Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center


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		Consortium Member Grants Grant Program Description \| Eligibility and Guidelines Since 1985 AMERC, a consortium of church organizations and educational institutions has provided quality educational programs and learning experiences for seminarians and other religious leaders interested in ministry in Appalachia and other rural areas. The centerpiece of these programs has been in-depth, contextually based dialogue with local people engaged in creative ministries, exploring with them social, economic, political, ecological, cultural, and religious issues. Intense theological reflection is used to understand these issues through the eyes of faith, equipping students and other leaders for ministry in the Appalachian context. In the new millennium, out of a concern for being the best possible stewards of our financial resources, AMERC has continued its same mission through a changed approach to program delivery. AMERC is now making grants to consortium members. The grants program maintains the previous emphasis on ecumenical and experiential education, but has shifted program development primarily to the consortium members that receive AMERC grants. Consortium Member Grants: A Partnership AMERC invites individual consortium members into partnership by applying for an AMERC grant of up to $10,000 to assist the member in developing and implementing a course or educational program. In order to encourage broader ecumenical participation AMERC will give priority to multi-member grants and will consider applications of up to $15,000 for these grants, if the larger amount is justified in the budget. Members receiving AMERC grants must agree to advertise the program in their publications and encourage registration by students from other AMERC consortium members. If the sponsoring member institution is an academic institution, the member registers students and must award academic credit for work successfully completed. If the sponsoring member institution is a denominational oversight agency, the agency must award continuing education unit (CEU) credit for work successfully completed by students. An Appalachian mentor or consultant acceptable to AMERC must be designated in the proposal to help plan and conduct the educational experience, thus insuring a quality program. This mentor will be knowledgeable about the region and able to guide the member in selecting persons, organizations or other resources in the Appalachian region that will enrich the planned experience. AMERC maintains a roster of mentors. Eligibility and Guidelines Only members of the AMERC consortium are eligible to receive a grant. Membership in AMERC is open to theological schools which are members of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), regionally accredited colleges or universities whose aim corresponds with the purpose of AMERC, oversight agencies of the church - denominational judicatories or other church organization whose purpose is overseeing the development of Christian leaders in Appalachia or similar rural or urban settings and who support AMERC's purpose, and supporting organizations which embrace AMERC's purpose and help to provide and secure resources necessary for its mission. Membership in AMERC is by written request, approved by the Board of Directors and with an annual payment of $1,200 in dues. Grants will be made directly to the consortium member, not to the individual who submits the proposal. Grant Guidelines Grants will be made only for experiential/contextual educational programs, events, courses or seminars with an Appalachian or other rural immersion component. Grant proposals must provide for ecumenical or inter-institution involvement. Proposals from single schools or agencies must provide for reasonable access by students from other schools or agencies. Priority will be given to proposals clearly demonstrating inter-institution involvement. Grants to single schools or agencies will not exceed $10,000, plus individual scholarships. Grants for multi-school or agency programs will not exceed $15,000, plus individual scholarships. (See 1, page 2) Grants will be made only to schools or agencies that are current with their annual consortium member dues. Grant proceeds may not be used for capital improvements, the purchase of equipment or for permanent library acquisitions beyond the textbooks for the course (the library of each sponsoring school will receive a set of the text books being used for the course). If more proposals are received than can be funded, only one proposal per school or agency will be considered for funding in each fiscal year. Additionally, AMERC will give priority to proposals that meet the following criteria: Proposals that stress direct or "hands on" experiences within the Appalachian region or another rural context, Proposals that emphasize theological reflection and social analysis, Proposals that engage students in the totality of Appalachian or rural culture - including its social, economic, political, environmental, religious dimensions, Proposal from member institutions that have historically demonstrated a commitment to ministry in rural or Appalachian contexts, Proposals designed as educational experiences for an optimal number of participants, Proposals that demonstrate adequate financial and staff resources to assure a quality program. Proposal Guidelines Grant proposals should be no more than four typed, single-spaced pages printed on one side of each sheet. Proposals should include the following: The title of the project The goal(s) of the project An abstract of the project (no more than 20 lines) Needs to be addressed by the project Course outline How program will address student needs Description of specific means of evaluation to be used Enrollment (upper and lower number of students to be allowed, estimate of actual enrollment) Plan for publicity with AMERC to encourage ecumenical mix of participants The name and address of the project director In addition the following should be attached: Budget (including cost per student, contribution of the school, organization, or agency to the program) Projection of resources the applicant will provide (personnel, library, etc.) Letter of endorsement from the academic dean or the president of the school, or the board president or chair of the organization or agency Once the AMERC grant is awarded, the applicant school, organization, or agency assumes the ultimate fiscal and programmatic responsibility for the course. AMERC will serve as a resource partner. Proposals should be mailed to: Dr. Lon Oliver AMERC 298 Harrison Road Berea, KY 40403 For questions, contact Lon Oliver at loliver@amerc.org.
		Home \| Classes \| Resources \| Consortium Members \| About AMERC Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center 298 Harrison Road Berea, KY 40403 Phone: 859-986-8789 Fax: 859-986-2576 E-mail: loliver@amerc.org