Apply

Ready to apply?

Application to DSP is free and easy! Applications for Spring 2025 open November 1st. We will begin reviewing applications on November 15th, and will continue to accept and review applications through December 15th. Initial acceptance is for one year, and may be renewed annually upon DSP program approval of a progress report and mutual agreement of the student and faculty mentor. Review the application requirements, and apply BELOW!

Apply Here!

Complete Application

An application consists of:

DSP Project Plan (Details below)
Letter of support from the faculty mentor (to be uploaded by student in the application form).  Support letter should just state that the mentor has spoken with the student, reviewed the plan, and is willing to mentor.  Letters should be signed and on NMSU letterhead.

Details of Plan

Your DSP Project Plan needs to be a single file, maximum 3 pages

  • 1

    Outline of the proposed project

    1-2 pages

    • Objective
    • Methods or Approach
    • Timeline/ benchmarks
  • 2

    Statement

    Statement of how participation in DSP will help you reach your goals (~250 words)

  • 3

    Time commitment

    Time commitment (e.g., number of hours per week). Note that there is no required maximum or minimum number of hours per week. For students, consider all your other commitments, and work with your faculty mentor to set goals that are achievable given the amount of time you are able to dedicate to DSP.

  • 4

    Frequency of meetings

    Frequency of meetings between student and faculty mentor

  • 5

    Description of professional development activity

    Description of at least one professional development activity that you are committing to complete (please provide a brief descriptionof what you plan to do and an outline of the steps and/or timeline you will follow to complete the professional development activity). The list below provides some examples, but we are open to other ideas.

    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium (URCAS) presentation
    • Research and Creativity Week (RCW) presentation
    • Complete an application to graduate school
    • Exhibit or present your creative/scholarly work at a local, regional or national conference or venue
    • Prepare a complete draft of a publishable scholarly work
    • Other professional development activity related to your DSP project

 

Expectations

  • 1

    Submit an annual progress report

    Submit an annual progress report that describes progress on the project (include whether you were able to follow the proposed timeline and meet the benchmarks) and progress on the professional development activity (1 page). Please include any accomplishments (e.g. presentations) in your progress report.

  • 2

    Request project renewal as part of the annual progress report

    Request project renewal as part of the annual progress report. If both the student and the mentor wish to continue the project, please include that request as part of the annual report. Provide an updated plan for the up-coming year (update objectives, methods and the timeline/benchmarks as needed) as well as a description of a professional development activity that you are committing to for the up-coming year (1 page).

  • 3

    Submit a mentoring compact

    Submit a mentoring compact. Once approved, each student-mentor team will need to submit a mentoring compact and will need to let the DSP team know if there are issues that are preventing successful progress. 

  • 4

    Notify the DSP team when you apply for graduation

    Notify the DSP team when you apply for graduation. If you have had an approved project and filed your annual report(s), you will receive a DSP sash to wear during the graduation ceremony. Please submit a final report at the end of the semester in which you are graduating.