Funding Opportunities

The Olive M. Cone Scholarship

The Department of Communication Studies is pleased to announce its call for self-nominations for the Olive M. Cone Episcopal Scholarship. Established by Mr. L. W. Cone of Crawford, GA, in honor of his wife, Olive M. Cone, the Cone Scholarship recognizes the outstanding achievement of a Communication Studies major with a tuition scholarship for the fall semester. All COMM majors are eligible to apply regardless of religious affiliation. The award for Spring 2025 will be $1000.00. Applicants must, therefore, be enrolled in Fall 2024 to be eligible for the award.

The deadline for self-nominations is March 15 every year.

Communication Studies majors wishing to be considered for the award must submit a packet of materials that includes the following:

1. A letter of self-nomination that describes the student’s outstanding academic achievements and commitment to the discipline of Communication Studies;
2. Documentation of (a) overall GPA and (b) GPA in the major;
3. A resume;
4. Any additional evidence of academic achievement in the discipline. Although the award is based primarily on academic achievement, financial need may also be considered. Therefore, demonstration of financial need may be included.

A single hard copy of all application materials must be submitted by the deadline to:

Dr. Barbara Biesecker
bbieseck@uga.edu
Undergraduate Coordinator
Department of Communication Studies
Caldwell Hall

A formal announcement of the award will be made at the Spring Department Awards Ceremony in April 2025.

Undergraduate Research Project Fund

The purpose of this fund is to provide a small amount of financial support for undergraduate majors in Communication Studies for projects that might focus on research, service, or entrepreneurship.  The project may be for a class, a University-associated organization, or an individual effort.  In all cases the student must have a sponsor from the permanent faculty of the Department of Communication Studies who agrees to supervise the project and assume the financial management of the project.  In the case of projects that might produce revenue, the faculty member and student will need to work with the Head in advance to ensure compliance with University budgeting, financial, and intellectual property rules. The deadlines for applications are October 1 and February 1, every year.     

1. Proposals should be no more than 2 pages and should include
   1. a detailed budget
   2. a time-line
   3. a description of the project
   4. endorsement and signed statement of faculty member assumption of financial responsibility (not included in 2 page limit)
2. Proposals may not require a “petty cash” fund to pay participants individually 
3. Award decisions will be made by the members of the Executive Committee, except where a member is the supervisor for the project. In such cases, the Department Head will appoint a replacement from the same area.  
4. Students should submit to other funds for which their project is eligible prior or concurrently to submission (e.g., CURO or Experiential Learning funds). 
5. Individual spending deadline –June 1
6. Students should submit a report on the project completion by June 15.
7. Students are only eligible for one award during their undergraduate education.
8. Awards expected to be between $200 and $1200

A single copy of all application materials must be submitted by the deadline to:

Dr. Barbara Biesecker
bbieseck@uga.edu
Undergraduate Coordinator
Department of Communication Studies
Caldwell Hall