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

Who can apply?

• SOURCE proposals must be written and submitted by Western undergraduate students
• Faculty or staff mentors support the application, but they may not submit proposals on behalf of students
• Students must be enrolled at Western during the grant-award period

What does SOURCE funding support?

• Undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative work
• Travel to present research, scholarship, or creative work
• Travel for learning, research, or professional development
• Materials, supplies, and approved project expenses
• SOURCE funds cannot be used for costs associated with courses taken for credit at Western
• SOURCE funds cannot be used for food

Project Grants

You should apply for a Project Grant if you are seeking funding for a research project, scholarly project, or creative project. Project Grants may support materials costs, project-related travel, and/or paid time spent working on research.

Examples: supplies, materials, travel to conduct research, research-related labor, creative project expenses

Travel Grants

You should apply for a Travel Grant if you are seeking funding to attend a conference, present their work, or participate in professional development travel.

Examples: conference registration, airfare, mileage, lodging, or other approved travel expenses

All proposals must follow the guidelines for the appropriate grant type. Incomplete proposals or proposals that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered.

Please note:

• Proposals must be written and submitted by the undergraduate student or student group requesting funding.
• Faculty and staff mentors support proposals, but they may not submit proposals for students.
• Students must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at Western during the grant-award period.
• SOURCE funds cannot be used for costs associated with courses taken for credit at Western.
• Individual students may receive no more than one Project Grant and one Travel Grant per fiscal year.
• Group projects require only one submission. The proposal must identify a primary contact person.
• Group proposals should include each student’s name, role, personal statement, and budget request when applicable.
• Proposals should be written for reviewers outside the applicant’s discipline. Avoid jargon when possible and explain technical terms clearly.
• Project proposals are limited to five pages. Travel proposals are limited to two pages. Page limits exclude budgets and personal statements.
• All SOURCE awardees must submit a final report after completing their project or travel.

Submit Your Final Report

You should use a Project Grant to request funding for undergraduate research, scholarly work, or creative activity. Project Grant proposals may request funding for:

• Materials and consumable supplies not already available at Western
• Paid time spent working on research or project activities
• Travel connected to the project
• Travel required to conduct research

There is no set maximum for materials requests. Paid project time is funded at $20/hour, up to $2,500. Project-related travel is reimbursed at a flat rate of $500 per student for general travel or $700 per student for travel to conduct research.

Project descriptions may be up to five double-spaced pages, not including the budget or personal statements. Please number pages. The project description should include:

• The purpose, goals, or objectives of the project
• Background information needed to understand the project
• Your methodology, work plan, or design process
• A brief personal statement explaining your interest in the project and how it connects to your academic, career, or life goals
• Expected results, products, or outcomes
• How you will share the work with the Western community

  • Possible ways to share your work include a Celebration of Academic Inquiry presentation, public display, performance, exhibition, paper, presentation, or another format appropriate to your project.

• A timeline for completing the project
• Works cited page as appropriate for your discipline

Your budget should list each requested expense and explain why it is needed. If you have matching funds, include the amount, source, and whether the funds are confirmed or pending.

If requesting mileage reimbursement, use the State of Colorado mileage reimbursement rate.

A mentor statement must be signed and submitted with your application. It should include:

• How the student’s project connects to the mentor’s work, or whether the student initiated the project independently
• Confirmation that the project is an undergraduate project
• Feedback on the project’s 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

Start Your Application Now

You should use a Travel Grant to request funding for conference travel, research-related travel, or professional development travel. Travel Grants may support conference registration, airfare, mileage, lodging, or other approved travel expenses (excluding food).

Travel funding is a flat-rate request.

• $700 per student for travel to a conference where the student is presenting
• $500 per student for professional development travel

If you are presenting at a conference, include the title and abstract of your presentation. For travel requests that do not include a student presentation, proposals that include matching funds are prioritized.

Travel proposal requirements

Travel descriptions may be up to two double-spaced pages, not including personal statements or the budget. Please number pages.

Travel descriptions should include:

• A timetable for your travel plans
• A brief personal statement of 200–300 words from each student requesting funding that outlines how the experience connects to your academic, career, or life goals
• Each student requesting funding must write their own personal statement, regardless of group size
• The purpose of the travel
• Specific conference sessions, events, or activities that will benefit you and why

Travel Grants are awarded as flat amounts of either $500 or $700, depending on the type of travel. Applicants must still submit an itemized estimated budget with a brief justification for each expense. Expenses are not expected to total exactly the award amount. The budget allows reviewers to evaluate the travel plan and provides students with practice in preparing a standard component of grant proposals. If applicable, include any matching funds, the funding source, and whether those funds are confirmed or pending.

If mileage is an item in your budget, use the State of Colorado mileage reimbursement rate.

Faculty or staff mentor statement

Your mentor statement must be signed and submitted with the application. It should include:

• A statement of support
• Confirmation that the travel supports the student’s undergraduate experience
• Verification of budget needs and costs
• Description of the mentor support that will be provided

Start Your Application Now

All SOURCE awardees must submit a final report upon completion of their project or return from their travel. Final reports are due within one month of completion.

Submit Your Final Report

SOURCE awardees are responsible for using funds as approved in their proposal and following all University policies.

Please note:

• Unused fall grant funds after April 30 and unused spring grant funds after September 30 may be reallocated to future SOURCE grants.
• Mentors may recommend ending a grant or canceling future funding if a student is not fulfilling the terms of the proposal.
• Expenses must follow University policies and should reflect responsible use of funds.
• Grant funds must be used for expenses approved in the proposal. Any changes require prior approval from the WRC Chair.
• Materials and equipment purchased with grant funds remain the property of the University.
• Projects involving human subjects must receive IRB approval before the project begins. Funds will not be released until IRB approval documentation is received.
• Projects involving animals must receive IACUC approval before the project begins. Funds will not be released until IACUC approval documentation is received.
• Written reports or other documentation created through funded projects must be shared with the University for future access and reference. Creative work may be documented visually.
• Publications or presentations supported by SOURCE funding should include this statement: “Funding provided by the Western Fund for Scholarly Opportunities, Undergraduate Research, and Creative Expression at Western Colorado University.”