Internal Funding for Students

The Office of Research administers funding opportunities for students to conduct, present and be involved in research.

Funding for students depends on the number of applications received and the available budget. Preference is given to applicants who have not yet been awarded within the academic year.

Student Research Awards

The Student Travel Award supports graduate and undergraduate students who are accepted to present at a professional event. Presenting includes reporting research results, exhibiting or performing creative works, or otherwise disseminating results of scholarly activity.

Award Detail

The amount awarded is up to $800 toward expenses incurred during the approved travel. The amount will depend on the number of applications received, the available budget, the number of times the student has applied for funding, the location of the conference, and the priority given to the application by the selection committee.

Students are strongly encouraged to have some vested interest in attending by paying for some of their travel.

Student travel funds are reimbursed after travel is completed, except for airfare that may be purchased through our office. Any unused funds will be returned to the Student Travel Award general fund after travel is complete.

This tax-free award is fully managed and tracked by the ORGS.

Eligibility

  • Students must be presenting at the event
  • Student must be the primary presenter of the project
  • Enrolled at a Broadway campus
  • One award per student per fiscal year (June 1 - May 31)
  • In good academic standing
  • Enrolled in the semester or session during which the travel takes place
    • Doctoral students on “continuous enrollment” status for dissertation writing will meet this requirement with one hour of enrollment
    • Summer travel may qualify if student maintains current enrollment status from Spring to Fall.

Expenses/Budget Guidelines

Allowable Costs

Out-of-town events
  • Airfare
  • Mileage
  • Conference registration fee (excludes membership/organization fees, field trips, etc.)
  • Hotel accommodations
  • Meals via per diem or receipt. (Receipts must be itemized)
  • Transportation costs within reason (e.g., airport to hotel if courtesy shuttle not available)
  • Parking
San Antonio (in-town) events:
  • Conference registration fee
  • Parking fee

Unallowable Costs

  • Unitemized meal receipts
  • Alcohol
  • Entertainment
  • Room service
  • Cash advances
  • Lodging beyond the event dates
  • Non-event related travel (e.g., hotel to restaurant)
  • Membership fees
  • Rental vehicles

Expectation of Students

If awarded, you are expected to adhere to the following:

  • UIW Student Code of Conduct
  • UIW Travel Policy
  • Received all research compliance approvals through our office, as applicable (IRB for human subjects research and IACUC for animal research)

When To Apply

  • Airfare - please apply at least two months in advance to ensure the best airfare. Airfare funds may not be awarded for flights purchased less than three weeks from travel date.
  • For non-airfare requests - please apply as soon as possible.
  • You may apply after travel has completed but applications must be received immediately after travel has completed. University policy states that expenses and receipts must be submitted within 10 days of travel.

Submission Process

Only applications submitted online via Submittable will be accepted for review.

Apply for a Student Research Travel Award

Award Description

The Undergraduate Research Award supports and encourages mentored scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology and artistic/creative activity. This award is up to $1,000 for undergraduate students who are conducting research projects and need financial assistance for necessary materials to begin and collect data. One award is made in the Fall and Spring semesters. Project costs include: subscriptions to software for data collection and/or data analysis; publication costs; materials such as lab supplies; or other costs for research-related materials that are not available at the university and are necessary to complete the research project.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award from the Undergraduate Research Grant, an applicant must be:

  • Regularly admitted to a degree program
  • In good academic standing
  • Enrolled in the semester or in the session where the research takes place
  • Be the sole or principal investigator

The grant must be used during the academic year in which it was awarded. Each individual is only eligible for funding once per fiscal year (June 1 - May 31).

Budget

The amount awarded is up to $1,000 for the student, allocated in the following manner:

  • Research Support: Up to $1,000. Includes costs for materials and resources required to begin or complete a project. This portion of the budget would include lab supplies, software, materials or other items that are necessary to complete data collection or analysis. Research support does not include travel expenses for conferences to share completed research.
  • Faculty Mentor: The practice of paying a stipend to faculty for mentoring students has been discontinued. These funds are now reallocated to funding additional students. The Faculty Mentor will be required to complete a mentor agreement before funds will be distributed and an Undergraduate Research Award Evaluation Form at the end of the funding period.

Submission Process

Only applications submitted online via Submittable will be accepted for review. All submissions are evaluated using this rubric:

Scoring Sheet (PDF)

Apply for an Undergraduate Research Award

 

Award Description

The Graduate Research Award supports and encourages mentored scholarly research, scientific inquiry, inventive technology and artistic/creative activity. This award is up to $1,000 for graduate students conducting research projects and needing financial assistance for necessary materials to begin and collect data. Three awards are made in the Fall and Spring semesters. Project costs include subscriptions to software for data collection and/or data analysis, publication costs, materials such as lab supplies or other costs for research-related materials that are not available at the university and are necessary to complete the research project.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award from the Graduate Research Award, an applicant must be:

  • Regularly admitted to a master's or doctoral degree program
  • In good academic standing
  • Enrolled in the semester or in the session where the research takes place
  • Be the sole or principal investigator
The award must be used during the academic year in which it was awarded. Each individual is only eligible for funding once per fiscal year (June 1 - May 31).

Budget

The amount awarded is up to $1,000.

Research Support: up to $1,000. Includes costs for materials and resources required to begin or complete a project. This budget portion would include lab supplies, software, materials or other necessary data collection or analysis items. Research support does not include travel expenses for conferences to share completed research.

Travel is not an allowable expense. Please apply for the Student Travel Award.

Submission Process

Only applications submitted online via Submittable will be accepted for review. All submissions are evaluated using this rubric:

Scoring Sheet (PDF) 

Apply for a Graduate Research Award

The purpose of this program is to provide institutional financial support to graduate students within the context of a mentored research experience. The award is restricted to graduate students who are:

  • Regularly enrolled in either a master’s or doctoral program.
  • In good academic standing with the University.
  • Enrolled in at least six hours in the semester or session in which the appointment occurs (doctoral students in dissertation writing who have completed their minimum dissertation enrollment and are on “continuous enrollment” status may meet this requirement with one hour of enrollment).

This award may not be combined with other tuition discounts such as student employment or VA funding.

Award: Three-hour tuition credit to student account per semester (Fall and/or Spring) or six-hour tuition credit for one semester.

Current GRA Openings

Current GRA opportunities are posted to Cardinal Talent.

Research Award Recipient Guide

Use of Research Funds

  1. These funds are to be used only for the purposes stated in the proposal and budget. It is understood that these funds will be used for such purposes substantially in accordance with the approved budget. It is also understood that no substantial variances, including the timing of expenditures, will be made from the approved budget without the ORGS prior approval in writing.

Unused Funds

  1. Any funds not expended or committed for the purpose of your approved project by May 31 will not roll over to the next fiscal year. All purchase and check requisitions will cease on April 30. Anything submitted after the April 30 deadline must have prior approval.

Additional Funding Sources

  1. If you received additional funds from other sources for the same project (this includes departmental funds), please notify the ORGS.

Re-Budgeting

  1. In general, student recipients are allowed a certain degree of latitude to re-budget within and between budget categories to meet unanticipated needs and to make other types of post-award changes. Written approval is required for budget modifications. Recipients shall immediately notify the ORGS of developments that have a significant impact on the award-supported activities. Also, notification shall be given in the case of problems, delays or adverse conditions that materially impair the ability to meet the objectives of the award. This notification shall include a statement of the action taken or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

Tax Status

  1. The University of the Incarnate Word is a tax-exempt organization. For any purchases that will require reimbursement, please use the tax-exempt form.

Before any funds can be dispersed, projects requiring regulatory compliance must have an approval letter from the appropriate review board.

Please visit our Research Compliance website for more information.

Purchase Order (PO) or Check Request Process

Obtain a quote or invoice from the vendor for the items that you would like to purchase. The quote or invoice should provide:

  1. The vendor’s name.
  2. The item and the description.
  3. The quantity requested.
  4. The total cost includes shipping and freight charges.
    *If the item is from Amazon, you may send a screenshot of your cart and submit it in PDF format with the ASIN numbers of the product.
  5. Submit the electronic Purchase Order or Check Request Form.

Process After Request (Purchase Orders)

  1. The ORGS will review the quote and ensure it is within the parameters of your award.
  2. The request will be processed for approval and the Purchase Order (PO) issued.
  3. Once the PO is generated, we will order/route the PO per your instruction on the form.

To order supplies with your award, use the following request form:

Purchase Order (PO) or Check Request Form

Students receiving an Undergraduate Research Award must complete a short evaluation survey after the award. The Faculty Mentor stipend has been discontinued