Tensor-SUMMA Grants: Strengthening Underrepresented Minority Mathematics Achievement

The Tensor Foundation has provided funding for the MAA to award grants for programs designed to encourage pursuit and enjoyment of mathematics among middle school students, high school students or beginning college students from groups traditionally under-represented in the field of mathematics. College and university mathematical sciences faculty and their departments and institutions may submit proposals. They should collaborate with secondary and middle school mathematics faculty as appropriate depending on the focus of the project. Proposed programs may replicate existing successful programs, adapt components of such programs, or be innovative. There is also related information on the Tensor Grants for Women and Mathematics.

Objectives

Programs should provide enrichment activities which lead to heightened interest in and appreciation of mathematics. The programs should encourage students to continue studies of mathematics in high school and college and should better prepare them for those studies. Programs are designed for promising students and are not intended for remedial help for students who need assistance in order to succeed in their coursework in mathematics. Undergraduate and graduate students may provide role models and work directly with students under the tutelage of faculty from both the college or university and middle or high school. Programs may also benefit both college and pre-college students.

Active engagement in doing mathematics and mentoring of each student participant are essential features. Students should be made aware of career opportunities in mathematics and mathematically intensive disciplines.

Programs should be conducted over a sufficient period of time to engage student participants in learning and applying new and interesting mathematics that they will not otherwise encounter in their classes. Programs may be conducted during summer or during the school year, on weekends or after school. The Tensor funding may be used to supplement existing programs in order to increase the number of minority students participating in those programs or may be used to initiate new programs. Although participants from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply for such programs, participation in not limited to participants from such groups. Program funding is restricted to activities directly involving student participants that are not typically part of school budgets.

Sample Activities

Preparation for competitions such as the Putnam Competition for college students, MAA American Mathematics Competitions for middle and high school students, and other regional and national competitions.
Math Circles
Student group and individual research experiences
Summer mathematics camp
Math club activities

For consultation on your ideas for projects, feel free to contact the MAA Tensor Program Outreach Director Florence Fasanelli by email ffasanelli@verizon.net or phone 202-966-5591.

Nature of the Grant

Grants will be up to $6000 and will be made to the institution of the project director for a one-year project. An institution is expected to supply matching funds or in-kind support as an indication of commitment to the project. These grants will not support any institutional indirect costs or provide fringe benefits. To provide maximum flexibility, unexpended funds may be carried forward. Grant recipients must reapply each year, should they wish to continue their projects. Grants may be awarded for a maximum of three years.

Who May Apply

Applications will be accepted from college and university mathematical sciences faculty. They must be working with secondary or middle school mathematics faculty on projects that target those students.

Characteristics of Effective Programs

While projects will have a high degree of variability, there are some characteristics which effective projects will share:

Clearly articulated and measurable project objectives;
Strong academic component, with a focus focus on enrichment, not remediation;
Sustained activities over a sufficient period of time;
Highly competent project team;
Mentoring of each student participant;
Providing information on careers that use mathematics extensively in a way that will encourage students to pursue mathematical study;
Use of appropriate role models;
Involvement of parents, teachers, counselors for pre-college projects;
Peer support system;
Institutional commitment.

For more tips on writing a successful grant proposal visit the MAA Grant Proposal Writing Guide

Submission of Proposals

Please submit all proposal materials submitted online by February 12 of the year for which you would like the grant. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered. You will receive notification of the outcome of your proposal by the end of March.

Make sure you have the following documents ready as separate PDF or MS Word files as you will be asked to upload them in appropriate sections of your application:

CVs of Project Director and any Co-Directors;
Project Description as specified below;
Budget justification;
Letter(s) of Recommendation from your department chair or other appropriate institutional administrator indicating their support of the project;
If a renewal, state the year or years that funding had previously been granted and upload a two-page summary of progress to date, including number of participants, successes, and a budget summary of money expended to date;
Other relevant documents.

Project Description

Project Description should be 5 pages maximum. Please use nothing smaller than 12 point type. Every proposal must contain:

The concept: a description of the project, its objectives and goals;
Activities: a description of the activities of the project and how they relate to the accomplishment of the goals;
The timeline: a timeline for the activities, before, during and, if relevant, after the funding year;
Qualifications: provide the name, position, and qualifications of the project director and principal members of the team. In what way is your institution a welcome host and what resources can the institution provide? What is the long-term commitment of the host institution to be the goals of the project and these specific activities?
Following up: What data will you provide, including information on project expenditures, as part of a brief final report?
Further funding: What is the likelihood of institutionalizing through local or state or institutional funding after the start-up funding provided by the Tensor Foundation.

For further information regarding proposed grant projects, please contact Carole Lacampagne.

Review of Proposals

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel which will include members of the MAA Committee on Minority Participation, other MAA members, and a trustee of the Tensor Foundation acting as an advisor.

Contact Information

For additional information, contact Olga Dixon, MAA Sponsored Programs Coordinator, by email odixon@maa.org or phone 202-319-8498.