The UNC System is continuing in its commitment to increase opportunities to engage undergraduate students in the research process. Faculty that are engaging undergraduate students in the research process and are looking for innovative ways to create new opportunities may be interested in applying for this funding.
Successful proposals should include appropriate assessment plans and discuss continued impact after the grant period and expand its reach and effectiveness. Competitive proposals will include inter-departmental and/or inter-institutional collaborations.
Award amounts range from $7,500.00 to a maximum of $35,000.00. Funds must be spent by the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2025).
Limited Submission: Only 1 proposal may be submitted from each institution. With such a tight turnaround, it is important to reach out to Dr. Becki Battista if you are interested in submitting a proposal. We will create a link for submission to the Office of Student Research by March 20, 2024 for internal submissions. Internal submissions will be due March 29th in order to send the top proposal forward.
App State has successfully been awarded 2 of these types of grants in the past and we would like to see more in the future. Again, please direct questions to Dr. Becki Battista in the Office of Student Research (battistara@appstate.edu).
RFP Focus and Scope
The UNC System’s Undergraduate Research Council (URC) has identified four areas of focus for this RFP: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), Inclusive Excellence, Digital Learning, and Professional Development. The areas are broadly defined, and the URC welcomes proposals related to the scope of these three areas, either separately or in combination. Also welcome are proposals from one or more of these areas that additionally incorporate and build upon goals and strategies included in the UNC System Math Pathways Recommendations. Each proposal should include an appropriate and thorough assessment plan. Successful proposals will articulate a clear plan to have continued impact after the grant period and expand its reach and effectiveness. Competitive proposals will include inter-departmental and/or inter institutional collaboration (see rubric). All topic areas are welcome. However suggested topics include one or more of the following:
CUREs: Development or expansion of novel and/or innovative curricula that substantively include UR, recognizing that the goal of CUREs is to enhance research skills development toward the expansion of access to UR opportunities.
Inclusive Excellence: Development or expansion of novel and/or innovative strategies/methods to expand awareness, access, and participation in UR opportunities to all students, especially students from underrepresented groups.
Digital Learning: Development or expansion of novel or innovative methods that include digital learning tools in support of undergraduate research by distance learning students (e.g., online learning)
UNC System UR Summit: Design and deliver a system-wide professional development conference, workshop, or innovative instructor-focused experience that achieves one or more of the following goals: broadens knowledge and use of undergraduate research best practices, expand awareness and competitiveness of faculty and instructors seeking institutional or external undergraduate research funding, and/or develops undergraduate student research and presentation skills.
Proposal submissions must include a single pdf file. Please use margins no smaller than one inch (all sides) and font of either Calibri or Times New Roman, and size of either 11 or 12. The application must include the following:
Front matter (1 page) including project title; institution name; principal investigator name, title, and contact information; unit/department; names of collaborating institutions; primary focus area
(CUREs, Inclusive Excellence, or Digital Learning); name and contact information for co-PI(s) if applicable; names and contact information for key personnel; and amount requested.
Project description including a detailed description of the proposed project (no longer than 1500 words); expected outcomes and assessment methods for the project; and timeline for project activities. (Note: Projects must include an assessment/evaluation and support for such a plan is an allowable cost). References, if used, may be included in the footnotes using a smaller font.
Letters of support: A maximum of three letters of support are allowed and should be from constituents close to the proposal (e.g. Dept Heads/Chairs, Unit Heads, others contributing to the success of the proposal). A letter from the Chief Research Officer is allowed but not required.
Budget with accompanying justification (up to 600 words) specifically describing how the funds will be used. Please include any matching funds.