Working Group Call for Proposals
Modeled on the International Human Rights Program, the Asper Centre working groups aim to provide students with an opportunity to conduct legal research and assist in advocacy on Canadian constitutional rights issues (often in partnership with an external organization). The Asper Centre requires all potential working groups (including existing working groups) to submit a written proposal for consideration by the Asper Centre Working Groups Selection Committee (“the Committee”). The Committee will select the most competitive proposals to form the Asper Centre Working Groups for the following year. The purpose of the proposal requirement is to enhance the student experience and to ensure that our assistance is of the highest quality and value to our partners. The proposal-based working group model facilitates oversight by the Centre’s Executive Director, allows for further engagement with faculty, and ensures consistency across working groups.
Procedure for Submitting a Proposal
Existing working groups, as well as any other interested student(s) or student groups, are encouraged to submit a written proposal for consideration by the Asper Centre Working Group Selection Committee (chaired by the Executive Director). Proposals should be sent via email to cheryl.milne@utoronto.ca. The deadline for submission of proposals is 5:00 p.m. on August 4, 2010. Successful groups will be notified prior to the start of term. Evaluation of Proposals Proposals will be evaluated on feasibility, contribution to the field, and benefit to student members. Proposals submitted by existing Centre working groups will be evaluated along with all the proposals received. The top proposals will be selected to form the working groups from 2010-2011.
Proposals should identify the following:
• Title/subject matter of group
• Name(s) of the student leader(s) and brief background information (including participation in past working groups, experience in or knowledge of constitutional law, etc.)
• The issue the group will be working on, and why the issue is important (i.e. why you see a need for this group—for example, will the group address important gaps in the research?)
• Name and description of the partnership organization, and letter of support from the organization (if applicable);
• Description of proposed research or advocacy project for the 2010-11 year (along with long-term goals, if applicable).
In describing the project, you should:
• Define realistic project goals;
• Clearly outline expected outcomes (i.e. hosting community workshops, speakers or a special event; preparing a final report, or research memos for an organization);
• Potential supervisors (i.e. Are there faculty members interested in participating or assisting in the review of final work product? Will members of an external organization take an active role in providing supervision and answering research questions as they may arise?);
• Project budget (please note in preparing this section that there is only limited funding available- for example, costs for bringing in a speaker, photocopies, lunch event).
Other considerations to keep in mind include:
• Projects may be limited to one year or may be longer-term. However, longer term projects will require ongoing approval on a yearly basis. Therefore, it would assist the Committee to identify the specific goal(s) of the project for the current academic year. The Committee encourages projects that reflect faculty research areas, or that are in partnership with faculty members.• Students should avoid duplicating project/topic areas, and are encouraged to share their ideas with one another and to collaborate on group proposals wherever possible.
• If the group is working with an external organization, the project should be designed to meet the needs of the community the organization serves. Partnerships with external organizations that have a contact person or office in Toronto will be encouraged.
• All leaders must commit to meeting with the Executive Director on a regular basis during the academic term.
• All leaders may be required to contribute to the Centre’s newsletter and LAWS Program as part of their executive duties.
Responsibilities may include the following:
• Contributing an article related to your working group to the Centre’s newsletter;
• Partnering with the LAWS Program to present the annual LAWS Global Citizenship Conference for Grade 10 students.
• Developing interactive workshop presentations;
• Presenting these workshops during the conference;
• Developing and presenting individual LAWS classroom (grades 10, 11 and 12) workshops on constitutional rights issues related to your working group during the academic year.
• Groups may be required to present the work of their Group in a law student forum at the end of the year which would bring together a number of student working groups from other similar programs in the Faculty.