ACE Research Awards

Purpose 

The Rutland Institute’s Advancement of and Commitment to Ethics (ACE) research awards are designed to enable and acknowledge outstanding Clemson University graduate students and faculty whose scholarship reflects the mission and vision of the Rutland Institute. The ACE Research Awards, given annually at $2,000 per award to one graduate student and one faculty member, is an honors scholarship focused on ethical decision-making and/or ethical leadership.

Funds provided by the ACE awards facilitate awardees’ dedication to advancing ethical decision-making and/or ethical leadership within the Clemson University academic community and beyond. The Graduate Student ACE Award is intended to support prospective or ongoing work and is provided to defray direct expenses related to the recipient’s research or dissemination of that research. The Faculty ACE Award is intended to recognize faculty who have completed scholarship and to acknowledge and honor work aligned with the Institute’s mission.

All questions should be directed to Institute Director, Dr. William McCoy, at wmccoy@clemson.edu or by calling (864) 656-6147.

All submissions are due in PDF format to ethics@clemson.edu by 11:59 pm on December 31st.

Apply for the Graduate Student ACE Award
Apply for the Faculty ACE Award

Award Criteria

Applications are accepted September 1st – December 31st. Award application must be completed and submitted to the Director of the Rutland Institute for Ethics (using the form linked above) by December 31st for consideration. One graduate student award and one faculty award will be given per year, as decided by the ACE Research Award review committee.

Applicants for the RIE Graduate Student ACE Award must:

  • Have completed all other degree requirements except the proposed project (e.g., successfully advanced to candidacy, completed comprehensive exams, have an approved dissertation proposal);
  • Be a Clemson University graduate student in good academic standing;
  • Have proposed or be engaged in ongoing research that aligns with the mission and/or vision of the Rutland Institute for Ethics (as determined by the application review committee); and
  • Include a letter of support from their graduate program advisor with their application.

Applicants for the RIE Faculty ACE Award must:

  • Be a Clemson University faculty member in good standing;
  • Have completed research within the last three years that aligns with the mission and/or vision of the Rutland Institute for Ethics (as determined by the application review committee); and
  • Include a letter of support from their department chair with their application.

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