BLI GRANT

LEED and President Morris are pleased to offer the BLI Grant, a competitive opportunity for all students for projects that raise understanding and awareness in the areas of belonging, cultural competency, equity or identity-based factors in various disciplines of study.

In Summer 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the widespread pain and anger felt broadly across the St. Lawrence community, the Black Laurentian Initiative (BLI) was born--a student organization, open to all students, that examined aspects of race and inclusion across the St. Lawrence community. This student coalition partnered with then President Fox and other campus leaders to focus on a uniquely Laurentian and educational response to the current climate. A grant program, open to all students, was created. Grant funds supported projects that explored aspects of race and racism. In the years since, BLI, through student leadership, has evolved into LEED, Laurentians for Equity, Equality, and Diversity. This student organization, with membership open to all students, seeks to bring many students together in learning and community around areas of cultural competency, community-building, and education. In the spring semester of 2025, LEED worked with the University to develop the next iteration of this program. Named in honor of the students who formed the Black Laurentian Initiative, this new grant program will be known as BLI Grants. This grant program provides a competitive opportunity for all students to conduct projects that raise understanding and awareness in areas of belonging, cultural competency, equity, or identity-based factors in various disciplines of study.

BLI Grant Specifics:

Through a competitive process, up to three annual awards of up to $5,000 each will be offered to selected students.
Grant funds may be used for student stipends.
Grant funds may also be used for up to $1,000 in supplies, based on the proposed project. Any supplies must be purchased according to University processes and all durable supplies are University property; they must be turned into the grant coordinator at the completion of the project so that they can be used for future purposes.
In addition to the $5,000 grant award for student stipend and supplies, students who are supported by these grants must have a faculty/staff sponsor, who will receive a $500 stipend in recognition of their work mentoring the student conducting the project. The faculty/staff sponsor will advise on project development and execution and support student learning through the experience.

Eligibility: BLI grants are eligible to any current undergraduate student through a competitive application process. Only students who are enrolled during the term following the summer award period are eligible. Recently graduated students or students graduating during the award period are not eligible to receive a grant.

Grant criteria: The BLI Grant will support student projects to conduct research, complete unpaid or underpaid internships and service projects, or develop creative projects (e.g., visual art exhibit) that focus on raising understanding and awareness in the areas of belonging, cultural competency, equity, or explores the ways identity-based factors, such as race or gender, have impact on people. In certain cases when other funding avenues have been exhausted, it can supplement student presentations at professional conferences for research related to the grant criteria.

Application Process: Interested applicants must complete the online application that outlines proposed project and its relevance to the criteria, detailed award budget that is inclusive of supplies and stipend, and project presentation statement.

Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed by the Vice President for Student Life or designee, the President of LEED, a representative from the Academic Dean’s Office, and one other faculty/staff representative.

Recipients must use the grant award during the summer term. Following the grant project, recipients must present their projects as part of the Festival Day of Science, Scholarship, and Creativity as well as identify one other opportunity to share their work in consultation with Student Life and LEED leadership.

The Director of Grants and Sponsored Research will process the grant award and associated supplies. Any supplies must be purchased according to University processes and all durable supplies are University property; they must be turned into the grant coordinator at the completion of the project so that they can be used for future purposes.

Deadline: TBD

Information Sessions : TBD

Proposal essay:

Submit a written essay of up to 500 words (approx. 1 page) that includes:

Project goals and objectives
How your project will meet grant criteria
Activities you propose to undertake
Expected project outcomes
Plan for working with your faculty or staff mentor (indicate that you have had conversations with your mentor well in advance of submitting essay)

Mentor's letter of support must be submitted separately by project deadline.

Budget: You must also submit a project budget (up to 1 page) that outlines project costs of up to $1000. Examples of eligible costs include:

Project materials/supplies
Costs of housing/food (if travel away from campus is necessary)
Transportation
Other necessary expenses

Plan for presentation: A formal presentation of projects and results to the BLI and the greater SLU community is required of all grant recipients. Recipients are asked to demonstrate how their project contributes to a deepening understanding of racial injustice and equity issues. Submit a brief description (about a paragraph) of your plan for this presentation.

Submit applications via this form: https://student.stlawu.edu/register/bli_grant_application

As you submit your application, you will enter the email address of your mentor who will then receive a link for sending their recommendation. Please be sure that you have the correct email address of your mentor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the deadline for the next submission cycle?

TBD

2. Where do I go if I have questions about the process or the proposal?

TBD

You can also feel free to email any member of the committee:
Jon Duraj, Vice President for Student Life (jduraj@stlawu.edu)
Michael Agyekum, President of LEED

3. How do I submit my proposal?

Proposals should be submitted electronically via using this link: https://student.stlawu.edu/register/bli_grant_application

4. What is the role of the mentor in the project?

Although the project is the student’s idea, the student must have conversations with their mentor as they write their proposal. It is important that the mentor be able to indicate, in their letter of support to the grant committee, that the project is feasible, that the student has the skill and experience necessary to complete the project, and that the mentor also has the expertise to mentor the student in the project that is being proposed.

5. Do I have to get Institutional Review Board Approval?

Federal law requires that, under certain circumstances, research involving human subjects must be approved by institutional review boards (IRBs). Work with your mentor and the chair of St. Lawrence’s IRB committee to determine if your project requires approval. If it does, you will have to submit a proposal to the IRB committee for approval, and you will have to complete an online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course.