Research Applications:

Q. Can more than one student submit an undergraduate research proposal for the same study?

A. If more than one student is working on the same project then NO, they must submit as a team. If they submit separately for the same project one will automatically be denied. FYI, budgets are different based on individual or team projects and this is detailed on the website.

Q. Can the faculty mentor for an undergraduate research project include a faculty stipend in the budget?

A. No, Faculty stipends are not allowed on any of the GEL grants nor are they allowed on a student grant application.

Q. Can a faculty member submit a grant proposal for the same study that a student submitted as their study (and which the faculty member is mentoring them for)?

A. No. If a faculty member is acting as a mentor on a project that the student is being funded for and conducting then the faculty is a volunteer mentor. If the faculty wants to conduct a very different phase of the same project and can clearly document the differences they may apply for that phase of the project only. They cannot include budget request to pay the same students to work on this separate phase if the students have been paid to work on their own phase of the same project.

Budget Requests

Q. Can I combine a request for dissemination funds in my research application request?

A. No. There is a separate application specifically for dissemination requests. Any research applications that have dissemination included will have budgets adjusted down to elliminate the dissemination amount, or declined in entirety. 

Q. What is considered the academic year for funding requests?

A. The academic year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. Funds requested must be spent by the June 30 deadline if they are awarded through the URSCA Research or Dissemination Grant award program.

Q. If I am awarded a BoTs or TEELs grant, do I need to use all my funds by the June 30 deadline.

A. No, it is not required to spend your funds by the June 30 deadline for the BoTs or the TEELs grant. You will be required to adhere to the grant requirements for fund expenditure for these two grants.

Q. It says that students will only be awarded one URSCA Research and one URSCA Dissemination grant each academic year. What if I am part of a team, am I still limited to only one?

A. Each Primary Investigator is limited to one URSCA Research or Dissemination grant each academic year. Co-PI's that perform only supporting roles and have a much smaller time committment will be able to apply for thier own Research or Dissemination grant in the academic year.

Q. If I receive an URSCA does that mean I cannot receive a BoTs or a TEELs?

A. No. The limit of one Research and one Dissemination grant in an academic year does not include the BoTs or the TEELs. Student may still apply and be awarded these as decided by the award committees. 

Dissemination Applications:

1. Can travel be included in the budget? Yes, dissemination applications are specifically for travel expenses.

2. What is allowed in a dissemination budget? Travel to and from a conference for an enrolled student/s, hotel, conference registration and per diem.

3. Is there a limit on per diem? Yes, there is a max of $30.00 per day for per diem for each student at $10.00 per meal. Travel days are limited to one meal per-diem.

4. Is there a limit on the total budget request allowed? Yes, these limits are listed on the "apply for funding" web page for dissemination and is based on the number of applicants on each request.

NCUR and UCUR

1. Can I use an URSCA Dissemination application to pay for travel to NCUR or UCUR? No. When applicable, there is a clear and separate application for these two conferences. Any URSCA Dissemination applications submitted for NCUR or UCUR will be declined and deleted.

Year End Reports:

1. Student Paricipation Report (may download a hard copy here for convenience, must be filled out in the original ZEngine application online to be accepted)

2. Budget Reconcilation Report (may be downloaded here, must be attached to the original ZEngine application online where indicated)

3. Final Outcomes and Assessment Report. To be completed within the original ZEngine application. One additional document may be attached within this report.

What the funds can and can't be spent on.

Allowable expenses:

• Specialized equipment. (Hard Drives will be allowed only if no other viable storage option is available, all files should be stored in accordance with UVU policy).
• Stipends for guest presenters, experts, etc.
• Student salary to include benefits (must be hired through Human Resources in ALL situations).
• Gift cards (must provide procedure of distribution and oversight). Cannot exceed allowable income limits for UVU employee's and may require tax reporting documentation, to be the responsibilty of the awardee.

Non Allowable Expenses:

• Personnel (employee) salary of any sort for staff or faculty whether full time, part time, or over summer when faculty are off contract
• Monetary stipends of any sort for staff or faculty whether full time, part time, or over summer when faculty are off contract
• Monetary or material gifts for work performed
• Any expenses related to study abroad programs including but not limited to preparation costs, travel costs, or reimbursements
• Any expenses related to Capstone projects
• Any expenses related to required course completion, to include student salary, materials and supplies
• Graduate student salaries or projects
• Any expenses or payments, including salary or stipends of any sort, for course design or development
• Computers
• Commonly available equipment and supplies
• Salary, travel or any type of compensation for non-UVU students

Student Grant Scoring Rubric

Applications are scored on a 1-5 Likert Scale with 1 being extremely poor and 5 being excellent

 

Abstract, Purpose, Hypothesis

• Proposal is well written and organized, offering clear background context, and outcomes.
• Project has clearly stated objectives and outcomes that can be readily evaluated.

Methodology

• Methodology of the project is clear and requires rigorous effort at the undergraduate level

Dissemination

• In the context of the discipline, there is a clear plan for dissemination and, if appropriate, an opportunity for professional peer review beyond the confines of UVU.

Discipline Importance

• Project includes a product that significantly contributes to scholarship or creative work within its discipline.

Transformative Nature This applies only to the BoTs Grant. Leave blank for all other grant applications.

• Project is significantly transformative to the applicant.
• Project has a community transformative component.

Level of Faculty Support

• Level of support indicated in faculty recommendation section of the application.

Budget Justification

• A clear and appropriate budget justification is provided.
• Is the requested budget appropriate for the scope of the project?

Project Funding options

• Fund
• Do not fund
• Revise and resubmit

Comments and Feedback