The grant program is geared to master's and doctoral students who may just be beginning their research projects. Competitions for the grants are held in the fall and spring semesters, and graduate students may apply for the awards once each academic year. Thanks to alumni donors, a significant proportion of grant applicants receive funding. If graduate students don't succeed in receiving one of the Beverly Sears Dean Small Grants on their first application to the program, they are encouraged to try, try again. Unlike most grant competitions, this program provides feedback to unfunded applicants.
Many students revise their grant applications and are funded in future semesters.
So while governmental agencies may dole out multi-million dollar grants, the Beverly Sears Dean Small Grants are preparing graduate students to advance their research . . .