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These general guidelines apply to decisions on Undergraduate Research Grant Proposals:

1. Applicants for Undergraduate Research Grants must be enrolled as degree-seeking, undergraduate students at the University of Mary Washington during the period in which the grant project is to be initiated and conducted. Non-degree students are ineligible for undergraduate research grants.

2. Undergraduate Research Grants may not be requested for stipends for student researchers or their faculty sponsors.

3. Undergraduate Research Grants may not be requested to cover the costs for a student to take credit-earning courses at UMW or at another college or university.

4. The student(s) must be centrally involved in framing the problem, developing a research strategy, and conducting the project. Undergraduate Research Grants do not support a student’s passive involvement in a faculty member’s project.

5. If a proposal requests funds for travel, the student(s) must either be presenting at a conference, actively engaging in a guided, experiential project, or conducting field and/or specialized library research that is integral to completion of a final, tangible research project the student is preparing (such as an honor’s thesis, directed research project, or similar individual study project). In other words, Undergraduate Research funds are not provided for students to attend meetings as attendees/listeners/observers or for students who wish to attend such meetings for “networking” purposes.

6. All purchases of goods and services must follow Commonwealth and University regulations, such as using mandatory sources and observing bidding requirements. Contact Purchasing (extension 1127) for an explanation of the proper procedures.

7. All purchases of non-consumable items made with UMW grant funds (such as equipment, software, books, DVDs, and the like) are the property of the University of Mary Washington because they have been purchased with Commonwealth of Virginia funds. These items are not to be retained by the researcher but are instead to be turned over to the University when the grant project is completed. Contact the Academic Affairs Office for instructions regarding the appropriate disposition of any items purchased with UMW grant funds that will have a useable life after the completion of the grant-funded project.

8. Assuming equivalent project quality, funding is more likely for projects involving more students rather than fewer and for less expensive projects as opposed to more costly enterprises.