Sponsored Scholarship Program

Award Details

The AARC Supported Scholarship Program was designed to identify and fund quality research programs that further the mission and vision of AARC. In particular, AARC is interested in proposals that reflect assessment development and counseling outcome research. Each awarded program should be completed within one year of the award and have clear potential implications for influencing public policy at the state, regional, or national levels. counseling students, counselors, counselor educators, and practitioner-scholars are highly encouraged to apply for this unique and re-occurring opportunity.

All submissions are due electronically by the due date and must be submitted to AARC Grants Committee Co-Chairs (George Richardson and June Hyun) via email: [email protected].  Grant recipients will be publicly announced at the AARC annual Fall conference.

 

The Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) Request for Proposals

Sponsored Scholarship Program

The Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC) is issuing this Request for Proposals for our fifth year of the Sponsored Scholarship Program (SSP). Proposals are due May 1st  by 11:59 pm, and recipients will be recognized at the AARC conference. The goal of the SSP is to identify and to fund quality research programs that further the mission and vision of AARC. Based on our commitment to supporting the growth of quality of research and assessment in the counseling profession, we will be funding up to $20,000 in SSP grants this cycle, with grants being awarded in each of the following categories:

Professional PI (Faculty & Professional Members): Maximum budget of $4,500
Student PI: Maximum budget $2,500

In particular, we are interested in proposals that reflect assessment development and counseling outcome research. In addition, we encourage proposals that address racial disparities and oppression in assessment and outcome research. Each awarded program should be completed within one year of the award and have clear potential implications for influencing public policy at the state, regional, or national levels. We encourage counseling students, counselors, counselor educators, and practitioner-scholars to apply for this unique and re-occurring opportunity.

Eligibility: Members of the Executive Council (excluding the student representative) are not eligible to apply for funding through this mechanism. All individuals listed as PI or Co-PI must hold active AARC memberships. An individual may only appear on one Sponsored Scholarship Proposal as PI or Co-PI. In addition, individuals are only eligible to receive one AARC grant funded award this year across all AARC grant funded opportunities. Applicants who do not meet eligibility criteria will not be considered.

Guidelines: Proposals that do not follow the guidelines below may be disqualified from review. Proposals must be submitted in PDF format, including both a blinded copy for review and a separate, non-blinded, PDF copy. There is no indirect costs (IDC) funded in this RFP and all budgets may only be up to the maximum amount listed for the associated PI. Proposals should be no more than 5 single-spaced pages (excluding title page and references). Inquiries and submissions should be emailed to [email protected]. Proposals must address the following:

  • Title page: Please include (a) the category of submission (e.g., Student PI, Untenured faculty PI, Tenured faculty PI), (b) ACA membership numbers for all PI’s, and (c) a statement confirming that all PI’s and CO PI’s listed on the proposal are current AARC Members.
    § Purpose statement
    §  Description of congruence with AARC mission
    §  Need for project
    §  Methodology (participant characteristics, procedure, data analysis, strategies to ensure ethical compliance of research)
    §  Public policy implications
    §  Plan for dissemination of results
    §  Proposed timeline
    §  General budget (no indirect costs [IDC] allowed)
    §  Statement regarding whether you wish to be considered for partial funding, or whether you only wish to
    be considered for full funding.

NOTE: Awards at the Professional level should also address how their research will provide research mentorship of either students, untenured faculty, or colleagues.

Requirements for Awardees:

  • Complete paperwork to process allocations of funds, including submitting an IRB approval letter for the research project within three months of the award announcement and specify if the check is written to the PI or the institution/organization
  • Complete project within 12 months of receiving funding
  • Submit completed project as a research poster proposal or presentation for the AARC Annual Conference
  • Recognize the AARC SSP in any professional or scholarly products yielded from the awarded program
  • Submit a 1-paragraph synopsis of awarded program suitable for dissemination in an announcement to the AARC membership.
  • Submit a brief, 2-page white paper suitable for dissemination by AARC as a policy paper

For questions, please email the AARC Scholarly Grants Committee at [email protected].

2024 Grant Recipients

A Mixed-Method Analysis of School Counselors Supporting the Reentry of Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

  • PI:
    Haley R. Ault, University of South Florida
  • Co-PI:
    Alexandria S. Cammarano, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Developing the Tolerance for Ambiguity Scale for Counseling Students (TASCS): Bridging the Gap in Counselor Education

  • PI:
    Dania Fakhro, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Validating Wellness and Quality of Life Measurements on a Sample of Emerging Adults

  • PI:
    Alexander M. Fields, Florida Atlantic University
  • Co-PI:
    Matthew Nice, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    Madeline Castle, Mississippi State University
    Olivia J. Lewis, Oregon State University

Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Race-Based Resilience Scale

  • PI:
    Ericka Cables, Webster University

Culturally Responsive Research Mentorship: Enhancing Researcher Identity for International Counseling Graduate Students

  • PI:
    Priyanka Jha, Northern Illinois University

The Development and Validation of Multicultural Supervisory Rupture Scale: Using Exploratory Sequential Mixed Method

  • PI:
    Dasol Hwang, Pennsylvania State University

The Investigation of a Classroom-Wide Bibliotherapy Intervention for Economically Disadvantaged Toddlers

  • PI:
    Kaleb A. Thompson, University of North Texas

2023 Grant Recipients

Expanding our Understanding of Help-Seeking Behavior: Implications for Older Adults at Elevated Risk of Suicide

  • PI:
    Afroze N. Shaikh, Georgia State University

Holding Out for a HERO: Evaluating the Impact of Psychological Capital Development on the Well-Being of Doctoral Students

  • PI:
    Justin R. Lockhart, University of Texas at San Antonio

Creation and Validation of the Attachment, Regulation, Competence, Culture, and Health Resilience Model Scale for International Students (ARCCH-IS)

  • PI:
    Cheolwoo Park, University of Florida
  • Co-PI:
    Hannah B. Bayne, University of Florida
    Jung Hyun, Nova Southeastern University

Resilient Warriors: A Mixed-Methodological Evaluation of an Expressive Art-Based Resiliency Program with Black Elementary Students in Title One Schools

  • PI:
    Hulya Ermis-Demirtas, Northeastern Illinois University

Development and Validation of Multicultural and Social Justice-Oriented Learning Environment Scale

  • PI:
    Sojeong Nam, University of New Mexico
  • Co-PIs:
    Olivia Ngadjui, Western Michigan University
    Jeongwoon Jeong, University of New Mexico
    Sam Steen, George Mason University
    Byeolbee Um, University of Oklahoma

Effect of A Breathing-Based Meditation Intervention on Wellness of Counselors-in-Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • PI:
    Yasar Nur Dedeoglu, California State University, Fresno
  • Co-PI:
    Yangyang Liu, California State University, Fresno
    Dilian Rolins, California State University, Fresno

Counselor Bias Toward Sexual Minority Persons Living with a Dual Diagnosis of SUD and PTSD

  • PI:
    Jamian Coleman, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Co-PI:
    Jordan Wescott, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

2022 Grant Recipients

Read Between the Line: A Novel Approach to Assess Diversity

  • PI:
    Zhaopu (Ken) Xu, University of Rochester
  • Co-PI:
    Hongshan Shao, Penn State University

Development and Validation of the Counseling Imposter Scale (CIS)

  • PI:
    Lien Nguyen, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi
  • Co-PI:
    Joshua Watson, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi

Access to Mental Health Care for Older Sexual Minority Women with Disabilities: Equity in Research and Practice

  • PI:
    Jordan B. Westcott, Virginian Tech

PTSD, Chronic Pain, and Substance Use Disorders: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Study

  • PI:
    Melissa Henry, University of Louisville

Understanding Clients’ Experiences in Counseling: The Client Meaningful Experiences Scale (CMES)

  • PI:
    Ryan Cook, University of Alabama
  • Co-PIs:
    Kevin Doyle, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
    Corrine Sackett, Clemson University

Fear of Hate Crime among Racial Minority College Students: Scale Development and Initial Validation

  • PI:
    Isak Kim, University of Nebraska Omaha
  • Co-PI:
    Eunhui Yoon, Florida State University

2021 Grant Recipients

Examining the Factor Structure of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory in a Sample of Sexual Minority Adults: Confirmatory Factor Analysis

  • PI:
    Thomas Mitchell Toomey, University of South Carolina

The Development and Validation of the Multidimensional Eating and Body Image Screening for LGBTGEQIAP+ Individuals

  • PI:
    Adriana Labarta, Florida Atlantic University
  • Co-PI:
    Kelly Emelianchik-Key, Florida Atlantic University

The Development and Initial Validation of a Disability Identity Development and Belonging Scale for Racially and Ethnically Minoritized College Students with Psychiatric Disabilities

  • PI:
    Angélica Galván, Tennessee Technological University
  • Co-PI:
    Kyesha Isadore, The Pennsylvania State University

Resilient Warriors: An Expressive Art-Based Resiliency Program to Promote Resilience, Adaptive Coping, Positive Self-Concept, and Psychological Wellbeing in Rural Elementary Students

  • PI:
    Hulya Ermis-Demirtas, University of Wisconsin-Stout

Examining the Associations between Cultural Humility, Implicit Racial Bias, and Mindfulness Practices among Counselors and Mental Health Professionals.

  • PI:
    David A. Johnson, Wake Forest University
  • Co-PIs:
    Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University

Development and Cross-Cultural Validation of the Inventory of New College Student Adjustment Scale-Chinese Version (INCA-Ch)

  • PI:
    Joshua Watson, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi
  • Co-PI:
    Ye Luo, University of North Texas
    Yunyun Zhang, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi

2020 Grant Recipients

The Development and Initial Validation of the Cultural Humility and Enactment Scale in Counseling

  • PI:
    Peitao Zhu, Northern Illinois University

Developing an Evaluation Toll for Counselor Education Doctoral Student Teaching

  • PI:
    Mei Tang, University of Cincinnati
  • Co-PIs:
    Stephanie Merrilees, University of Cincinnati
    Alexandra Mott, University of Cincinnati

Exploring the Impact of Mobile Resilience Building Program in the COVID-19 Era

  • PI:
    Raissa Miller, Boise State University
  • Co-PI:
    Eric Beeson, Northwestern University

Path Analysis of Factors Affecting Marginalized Youth Outcomes: An Intersection of Career Barriers, Depression, Hopelessness, and Social Problem-Solving

  • PI:
    Tahani Dari, University of Toledo
  • Co-PIs:
    Christian Chan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The Development and Validation of the Interpersonal Stress Scale-CT

  • PI: 
    C. Missy Moore, University of Georgia

2016 Grant Recipients

Suicide Intervention Outcome Research in Public Schools: A Meaningful Community Engagement Study

  • PI: 
    Laura Shannonhouse, Georgia State University
  • Co-PIs:
    Yung-Wei Dennis Lin, New Jersey City University
    Nikki Elston, Georgia State University

The Effect of Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy on PTSD Symptoms, Adaptive Behaviors, and Physiological Symptoms

  • PI: 
    Erika Schmit, Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • Co-PIs:
    Jennafer Mountain
    Michael Schmit
    Anna Zapata

An investigation of the effects of Neurofeedback training on ADHD symptoms in college students

  • PI:
    Shaywanna Harris, University of Central Florida

A comparison of the mental health impact of trauma guilt, depression, and PTSD for survivors of cyber-sexual assault and physical assault

  • PI:
    Kelley Holladay, University of Central Florida

Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE): Development and Initial Validation of a New Instrument

  • PI:
    Elizabeth Crunk, University of Central Florida
  • Co-PIs:
    Laurie Burke, University of Central Florida
    Robert Neimeyer, University of Memphis
    Mike Robinson, University of Central Florida