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Application Guidelines

The Fulton School of Liberal Arts supports excellence in undergraduate and graduate student scholarly and artistic endeavors. Such projects serve to initiate undergraduates and graduates into the wider scholarly and artistic community. The grants are supported through the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts.

Grants may be requested for the following expenses:

1. Non-capital equipment (tangible items like hardware) necessary to complete your project. This must be purchased by SU and will be assigned to the University at the end of the project.
2. Consumable supplies (like paper or pens) directly related to your project. Please note that only consumable materials used in your project remain in your ownership.
3. Travel to present research, academic or artistic projects at professional meetings, conferences, or exhibitions including participation on panels and performances.
4. Travel that is directly necessary for conducting such research (e.g., data collection, archival work) or appropriate compensation (e.g., gift cards) for human participants.
5. Photocopying, photography, recordings and preparation of posters for your presentation.

Funds may not be requested for the following expenses:

1. Tuition or fees for classes.
2. Travel to attend a conference at which you are not presenting or performing.
3. Textbooks for classes.
4. Travel to countries where there is a current state department travel advisory.

Application Deadlines

Grants are awarded three times annually.  Applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:

• November 15
• February 15
• April 15

Applications and all other required documents should be submitted as one combined PDF document via the application link at the top of this page.

IMPORTANT: Please see #7 under Application Procedures for specifics regarding application submission format.

It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to make certain the completed proposal is submitted on time by the published deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. All decisions of the committee are final.

Award Limits

In an effort to maximize the limited funds of this grant and provide funding to as many projects as possible, there is a $500 cap on awards to any single student in a given academic year. A student may apply for up to three grants each academic year, one per semester, provided that the combined total of the grants does not exceed the $500 cap.

If multiple students plan to request funds to present at the same conference or participate in the same project, they are strongly encouraged to submit a single proposal as a group. However, each individual must have a separate line item in the budget and a separate travel request form if required. Award limits still apply to each individual in the group. For example, a group of 4 individuals could apply for up to $2,000 ($500 for each member of the group).

NOTE: Awarded grant funds are disbursed on a reimbursement-only basis at the conclusion of the student’s travel event or project. Students should work with the administrative staff in their research mentor’s academic department to submit for reimbursement.

Applicant Eligibility

All Fulton full-time undergraduate and graduate students mentored by a faculty member at ºÚÁÏÍø are eligible. No applications will be considered from previous recipients who have not submitted their final reports.  For graduating students, funds will be granted for projects approved before graduation and finalized the summer immediately following graduation.

Proposals involving human subjects or live animals must be approved by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or Committee on Human Research before the grant application is submitted.

Application Procedures

Application must contain the following information:

1. Project Title

Create a one-line title identifying your project.

2. Faculty Mentor

Identify the faculty mentor for your research. This mentor should look over your materials, help you decide what resources are reasonable, and must provide a brief letter of support stating the feasibility and appropriateness of your project.

3. Project Description and Justification

Provide the intellectual and/or creative justification for your project. Provide a clear and detailed description of scholarly, artistic, research, or collegial activities that will be carried out with the help of the grant. Explain how the proposed project will impact your academic program/course of study and your scholarly development in general.

It is important to provide the above information in order to allow the committee to accurately judge the feasibility of the project and its appropriateness for receiving funding from this grant. For creative/artistic projects, we strongly recommend that you include a mock-up (blueprint, sketch, dimensions, etc.) to help us visualize your project.

4. Project Outcome

Include a statement of the expected result(s) of your study/project. Please describe the actual or expected product of your activity (the data, artwork, performance, essay, etc.) Specifically, you should address which intellectual communities (including SU) will be exposed to your scholarship, and how.

5. Project Budget and All Sources of Funding

Provide a detailed estimated budget including costs associated with research such as subject payments, reusable supplies, one-time use supplies, etc. Provide verification of registration fees, travel, per diem accommodations and food. List all other SU and external sources from which funding has been requested and/or received, including funds from University Student Academic Research Award (USARA), Provost/Dean Discretionary Funds, and International Studies Program. If you have not requested such additional funding, explain why.

6. PDF Document Submission

Submitters must scan their application’s supporting documents and submit them as a single, multi-page PDF document at the time they apply. This can be done using applications such as Adobe Pro*, as well as services like or Google Drive’s scan function, both of which are free and allow users to simply take pictures of documents with their phones and combine them into a single PDF. Please remember that it is also possible to save a Word document as a PDF, which may be the most straightforward option for some. In addition, applicants may opt to use one of the multifunction machines on campus through which they can scan to PDF. (*Please note that certain fillable PDF forms are often password protected, which can prevent the act of combining them with other PDF files.)

Final Report & Expense Reimbursement

Each student who receives a Fulton grant must submit a formal summary of their experience within 30 days of returning from travel, or, for non-travel related projects, within 30 business days after incurring the last expense within the given grant period. The report should be approximately 300 words, written in the first person and accompanied by a photograph of the student; ideally, in their activity and/or with the work they created. The report and accompanying photo should be suitable for publication on the Fulton school webpage or for other promotional/educational purposes. The grant application form will include a request for student grant applicants to give permission for their report and photo to be used. 

An applicant’s giving or withholding their permission will have no impact on the committee’s funding decision.

NOTE: Final reports should be given to the administrative staff in their research mentor’s academic department.

Reimbursement requests must be submitted after the completion of your travel or project. Students should work with the administrative staff in their research mentor’s academic department to submit for reimbursement. NOTE: If you have never been paid by the State, we will also need you to complete and submit the .

No new applications will be considered from recipients who have not submitted reports by the deadline for work previously funded by the Fulton Student Research Grants Committee.