» Undergraduate Scholarly/Creative Grants

This information session is designed to help students learn about the requirements, how to apply, and address your questions before the Undergraduate Scholarly/Creative Grant application deadline.

View the following PowerPoint for information on writing your grant proposal. 

Writing Grant Proposals

Writing Grant Proposals for Creative Work

Please feel free to email cue@chapman.edu with any questions. 

• Chapman University undergraduate matriculated students in good standing are eligible to apply for a Scholarly/Creative Grant. 
• Seniors graduating in Fall '24 are not eligible to apply for a Fall Scholarly/Creative Grant.
• 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 full-time faculty mentor.
• If awarded the Undergraduate Scholarly/Creative Grant, the awardee will be required to present their project at the Student Scholar Symposium.
• Students may only receive one grant award each academic year, either in the fall or spring. 
• Unsuccessful proposals may be revised and resubmitted in future calls for proposals.

• Description of Project & Benefit to Student (3 pages maximum) 
  • A proposal outlining the academic context, objectives or goals, methodology, outcome or product, and schedule of your project that is no longer than three pages total. Use Times or Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins. All proposal elements, including any works cited, must be contained within the three-page limit. This document must not exceed three pages total. ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED AS PDF. Additional pages will NOT be included in the proposal packet for evaluation purposes.
  • The student must be the author of the project proposal itself. While the mentor should advise the student, 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.
• Letter of Support provided by the Faculty Mentor
  • One letter written by the faculty mentor should speak to the nature of the proposed research or creative activity, including the roles both the fellow and the mentor will play in the collaboration. While the faculty member 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 consider giving context for the proposed project, including its potential value in the field, as well as speaking to the student’s preparation and the ways that the faculty mentor will guide or oversee the student’s work. (The letter is submitted separately by a faculty mentor.)
• Budget 
  • The budget worksheet should clearly state the expenses requested for funding. Cost should include taxes, and shipping is applicable. 
  • If your funding request is part of a larger budget that far exceeds the maximum grant funding, only submit a budget that reflects specific resources within the maximum funding limitations. DO NOT submit the larger budget. 
  • Funding for travel is contingent on Chapman University COVID policy or restrictions.
• IRB (funded grants)
  • Additionally, your project may require additional approvals if it involves any hazardous materials or 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 the Center for Undergraduate Excellence. If your grant is funded and needs hazardous materials approval or IRB approval, any grant award is pending until the hazardous materials approval or IRB approval has been submitted to CUE prior to conducting research. www.chapman.edu/irb.
• 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

• The Center for Undergraduate Excellence will start accepting applications approximately 30 days prior to the published deadlines.
  
  
• For Students
  
  • Spring 25 application deadline: Friday, April 4, 2025 @ 4:00 pm
    
    
• For Faculty
  
  • Spring 2025 letter of support deadline: TBD
  • Faculty will receive the online portal link in an email once an application has been received.

• Awarded funds will be available within the following funding periods. 
  
  • Grants awarded in Fall '24 (Interterm/Spring funding period) - January 1, 2025 - April 10, 2025.
  • Grants awarded in Spring '25 (Summer/Fall funding period) - June 1, 2025 - November 15, 2025.
• Graduating Seniors funding period:
  • Seniors graduating in Summer ’25 must be enrolled in a summer course, and the funding period is limited to June 1- August 23, 2025, or the last day of your enrolled summer course, whichever comes first.

All grant recipients must complete a Report on Use form to detail how funds were used. The Report on Use Form must be signed by the recipient and their faculty sponsor.

All Report on Use forms are due immediately after the close of the funding period, no later than:

• Grants awarded Spring '24 - December 1, 2024
  • Graduating seniors in Summer '24- August '24
• Grants awarded Fall '24 - May 1, 2025

We will start accepting applications again in the Spring.