Research Grants
Information on Grants for Research and Creative Activity Projects
Research and creative activity grants are intended to further the aims and objectives of undergraduate research at UNC Asheville; to increase the research and creative activity skills of our students; to provide increased opportunities for learning; to encourage professional relationships between faculty and students; and, to advance the body of knowledge in the student’s chosen field.
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Program offers the following grants both in the academic year and summer session for students and faculty to apply to. If you plan to apply for any URCAP sponsored Grant for Fall, Spring, or Summer, be sure to listen to the presentation above. Please also attend one of the grant writing information Sessions found on the Calendar. All proposals should be submitted through the Research Grant Proposal Submission Form.
Types of Grants
Student Grants
Students may apply for a SAY Grant to support research or creative activity projects needing supplies/materials or travel costs related to completing the project during the relevant semester. Please use the Student Proposal Template as a guide to create your grant proposal. There is no maximum award, but the project budget must be well documented with other supporting funding sources listed. Total awards will be subject to budgetary constraints.
Faculty Grants
Faculty may apply for a FAY Grant to support research or creative activity projects needing supplies/materials during the relevant semester. Projects need not be imminent and with a specific student, but use of award money must be well described with other sources of funding and existing supplies listed in the application. Please use the Faculty Proposal Template as a guide to create your grant proposal. There is no maximum award, but total awards will be subject to budgetary constraints.
Student Summer Grants
Students will apply for project funding with a faculty mentor that includes a stipend for the student(s) and faculty, as well as supply costs. Proposals may include more than one student. If multiple students are on a project, faculty mentors will determine how much each student will receive commensurate with their time spent on the project. Student and faculty stipends must be requested, they will not be awarded automatically. Please use the Student Proposal Template.
Faculty Summer Grants
Faculty may propose a project, and the project description will then be sent to all students who may apply for that project. Proposing faculty will decide which students, who apply for the project, are accepted. Projects will receive a maximum of $6000 in stipend money to be distributed at the faculty mentor’s discretion amongst the students. Projects that indicate how early career students may be included are exceptionally welcome. Student and faculty stipends must be requested, they will not be awarded automatically. Please use the Faculty Proposal Template.
Additional Information
Faculty may apply to mentor multiple projects (both student and faculty-driven), but will receive at most, only one summer stipend award. In the interest of distributing funding as much as possible, it may be necessary to limit the number of awards per faculty member.
Any currently enrolled UNC Asheville student is eligible to apply; however, preference is given to full-time students. Students who have been past recipients may reapply; however, priority will be given to first-time applicants.
Please remember the deciding committee is made up of faculty from across campus, so proposals and budgets should be written in a way that someone completely out of the field can understand the proposal, significance, objectives, and budget.
Students who receive awards are required to present at one of the UNCA Undergraduate Research Symposia (held in November and April), publish in the UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Research or another publication outlet, and submit a final budget report.
Important: Receiving monetary awards to support undergraduate research travel and conference attendance may necessitate a reduction in other financial aid the student receives. Such awards may also be reported to the Internal Revenue Service in the recipient’s annual Tuition Statement (Form 1098-T). It is the responsibility of the recipient, in consultation with his/her/their tax advisor, to determine how much, if any, of the awards are taxable income to the recipient.
Research Credit and Stipends
It is the practice and view of the URP that students do NOT receive both academic credit and monetary stipend for the same work. If a student wishes to receive both academic credit and monetary compensation for work done towards a project, we ask for a written agreement between the Faculty Mentor and the student on mutually exclusive work that will count toward academic credit and payment. As such, academic year grant awards are made only for supplies to freely allow students to receive 499 or other credit for their work towards a project. Summer project grant awards may include a stipend for students, as well.
Supply Budget
We recognize different types of research have significantly different supply funding needs. Therefore, no predetermined limit on supplies will be provided. However, please only apply for what is needed and not covered by other funding sources; so, we can do our best to fund supplies for all awarded projects. We anticipate spending an average of $1000 to $1500 in supplies per project. Budgets detailing exactly what supplies will be used for and priced out ahead of time are more likely to be funded. Please also identify any other sources of funding, or potential sources of funding in proposals. Proposals that have higher supply needs are more likely to be funded if proposers demonstrate meaningful attempts to obtain additional funding.
Conference and Presentation Grants
Prepare your grant proposal with the specific template below. One template is for students and another for Departments and Programs. Submit the completed template through the submission form.
The URCAP Conference and Presentation Grants is available for students traveling to present research results at discipline-specific and undergraduate research conferences. Total award maximum per year is $750. Documentation of an accepted abstract is needed for final reimbursement, but students may apply in advance and supply the documentation at a later date. Applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of travel and receipt reimbursement must be submitted within two weeks of return from travel. For applications to be considered, the student’s Faculty Mentor must provide a recommendation of support. The Grant award may go towards ground and air travel, lodging, per diem, registration, and poster printing.
Departments/Programs wishing to take several students to a conference/meeting may apply for travel funding, documenting the total number of students attending and the total number of students presenting. The total request must not exceed $750 x the number of students presenting. This funding would be in lieu of presenting students applying individually. For example, if two students are presenting and three non-presenting students also want to attend a conference/meeting, the Department/Program may request $1500 from URP ($750 x 2 students presenting = $1500), but the presenting students will NOT also receive $750 for their travel via a student grant application. Requests must be made, at minimum, four weeks prior to travel. Upon receiving receipts, funds will be transferred to department accounts for departments to handle reimbursement of students and faculty.
Examples of Successful Past Proposals
Your Curiosity and Imagination are Valued at UNC Asheville
Pair creativity with persistence in your quest to uncover truths and share insights in a community that is constantly learning and growing. At UNC Asheville, you’ll find new understandings of the world, rich collaborative partnerships, and lifelong mentors who are invested in your flourishing.