LINGUISTIC MINORITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The University of California Linguistic Minority Research Institute (UC LMRI) is a multi-campus research unit of the University of California. The major purpose of the UC LMRI is to encourage University of California researchers to undertake comprehensive and collaborative research that improves the schooling conditions and academic achievement of language minority youth by increasing our understanding of the challenges they face, as well as the resources they represent for the state. Through this research and the dissemination of findings, the UC LMRI represents one aspect of the University of California's commitment to outreach and more equitable access to education as a necessary condition for educational excellence.

All UC LMRI Grants are contingent upon the availability of funds.

(Adopted by the UC LMRI Faculty Steering Committee, May 7, 2004)

Guidelines:   Consistent with the mission of UC LMRI to pursue “…knowledge applicable to educational policy and practice in the area of language minority students’ academic achievement and knowledge,” the UC LMRI Faculty Steering Committee offers the following guidelines regarding submitting proposals for funding:

• Language must be an explicit element in the focus and design of the study. Research designs appropriate for UC LMRI support language in a variety of ways, including as a primary outcome (e.g., language development) or as an explanatory factor (e.g., comparison of English background and Spanish background).
• Any non-English language may be studied (past studies have examined Spanish, Korean, American Sign Language, among others) as well as dialects of languages, including English (e.g., Ebonics).
• Proposals that focus on other, related population characteristics, such as ethnicity or immigration status, are appropriate so long as they also consider the role of language in shaping the experiences or outcomes for the study’s participants.

Priorities:   Because available funds are limited, the UC LMRI Faculty Steering Committee gives funding priority to proposals focusing on biliteracy, educational achievement, and California. However, the overall quality of the proposal remains the primary consideration.