»Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

Students

• $4,000 fellowship
• Free on-campus housing 
• Weekly professional development meetings
• Weekly faculty seminars 
• Social events and networking opportunities with other SURF fellows, research students, and faculty
• Summer Research Showcase with oral/poster presentations.
• This program does not include college credit.
• Funding does not include research expenses. All research expenses during the program are the responsibility of the SURF fellow. Possible additional grant funding of up to $1000 to provide support for research is available by applying for a Scholarly/Creative Grant.

 Mentors

• $1,000 stipend

• The Center for Undergraduate Excellence is not currently accepting applications.
• Application Deadline: to be determined.
• Faculty Letter of Support Deadline: to be determined. The faculty mentor will receive an email with instructions to submit the letter once the application is received.
• Program Dates: June - August 2026
• Award notifications are expected to be announced in early April.

• Chapman University undergraduate matriculated students in good standing are eligible to apply to SURF. 
  • Seniors graduating in Spring '26 are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants can be from any discipline and can work on a project outside their major. No prior research experience is required, but the applicant must have a faculty mentor.
• SURF alumni are not eligible; SURF cannot be repeated by a student.
• Faculty mentors must be full-time Chapman University faculty. Part-time or adjunct faculty cannot serve as mentors in this program.

Student Documents Required

Description of Project & Benefit to the Student (3 pages maximum)

• The description of the project and benefit to students applying should be clear, focused, and written for colleagues beyond one’s own area of interest or expertise. A student might consider why this project has merit and why you’re the right person to pursue this project, as well as the topic, goals, and methodology that will be employed. Use Times or Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins. All elements of the proposal, including any works cited, must be contained within the three-page limit. This document must not exceed three pages total. Additional pages will NOT be included in the proposal packet for evaluation purposes. ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED AS PDF.
• While the mentor should advise the student on the project, the student must be the author of the grant proposal itself. A student who submits a proposal written by a mentor or by any person other than the student applicant will be considered in violation of the university's policy on academic honesty.

Faculty Documents Required

• The letter written by the faculty mentor should speak to the nature of the proposed research or creative activity, including the roles that both the fellow and the mentor will play in the collaboration. While the faculty mentor is encouraged to provide evidence of the applicant’s ability, the letter is not explicitly or solely a letter of recommendation for the student per se. A faculty mentor might also give context for the proposed project, including its potential value in the field, as well as speaking to the student’s preparation for the project and the ways that the faculty mentor will guide or oversee the student’s work during SURF.  (The letter is submitted separately by the faculty mentor.)

General Information

• Selection is based on the following criteria:
  • Coherence of the Project Description
  • Feasibility and Value of the Project
  • Academic, Intellectual, or Creative Rigor of the proposed work
  • Originality of or Innovation in the Project
  • Overall Excellence
• Any applications received after the published deadline will not be considered.
• Only one application is allowed per student.
• Students participating in a group project must apply individually, with an individual letter of support and a clearly stated individual role in or contribution to the larger project. Because of funding constraints and evaluation processes, it is possible that not all of the students in a group would be awarded fellowships.
• The project may require IRB approval if it involves any human or animal subjects; students are responsible for working with the faculty mentor to ensure that the project has approvals necessary to begin research and for submitting verification of authorization to CUE prior to the start of SURF; awards can be rescinded if IRB approval is not submitted one week prior to the start of the SURF program. www.chapman.edu/irb.

• Fellows are required to attend and participate in all on-campus activities, including: 
  • Welcome Reception - Spring 2026
  • Orientation - June 2026
  • Two cohort meetings weekly throughout the 8-week period
    • Faculty Seminars - Tuesdays 
    • Professional Development meetings - Thursdays
  • Present at the Summer Research Showcase - August 2026
• Fellows commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week on their projects. The individual SURF fellow’s research/creative activity schedule will be determined between the fellow and the faculty mentor and submitted at least one week prior to the start of the SURF program. A fellow’s activity can be performed off-campus, but on-campus meetings are required.
• Fellow's with projects involving short-term travel to conduct research or fieldwork must be approved by CUE prior to the start of the SURF program. Fellows with research/fieldwork travel plans lasting more than one week domestically or one and a half weeks internationally will not be allowed or considered. Travel can't take place during the first and last week of the program.
• The fellow and the faculty mentor meet at least once per week or more often, depending on the project and the level of faculty mentor guidance needed.
• Fellows submit “Weekly Progress Reports” to document research/creative activity hours and summarize work conducted during those hours.
• If the project involves any human or animal subjects and requires IRB approval, the fellow must submit approval at least one week prior to the start of the SURF program. For more information go to www.chapman.edu/irb.
• Fellows cannot be enrolled in any Chapman University courses during the program.
• Awards can be rescinded if all requirements are not met.

• Mentors are required to attend the following events:
  • Welcome Reception - Spring 2026
  • Summer Research Showcase - August 2026
• Record the fellow’s weekly hours in Canvas on a regular basis.
• Conduct one faculty seminar during the SURF program - Tuesdays.
• The fellow and the faculty mentor meet at least once per week or more often (in person or via video chat), depending on the project, the level of faculty mentor guidance needed, and the need to keep current on the student’s progress.
• Awards can be rescinded if all requirements are not met.