Diversity Research Award

Office of Inclusive Excellence

Since 2010, the Office for Inclusive Excellence and Bush Library have collaborated on the Hamline Diversity Research Award. The Hamline Diversity Research Award is given annually to an undergraduate who demonstrates excellent facility with scholarly research materials to produce a project on a diversity topic. The student receiving this award is recognized at the Honor's Day each year and is awarded a cash prize.

Diversity refers to the variety found among humankind; research topics can include race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, national origin, marital status, familial status, socio-economic status, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

See past Hamline Diversity Research awardees (Google Doc).

Award applications are now being accepted. A committee appointed by the Office for Inclusive Excellence and Bush Library, will select the winner and the award will be presented at the Honor's Day on April 25.

The submission deadline for 2024 is Friday, February 23, at 12 p.m. (noon).

Students should submit all material to the Office of Inclusive Excellence with a subject heading of "Diversity Research Award Submission."  All submissions must include a cover page with the student name, title of the project, course faculty or project adviser, and student ID number. All other pages should have no identification. Submissions must also include the critically reflective discussion (see criteria below).  Any non-print submissions (art work, oral/visual presentations, audio recordings, etc.) that cannot be sent via email must be delivered to Dr. David Everett, associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence, in Old Main 106 (provost Suite). Non-print materials must be accompanied by a written description, explanation, and contextualization of the project (see criteria below). Entries will be judged anonymously.

Award criteria

  • Each project, print or non-print, must include a critically reflective discussion which describes:
    • The research process and methodology,
    • Offers an explanation of why those research choices were made, and
    • What concrete gains were made for future learning goals for the researcher (maximum length: Two pages).
  • The project may be the result of coursework, departmental honors, journalistic writing, or a public presentation. The medium may be print or non-print.
  • The thesis of the project must be on a topic of diversity as recognized by Hamline University.
  • The research methods must skillfully utilize a broad range of scholarly research materials to substantiate the thesis, and indicate an understanding of the historical, social, and disciplinary context of the research and show awareness of the contemporary debates on diversity in higher education.
  • The project will be judged for originality of thought and effective communication by the award committee which consists of a faculty member, a librarian, and the associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence.