»Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

SURF Funding Package

• $4,200 fellowship– SURF fellow (Fellowship is subject to income tax)
• Free optional on-campus housing during the SURF program
• $1,000 stipend – faculty mentor

SURF Programming Package

• Weekly professional development meetings
• Weekly faculty seminars
• Social events and networking opportunities with other SURF fellows, research students, and faculty
• Summer Research Showcase with SURF fellows’ 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

• Application Deadline: February 27, 2026 at 4 PM
• Faculty Mentor Support Form Deadline: March 3, 2026 at noon. The faculty mentor will receive an email with instructions to submit the form once the application is received.
• Program Dates: June 8-July 31, 2026. Award notifications are expected to be announced early to mid-April.

Students’ Eligibility

• Applicants can be from any discipline and can work on a project outside their major. No prior experience with research or creative activities is required, but the applicant must have a faculty mentor.
• Chapman University undergraduate matriculated students in good standing are eligible to apply to SURF.
• Seniors graduating in Spring '26 are not eligible to apply.
• SURF alumni are not eligible; SURF cannot be repeated by a student.
• Students are not permitted to be enrolled in summer school courses

Faculty Eligibility

• Faculty mentors must be full-time Chapman University faculty. Part-time or adjunct faculty cannot serve as mentors in this program.

• Faculty are limited to mentoring only two (2) students in SURF each summer, though they may sponsor more than two students in applying to SURF.

Students can apply to one of two tracks:

Students will select the track that best fits their project when applying to SURF. Applicants are encouraged to review the track descriptions, criteria, and rubrics carefully and to consult with their faculty mentor to determine the appropriate track.

Students should consult the rubrics and guidelines for their chosen Track when preparing the proposal and are encouraged to attend CUE workshops in the spring.

Track I: Creative Activity Description and Rubric (link)

• This track is designed for students who propose a research-based “making” project, including students proposing creative activities.

Track II: Research-Focused Description and Rubric (link)

• This track encompasses all other disciplines, including research-based humanities projects, business, education, STEM, and beyond.

Required Application Documents

1. Project proposal (2 pages)

Describe the planned summer project and provide background, context, and significance for a general audience. Students should use language accessible to reviewers outside the field to explain how the project demonstrates intellectual merit, advances the discipline, and is thoroughly planned. See track-specific details in the links above for additional information.

2. Personal Statement (1 page)

Describe your motivation, preparation, and goals for participating in SURF. The statement should help reviewers understand you as a learner, collaborator, and emerging researcher or creator beyond the project proposal. See track-specific details in the links above for personal statement rubric. You may address the following areas:

1. 1. Motivation and fit: What experiences or coursework sparked your interest in research or creative activities, and why are you drawn to this particular program or field?
   2. Preparation and readiness: Describe the skills or experiences that prepare you for your proposed project. Prior experience is not required. If you have limited past experience, discuss transferable skills—such as teamwork, problem-solving, or data analysis—that will support your success.
   3. Learning goals and impact: What you hope to learn or achieve through SURF and how the experience supports your academic or career goals.

3. Mentor Support Form

1. 1. Completed by the project’s full-time faculty mentor.
      1. The faculty mentor will be automatically prompted to upload the form after the student submits the application. Forms should not be emailed to the CUE office.
   2. Faculty can download the form here. The form asks faculty to address the student’s qualifications, the project’s significance, the student’s role during SURF, and the mentor’s plan for supporting the student. Additional details are provided on the form.

Document Formatting Guidelines

• Proposals and personal statements must be written in 12-point font with 1-inch margins.
• Document must be uploaded as a PDF
• Proposal is limited to two (2) pages.
• References do not count toward the page limit and can be completed on one (1) separate page.
• Personal statement is limited to one (1) page
• Any pages beyond these limits will be removed before the proposal is sent to reviewers.

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.

General Application Information

• Any applications received after the published deadline will NOT be considered.
• Only one (1) application is allowed per student.
• Students participating in a group project must apply individually, with an individual faculty recommendation form 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 the 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. For more information on the IRB process at Chapman, click here.

Attendance

• Fellows are REQUIRED to attend and participate in all on-campus activities, including, but not limited to: 
• Welcome Reception – Wednesday, April 22, 2026 @ 5:15 pm
• Orientation – Monday, June 8, 2026
• Two cohort meetings weekly throughout the 8-week period
• Faculty Seminars - Tuesdays 
• Professional Development meetings - Thursdays
• Present at the Summer Research Showcase – Thursday, July 30, 2026

Program Time Commitment

• 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 mandatory.
• Fellows submit “Weekly Progress Reports” through Canvas to document research/creative activity hours and summarize work conducted during those hours.
• The fellow and the faculty mentor are required to meet at least once per week or more often, depending on the project and the level of faculty mentor guidance needed.
• The fellowship requires a full-time commitment and Fellows cannot take summer courses at Chapman University or other colleges during the program.

Travel

• Research Travel
  • If research travel is necessary for the completion of the project, fellows are still expected to spend 30 hours each week on their project while traveling. We will allow up to three week of off-campus work for their project. All travel must be 1) clearly documented in the application proposal and 2) approved by CUE and the faculty mentor prior to the start of the SURF program.
  • Travel cannot take place during the first and last week of the program due to the critical SURF programming during those weeks.

• Personal Travel
  • Students are expected to be present and fully engaged during the program, including conducting a minimum of 30 hours of research or creative activity each week and attending all mandatory program commitments. Extended vacations or travel during weekdays that would cause missed research time or program activities are not permitted. However, students are welcome to travel during weekends and holidays during the program.

Other Requirements

• Students are required to complete a Report on Use (link) before the completion of the SURF program.
• Students are required to present their SURF project at the Fall Student Scholar Symposium.

ALL requirements must be met to receive the award

Attendance

• Mentors are required to attend the following events:
• Welcome Reception - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 @ 5:15 pm
• Summer Research Showcase - Thursday, July 30, 2026

Program Time Commitment

• Record the fellow’s weekly hours in Canvas on a regular basis.
• Conduct one faculty seminar during the SURF program, which is held on Tuesdays.
• The fellow and the faculty mentor are required to meet at least once per week or more often (either in person or virtually).
• Mentors are encouraged to serve as reviewers for future SURF and Scholarly/Creative grant cycles. CUE will contact mentors to invite their participation as reviewers in the upcoming cycles.

ALL requirements must be met to receive the award