Undergraduate Research Scholarly and Creative Activities


URSCA 

Undergraduate Research Scholarly and Creative Activities (URSCA) is an undergraduate research program at UVU.  Upper-division students work with faculty mentors to conduct in-depth research or creative work related to their chosen field of study.  This program provides funding to support completion of these projects.(URSCA Grants may only be applied for by current UVU Students.)

Funds will be awarded five times each year on a competitive basis. Funds awarded in October, November, January, February and March will be available within three weeks of the submission deadline and must be used by June 30 of each academic year.  There are four ways to apply for funding:

1. Individual conducting research - $2,000

2. Student Team conducting research - $3,000

3. Individual disseminating research - $1,000

4. Student Team disseminating research - $2,500

Dissemination applications must have the following information:
a. What conference will dissemination be presented at?
b. What is the date of the conference?
c. Proof of acceptance to disseminate at conference.
d. In the case of a Team, what are the roles of each member at the conference?

Awards may be used for travel, supplies, or student hourly wages. Proposals will be submitted to the Scholarly and Creative Activities Council for review.

Students awarded funding must submit a final summary representing their findings prior to the beginning of the following school year.  They must also apply to present their research at a discipline-specific, institutional, regional, national or international conference.

DISCLAIMER: All awarded Grants will be funded at 85% with the remaining 15% funded after the required year end final report is filed by the awardee and accepted as complete.

 

Application Instructions:

  1. Click here to apply for URSCA funding.  You will be transported to OrgSync, where you will create a membership login.
  2. Click on “Signup” and complete membership.
  3. Logon to OrgSync with username and password.
  4. Locate Office of Engaged Learning page and click on “Join Now.”
  5. Click on “Forms.”
  6. Select “Undergraduate Research Scholarly and Creative Activities (URSCA)” to complete application form.
Application Deadlines:
Opens September 8th - October 3, 2017 by 5:00 pm 
Opens October 3 - November 1, 2017 by 5:00 pm
Opens December 1 - January 2, 2018 by 5:00 pm
Opens January 1 - February 1, 2018 by 5:00 pm
Opens February 1 - March 1, 2018 by 5:00 pm
Notification of awards will be sent via email.
Round 1 - October 24, 2017
Round 2 - November 20, 2017
Round 3 - January 29, 2018
Round 4 - February 21, 2018
Round 5 - March 23, 2018

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to secure signatures in order to complete the application. We will not accept hard copy of signatures in our office. Please plan ahead--securing signatures from your faculty mentor, department chair, and dean and financial manager may take several days.  This may be especially difficult during December, due to the holidays--please plan accordingly!

Budget Request Form: Requires signature from your faculty mentor, department chair, and your college's financial manager.

International Travel: Does this project involve any international travel? If so, please contact the Director of Global Academic Programs (Brent Spencer) immediately.

Tips on preparing your proposal

Proposals should:

  • Include your name, UVID number, email address, and your faculty mentor’s information.
  • State, in clear terms, the central question, purpose of research, and background and context to show how project fits into overall discipline, and how it contributes to that discipline in a meaningful and novel way.
  • Budget narrative must include what the role of the individual(s) will be on the project.
  • Be well organized.
  • Length should fall between 400-600 words.
  • All proposals will undergo a careful review by the Scholarly and Creative Activities Council.

 

Review and funding of undergraduate scholarly projects take into account the following criteria:

  1. Project has clearly stated objectives and outcomes that can be readily evaluated.
  2. Project includes a product that significantly contributes to scholarship or creative work within its discipline. Higher priority will be given to products subject to some aspect of professional peer review extending beyond the confines of UVU campus.
  3. Proposal is well written and organized, offering background and context to show how the project fits into the overall discipline, and how it contributes to that discipline in a meaningful and novel way.
  4. Project requires rigorous effort at the advanced undergraduate level.
  5. Project provides a transformative experience for participant(s).
  6. Level of support indicated in faculty recommendation letter. Letter should address rubric items.

You may wish to download and view the PDF of a blank application form to familiarize yourself with the required information before you begin the application process.

URSCA Awarded Projects Abstracts:

Round 1 - URSCA Awarded projects.