Western Fund for Scholarly Opportunities, Undergraduate Research, and Creative Expression

Who is eligible to apply?

SOURCE proposals should focus on scholarly activities of carried out by Western undergraduate students.

How is funding prioritized?

This student-fee generated fund prioritizes the following:

• Undergraduate student research, creative works, and scholarship
• Undergraduate student travel to present results of research, creative works, and scholarship
• Undergraduate student travel for learning, research, or professional development

What can SOURCE funds be used for?

Students can request funding for expenses related to projects and/or for travel.

Is there anything that is not eligible for source funding?

SOURCE funds cannot be used to cover costs associated with courses taken for credit at WCU.

Who administers SOURCE funds?

The fund is administered by the Western Research Council (WRC). The WRC comprises faculty, staff, and students charged by Academic Affairs to raise the profile of scholarly and creative activity at Western.

All proposals must adhere to the guidelines described below. Proposals not meeting the detailed guidelines will not be given consideration. Complete proposals must be submitted by the published deadline. Students are encouraged to discuss their proposals with their mentors before submission.

• Proposals must be written and submitted by the undergraduate student(s) initiating the project. Mentors may not submit proposals on behalf of students.
• Students must be enrolled at Western during the grant-award period.
• Individual students may receive no more than one project award and one travel grant per fiscal year.
• Only one submission is required for collaborative or group projects. Proposals must designate a “Primary Investigator” or principal contact person for the project. Proposals for multiple people should include the names, roles (presenter vs. attendee), personal statements, and budgets for each person in the proposal.
• Proposals must be written so that reviewers outside of the applicant’s discipline understand the project description and budget justification. Avoid the use of jargon whenever possible and explain clearly any technical terms and procedures critical to the proposal.
• Project proposals are limited to five (5) pages and travel proposals are limited to two (2) pages. Page limits exclude personal statements and budget.

Overview

Project Grant Proposals can request funding for three things: (1) consumable items and materials not already available at the University, (2) payment for time, and (3) project-related travel. There are some limitations to requested amounts, which are outlined in detail below.

Proposals must include the WRC online SOURCE Application form, Project Description, Itemized Budget, Citations, and Faculty or Staff Mentor Statement (signed and submitted with the application).

Project Description

Project Description should not exceed five double-spaced pages (please number) and must include a(n):

• Statement of purpose, goals or objectives. Provide appropriate background to contextualize your purpose.
• Methodology, work plan or design process.
• Brief personal statement describing how you became interested in the project and how the project fits into your career, academic and/or life goals. Describe why you are doing this work and what impact or significance you expect the project will have on yourself and others.
• Description of the activities and expected results, products, or outcomes which may include, but are not limited to, a performance, exhibition, paper or presentation.
• Statement of how the work will be communicated to the broader campus community, such as a presentation at the Celebration of Academic Inquiry, a display somewhere public on campus, or contribution to a campus event that would enable you to demonstrate your learning.
• Timetable for completion of the project.

Itemized Budget and Budget Justification

Proposals must include an itemized budget and justification for the requested funds. If applicable, proposals should include a description of all matching funds and whether they are secured or pending. If applicable, calculate milage reimbursement per the State of Colorado (not IRS) milage reimbursement rate, which can be found here: Mileage Reimbursement Rate.

Project Grant Proposals may request funding for:

• Consumable items and materials not already available at the University.
• There is no maximum amount for items/materials requests
• Time spent working on the project. All project hours must be justified based on project work. Budgets for work completed over the summer must include benefits.
  • Time is compensated at $20/hour for a maximum request of $2,500
• Travel (includes airfare, mileage, lodging, and other appropriate travel-related expenses)
  • General travel associated with a project is compensated at a maximum of $300 per student
  • Travel to carry out research is compensated at a maximum of $500 per student

Bibliography or Literature Cited

Include works cited as appropriate for the discipline.

Faculty Mentor Statement

A Faculty Mentor Statement must be attached to the student’s proposal. This statement must be signed by the mentor and include a(n):

• Statement indicating how the student’s project is related to ongoing work of this mentor or whether the student initiated the project.
• Statement indicating that the project is an undergraduate project.
• Analysis of the viability of project objectives and methodology.
• Verification of budget needs and costs.
• Description of the mentor support that will be provided.
• Description of the student’s background and preparation for the project.

Overview

Travel Grants are available for conference registration, airfare, mileage, lodging, or other appropriate travel-related expenses, excluding food. Travel grants are capped at $500/student for travel to a conference where the student will be presenting and $300/student for professional development travel.

When proposals for travel do not include a student presentation, applications that show matching funds are prioritized.

Travel grant proposal submissions must include the WRC online SOURCE Application form, Travel Description, Itemized Budget with budget justification, and Faculty or Staff Mentor Statement (signed and submitted with the application).

Travel Description

Travel Description should not exceed two double-spaced pages (please number) and must include a(n):

• Timetable for travel plans.
• A brief personal statement (200-300 words) for each student requesting funding. Each statement should explain the purpose of your travel and how this experience fits into your career, academic, and/or life goals. The requirement for each student to write their own statement applies, regardless of group size.
  • The 2-page limit excludes personal statements.

Itemized Budget and Budget Justification

Proposals must include an itemized budget and justification for requested funds. If applicable, include a description of any and all matching funds and whether they are secured or pending. If applicable, calculate mileage reimbursement per the State of Colorado (not IRS) mileage reimbursement rate, which can be found here: Mileage Reimbursement Rate.

Faculty Mentor Statement

A Faculty Mentor Statement must be attached to the student’s proposal. This statement must include a(n):

• Statement of support.
• Statement indicating that the travel is supporting undergraduate experience.
• Verification of budget needs and costs.
• Description of the mentor support that will be provided.

Unused funds from your account after April 30 (for fall grants) or Sept. 30 (for spring grants) will be reallocated toward grants for the following year.

Please note that:

• The mentor may recommend termination of grant and the cancelation of further funding if the student is not fulfilling the terms of the proposal.
• All expenditures must be in accordance with University policies and should be based upon principles of economy.
• Actual expenditures must be for items requested in the proposal. Deviations from this policy must have prior approval of the WRC Chair.
• Title to materials and equipment purchased with grant funds remains with the University. Western Colorado University policies relating to copyright, royalties, patents, or income apply to these grant programs. Questions regarding these matters should be addressed before submitting the proposal.
• Funded projects involving human subjects in research must be approved by the Institutional Review Board for Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) before they are initiated. Funds will not be available until documentation of IRB approval is received.
• Funded projects involving animals used in research must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before they are initiated. Funds will not be available until documentation of IACUC approval is received.
• Publications or presentations resulting from projects supported by the Undergraduate Fund for Scholarly and Creative Activity should include the following statement: “Funding provided by the “Western Fund for Scholarly Opportunities, Undergraduate Research, and Creative Expression” at Western Colorado University.
• Funded projects that produce a written report or other documentation fixed in time must deposit a copy of the report with the University for future access and reference. Creative projects, like works of art, can be documented visually for the university record.
• All funded projects must submit a final report to the WRC upon completion.
• Awards that cover educational expenses will be reported to Financial Aid and may impact your yearly financial aid package.