation, thesis, self-guided learning)
- Training/certification
1.17 Are you applying to fund a group project, activity, or experience?*
Answer yes only if you are sharing the funds to support a project or activity with other Tulane students.
- Yes
- No
1.18 Include the names of your Tulane group members below.
1.19 What is your race? Do you consider yourself...(Select one or more.)
- White
- Black or African American
- Asian
- Latinx or Hispanic
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Prefer Not to Answer
- Prefer to Self-Describe
1.20 What is your gender? (Select one or more.)
- Woman
- Man
- Trans
- Nonbinary
- Prefer Not to Answer
- Prefer to Self-Describe
1.21 Are there other identities you would like us to know that are important to you (e.g., age, veteran status, sexual orientation, first-gen college and/or graduate, disability, non-US citizen)? If so, write them here:
Project Information
2.1 Who is your faculty advisor?
2.2 Academic Research Letter of Support*
All Human Subjects Research conducted by students, faculty, or staff of Tulane University must receive approval from the Tulane University IRB.
If your research meets the definitions of both research and human subjects, you must complete the IRB process, please consult the Human Research Protection Program to determine if your research falls within this category. If proposing Academic research, please have your advisor submit a letter of support at this link:
https://taylor.tulane.edu/awards/catalyst/reference/
- I am sending my advisor this link to submit a reference.
- I am not conducting academic research.
2.3 Are you applying for funding for a learning experience with organizations?
- Yes
- No
2.4 Provide the name of the sponsoring/host organization or conference.*
2.5 Conference/Sponsor Organization Street Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
2.6 Conference/Sponsor Organization Website*
2.7 Approximate Start Date*
* Required for internships
MM slash DD slash YYYY
2.8 Approximate End Date*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
2.9 Approx. Total Number of Hours*
2.10 For internships or research that involves a host organization, please upload proof of commitment/intent. (pdf)*
This could be a signed contract, an email conversation that confirms your involvement, etc. Upload a blank page if this is not applicable to your experience. (pdf)
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.
Academic or Professional Reference
Please provide at least one academic or profession reference that can speak to your character and qualifications for this experience. Reference can be a supervisor, professor, or other staff/faculty member but should not be a student, friend, or family member.
3.1 Reference Name*
First Last
3.2 Relationship to Reference*
3.3 Reference Phone Number*
3.4 Reference Email Address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
5.3 Proposal Essay
The proposal of your application will be strongly considered in the selection of Changemaker Catalyst award recipients. Applicants are strongly encouraged to spend time critiquing their writing for content and grammar. Be sure to answer each of the following questions as part of your essay:
1. Aims and Objectives
What are you proposing to do, where and why? Please describe this in the form of Aims (e.g. I am to get training in x) and Objectives (e.g. I will attend xx training workshop) in order to … If you are proposing research, what is your research question?
2. Background
Why is this an important thing to do? If Research why is this topic important, and if Apprenticing with a problem, what is the importance of the problem? How will this experience be informed by your academic training and understanding? What theories or concepts have you studied in/out of the classroom that you hope to explore further through this experience? Explain the concepts and how they related to your proposed experience. Don’t just throw in academic terms – explain these concepts and how they relate to the experience you are pursuing. Include proper citations.
3. Activities Proposed (if Apprenticing with a problem) or Methodology (if proposing Research)
What is your proposed experience or research methodology?
4. Results and Dissemination
How will this experience enhance your ability to be a changemaker (please provide concrete information)? How will this experience help you better understand a social problem/problems that matter to you? How might the award contribute to your understanding of to engage as a changemaker? How does this tie into themes of social innovation, social entrepreneurship, design thinking, or changemaking?
5. Applicant Information
Describe how this experience contribute to your professional aspirations. What previous work or extra-curricular experiences will ensure you have a successful experience? How will you contribute to the Taylor community and/or other changemaking efforts in New Orleans after this experience?
- References (minimum 3-5 citations required if proposing Research)
- Paste proposal in the area provided.
- You are encouraged to use a word processing software such as Microsoft Word to check for errors before pasting your proposal below.
- Must be no more than 800 words
5.1 Upload Budget and Funding Request*
In order to ensure that funding is being used efficiently, please provide the following information using the template provided.
- A quick overview of expenses with an explanation of how this funding will allow you to participate in a learning experience in social innovation, social entrepreneurship, design thinking, or changemaking that would otherwise be unattainable.
- An itemized budget of total costs associated with the learning experience.
- The total amount requested for this award.
- A list of other on-campus and off-campus funding opportunities you have applied for (include $0, pending, or $X amount awarded).
- An explanation of why this experience is not eligible for other funding opportunities.
Max. file size: 50 MB.
5.1A Total amount requested.*
Note: The maximum amount requested for a Changemaker Catalyst Award is $2000.
Please enter a number less than or equal to 2000.
Does your experience involve travelling internationally?*
- Yes
- No
Is your international trip fewer than 20 days?*
Include travel time.
- Yes
- No
Travel Exception Documents .*
International experiences must be at least 20 days, including travel time, to be eligible for Changemaker Catalyst Award. This constraint ensures that the award recipient has time to develop meaningful connections, apprentice with the problem, and leverage opportunities within the country.
Applicant must show financial commitment beyond receipt of Changemaker Catalyst Award (ie. other sources of funding for trip).

For trips shorter than 20 days, students must provide
1. a faculty letter of support, explaining why we should make an exception, and

2. a plan on pre- and post trip work. Examples include creating a curriculum, conducting relevant research, developing workshop materials, translating materials, etc. an itinerary, detailing activity, and plans for time in country.
Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.
5.2 Statement on Award Travel*
In light of COVID-19, Tulane is monitoring international travel. Below, in no more than 100 words, please indicate whether or not you will travel for the internship and how you will abide to public health travel guidelines.
5.4 Provide a clear 2-3 sentence explanation on how this funding will be used.*
Ex. I plan to use the funds to support my attendance at the Ashoka U Exchange. The award would cover conference fees, hotel, and travel. Ex. “The funding will allow me to conduct pre-dissertation field work for my dissertation ..on a changemaking topic) … The funds will cover airfare, ground travel, local budget accommodations, and a few days of a field researcher”
5.5 If you do not receive full funding, how else will you pay for the experience?*
Student Contract*
Please read each statement and click the check mark below to confirm your acceptance of the terms.

If selected as an award recipient:

1. I understand that this funding is designated as an award, and as such I am responsible for any taxes associated with the award amount.

2. I understand that the award is solely applicable to the experience described in this application and cannot be transferred to a different experience.

3. I understand that if I am unable to complete the above program requirements I must contact the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation & Design Thinking immediately. My failure to complete the requirements may result in the repayment of my award back to Tulane University.

4. I agree to share my progress and learning with Taylor, applying a critical analysis lens, keeping all details appropriate and educational for my peers, and acting as a representative of Tulane University.

5. I understand that failure to provide progress and learning through the requested mediums (Taylor Blog) may negatively affect my ability to receive funding support from Taylor in the future.

6. I understand that if I am accepted as an award recipient it is my responsibility to arrange all required logistics associated with the award.

I verify that:
1. I am in good standing with Tulane University.
2. I meet the minimum criteria identified in the award application.
3. I have completed all necessary requirements prior to submitting this application.
4. All information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

I agree to the student award terms.

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Changemaker Catalyst Award Application

Applicant Information

Overview

Project Information

Academic or Professional Reference