<p>Program Guidelines - Project SEED</p>
<p>FINANCIAL GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT SELECTION</p>
<p>Eligibility- The student must be recognized as economically disadvantaged. Preference should be given to Students whose maximum family income is below $32,000 or does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for family size, and who may be encouraged by their work in a chemical laboratory to make better use of their capabilities. An economically disadvantaged student applicant who is physically disabled must be considered on the same basis as any other applicant and may not be discriminated against in any way.</p>
<p>Exceptions to Income Eligibility - Exception to the maximum family income of $32,000 or 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for family size may be made in cases where family size or other factors that may deter a student from considering a career in science are present. Project SEED will consider applications from students whose family income is up to $44,000, if evidence is provided to the coordinator/mentor that factors which contribute to under representation in the sciences are present.<br>
Examples of such factors include the following within income guidelines:</p>
<p>the student belongs to an ethnic group (African-American, Hispanic, Native American)
historically underrepresented in science;
parents/guardians did not attend college; or,
student living in a single parent household or a member of a large family.
(None of the above factors alone qualify students who are beyond reasonable exceptions to the family income guidelines to be automatically eligible for Project SEED)</p>
<p>Approval of Students with Exceptional Circumstances</p>
<p>All exceptional circumstances of students being considered for Project SEED with a family income over $32,000 or 200% of the poverty guidelines as declared in the Project SEED application must be supported in a letter signed by the coordinator/mentor and forwarded to the ACS Project SEED office. The student should be admitted to the Project SEED program only after exceptional circumstances are approved by the Project SEED office.</p>
<p>Location - The student should be a commuting student, except in those cases where the institution (college, university, industry, or government lab) can provide room and board and appropriate supervision at no cost to the student.</p>
<p>Stipends & Duration of Program - Summer I students should receive a minimum of $2,275 and Summer II students a minimum of $2,600. Both programs expect at least eight weeks of participation at approximately 40 hours per week.</p>
<p>Stipend Payments, Surveys and Final Reports - Two checks will be sent from the ACS national SEED office to the institutional sponsor or the ACS local section officer for disbursement to the student(s). The first check (the amount approved minus $200) will be sent upon receipt of the Student Financial/Information Statement. The second check ($200 per student) will be sent upon receipt of all required paperwork and the Follow-up Survey, Student Report, and Mentor Report. In those cases where this procedure would be in conflict with the institution's administrative practices, other appropriate action can be considered. However, under no circumstances may mentors/coordinators deposit Project SEED monies into their personal funds. Mentors who disburse funds before the receipt of approved funds from Project SEED, do so at their own risk. NEW: The ACS offers "Automatic Direct Deposit" of Project SEED student payments. Your institution or university may take advantage of this payment method by filing out an Authorization of Direct Deposit Form and submitting it to the address indicated on the form. The SEED Office recommends this payment method for faster payment issuance. (Contact the SEED office to request an Authorization form).</p>
<p>Funding from Participating Institutions - Preference will be given to institutions providing matching or supplementary funds for each student. Also, the participating institution - or another source of local funds - will be expected to bear any overhead expenses. </p>
<p>Program/Student Termination - If the student terminates the program prior to completion of his/her obligation, the Project SEED office must be notified immediately in writing. The disbursement of the fellowship award will be prorated and the unused funds must be returned to Project SEED, at the American Chemical Society, before the end of the institution's program. </p>
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<p>ACADEMIC GUIDELINES
Program Content - The intent of Project SEED is to provide students with the opportunity to do meaningful research. The students' role should not be that of dishwasher or observer. The program implies no employee/employer relationship.</p>
<p>Student Pre-requisites - The Summer I student participant(s) should have completed a one-year introductory high school chemistry course. The Summer II student participant(s) must have participated in the Summer I program. Neither Summer I nor Summer II student can be matriculated in college.</p>
<p>Students/Mentor Ratio - The development of a personal relationship between the student and the mentor is considered a key factor in raising the student's goals and in expanding his/her horizons. For this reason, a mentor should work with no more than two SEED students during the summer.</p>
<p>Accident Insurance - The American Chemical Society provides an excess insurance coverage for Project SEED students, faculty members or chaperons. The period covered is limited to the 8-10 week Summer I and II programs each year. The insurance coverage is not extended beyond the Project SEED summer activity. The activities covered are limited to scheduled, sponsored or supervised activities of Project SEED. This insurance does not cover any conditions for which the insured is entitled to benefits under any Worker's Compensation Act or similar law. The ACS accident insurance policy coverage does not extend to damage or loss of personal property of Project SEED participants.</p>
<p>Although the American Chemical Society purchases accident insurance annually for Project SEED for the duration of the program, it is the mentor's duty to ensure that the student works in an environment where all necessary and usual safety precautions have been taken. The student must understand both the precautions taken and the reasons for such precautions. A guideline booklet, "Safety in the Academic Chemistry Laboratories," for faculty and students will be provided to mentors and students. "Students should wear safety goggles in the laboratory at all times."</p>
<p>College and Career Counseling - The student should be given college and career counseling by the mentor. In addition, the ACS will provide all students with a packet of career education materials. </p>
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<p>ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES
The Student Report - The student must write a final report of the summer's work (three to five pages is adequate). The mentor should cosign this report and a copy must be submitted to the ACS. Copies should be sent to the student's high school and to any other sources from which the student received financial support. The Follow-Up Survey, required for the program's assessment and improvement, must also be completed and returned by the established deadline. Upon receipt of these final reports from the student, ACS will send the institution the final $200 fellowship award for disbursement to the student(s).</p>
<p>The Mentor Report - A brief report from the mentor must be sent to the ACS Project SEED office and may be sent to the other funding sources at the conclusion of the program. Where possible, local contributors should be mentioned in any news articles. High quality photographs, 35mm slides, or videotapes of SEED participants in the laboratory setting are always welcome because they enhance our public relations efforts with potential contributors. Photographs must show the participants wearing appropriate safety equipment and goggles. Please identify all individuals pictured and include their titles and institutions.</p>
<p>Role of the ACS and Participating Institutions - ACS coordinates Project SEED and conducts the national-level fundraising activities. Acting under the authority of the participating institution, the local SEED coordinator usually works with the mentor(s) to select the student(s) and to operate the program in accordance with the financial and academic guidelines set out above by the ACS. The participating institution bears primary responsibility for the proper selection of eligible students within the guidelines of the program. ACS responsibility is the administration of the program and the approval of applications for students whose eligibility is outside the guidelines set for Project SEED. </p>
<p>Publication of Project SEED Research -Any publications resulting from the student's research should acknowledge support from the ACS and the Project SEED endowment.</p>
<p>ACS reserves the right to deny funding for any student who does not meet the guidelines described above unless prior approval is obtained by the coordinator/mentor in writing for exceptions prior to accepting students to the program.
If special circumstances suggest departure from the guidelines, please consult with the Project SEED staff at 1-800-227-5558, ext. 4380</p>