CLAS Working Group Grants

The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) invites proposals from Stanford graduate students, supported by their faculty mentors, for student-led Working Groups for the 2025-26 academic year.

Priority will be given to proposals that include topics addressing indigenous peoples' rights, environmental and global health issues, and migration.

Application Deadline: Friday, November 15, 2025

Purpose

The CLAS Working Group Program brings together faculty, visiting scholars, graduate, undergraduate, and professional school students for multidisciplinary scholarly exchanges on research-in-progress, culture, and perspectives on current events related to Latin American topics. Stanford students organize the working groups in consultation with faculty sponsors. As semi-autonomous entities, the working groups set their own agendas, organize symposia, exchange working papers, or pursue collaborative research efforts. The themes and membership of the working groups change from year to year.

CLAS provides working groups with financial and administrative support and helps integrate their activities with those sponsored directly by the center.

Function of Working Groups

One or two graduate students organize the working group with the supervision and support of a faculty member. Coordinators are encouraged to seek collaboration with departments and/or other student groups or organizations that share similar interests and objectives. Together, they plan discussion topics, invite guest speakers, and provide opportunities for Stanford faculty and graduate students to present work-in-progress. Working groups must meet regularly throughout the year. Many meetings, presentations, and conferences are also open to the Stanford community and the public, where appropriate.

Proposal Requirements

All working group applications must include:      

  • A cover sheet
  • A contact information sheet that lists the faculty and graduate student(s) who will lead the working group. (Core participants must be in residence for the entire academic year.)
  • A statement or letter of support from a Stanford faculty sponsor
  • A one- or two-page statement outlining the nature and significance of the problem or issue to which the working group will be devoted, as well as a description of how the proposed working group will address the aims of CLAS
  • A list of proposed activities and events for the upcoming year
  • A proposed budget
  • A complete proposal signed by the faculty and graduate student(s) who will be leading the working group

    Submit Application 

Funding for Working Groups*

We invite proposals of up to $3,000. Budget requests may include co-sponsorship from other campus units. The budget may cover administrative support, but funds cannot be used to buy out faculty time or provide permanent staff salaries. Funds may be used for*:

  • Technical and organizational assistance (i.e., website design and maintenance, publicity, graphic design, and poster production)
  • Airfare, travel, and accommodations
  • Advertising costs
  • Food
  • Meeting costs
  • Expenses for invited visitors

*WORKING GROUPS MUST FOLLOW ALL UNIVERSITY GUIDELINES AND POLICIES.

The CLAS Events and Communication Officer is responsible for the financial administration of the program and will track expenses for each program. Working Group coordinators are responsible for tracking expenses and providing expense reports to ensure accuracy of expenses. Faculty and graduate student coordinators are responsible for complying with all Stanford and CLAS financial reimbursement and expense reporting requirements and policies.

Working Group coordinators must attend an orientation session, which will take place during the first days of the winter quarter, that will outline the financial policies that pertain to CLAS and Stanford University.

Deliverables

Working Groups must meet the following requirements: 

  • Activities must take place during the winter and spring quarters 2025-'26.
  • Submit end-of-year report explaining what activities were conducted, detailing programmatic issues, if any, and highlighting the results and successes of the Working Group on or before May 31, 2026, including:
    • A financial report that illustrates how anticipated spending compared to actual spending
    • Attendance numbers for each event
    • 1-3 images from each event with caption(s)

Please address any questions about this call for proposals or the Working Group Program to CLAS.

clasevents [at] stanford.edu (subject: Working%20Group%20Grant%20Inquiry) (Contact with CLAS)

Notifications will be sent on or before December 15, 2025.

The Center for Latin American Studies promotes the expression of a diversity of views and opinions to ensure open academic discussion. However, it is within the discretion of the Director to ensure that the Center's activities are in keeping with the founding grant of the University, that mandates the promotion of "public welfare by exercising an influence in behalf of humanity" teaching "the great principles of government as derived from the inalienable rights of man to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The university code of conduct clearly states the imperative of "treating each community member fairly and with respect", preventing any form of harassment. Thus the Center will not endorse activities involving any form of bigotry and discrimination.