Thank you for your interest in the College Council Research Grants.  These grants are intended to help fund the scholarly projects of students of the College of Arts and Sciences.  The College Council, the governing body of the College of Arts and Sciences, sponsors these grants to promote a spirit of intellectual curiosity within the College, foster relationships between faculty and students, and best meet the needs of College students. Please contact Grants Chair Julia Yu at grants@uvacollegecouncil.com with any questions.

Grants offered

The Minerva Award – Apply here!

The Summer 2024 Minerva Award application is now open and is due at 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 31st, 2024!.

Minerva, found on the University seal, is the Roman symbol of knowledge and creativity, and it is this spirit that the College Council hopes to promote with the Minerva Award.  Minerva Awards of up to $1,800 (subject to change) will be given to fund scholarly projects conducted by College students during the summer of 2024. If you have any questions about the Minerva Grant or the application, please contact Grants Chair Julia Yu at grants@uvacollegecouncil.com before the application deadline.

Semester Scholars Award

Traditionally, Semester Scholars Awards have been awarded in both the fall and the spring, and are funded up to $1,500. These grants are intended to fund scholarly projects that are conducted during the respective semester. Scholarly projects include research in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences as well as creative and interdisciplinary projects. 

Eligibility and Criteria

The College Council Research Grants are available to any undergraduate student enrolled as a degree candidate in the College of Arts and Sciences. Grant proposals will be assessed based on the strength of the research question, the structure and organization of the proposal, and the integration of the project. Please note that non-experts will be reviewing the proposals and that the proposals should be written for a broad audience.

Strength of Research Question

• Presents innovative and original work
• Demonstrates both depth and breadth in their understanding of the subject
• Makes a significant contribution to the field of study

Structure and Organization

• Written in a clear, concise manner
• Explicitly states the goals of the research and how these goals will be met

Integration

•  Incorporates different academic areas within the College
• Utilizes innovative approaches and perspectives
• Applies scholarly research in a manner that benefits the larger local or global community

In addition, it will be noted if the applicant has received additional funding for the same research project. In the spirit of fostering research among all undergraduates, priority will be given to students who have received no previous funding.

Faculty Support

Each project proposal must have a written letter of recommendation from a UVA faculty mentor who will serve as an adviser during the completion of the project. The faculty mentor should provide insight into their basis for concluding that the student can complete a high-quality research project. Additionally, if the project requires IRB approval, your faculty mentor should speak to your IRB approval status. Please ask your mentor to send the signed letter, on UVA letterhead, as an email attachment directly to the Grants Chair Julia Yu at grants@uvacollegecouncil.com on the same day the application is due.

. Funding Regulations

• Projects, research, and purchases must comply with federal, state, and local laws.
• College Council grants CANNOT fund research stipends.
• The grants are disbursed to students through direct deposit after notification of selection.  Students are on their Honor to spend the grant funds according to the submitted and approved budget.
• Grant recipients are required to submit a project and expenditure report by 9 am 3 weeks after funds are disbursed. If the project and expenditure report is not submitted on time, the student will be liable for all project expenses and have to repay College Council any grant awarded funds.
• If you have any concerns about the expenditure report, please contact our Grants Chair at grants@uvacollegecouncil.com
• Grant recipients should use the resources freely available to them as University students whenever possible. Purchases of materials that are freely available at the University libraries or accessible through University journal databases, online subscriptions, or other electronic media will not be reimbursed. Grant recipients should perform a thorough and extensive search of University library resources before purchasing materials for their project.
• Grant recipients may not travel to any location with a U.S. State Department Travel Warning. If such a warning is issued while abroad, the recipient must leave the country immediately in the safest manner possible. Such warnings can be found here at Travel Advisories. 
• Any projects involving the research of human subjects must receive IRB approval before they can receive any funding. More information regarding the IRB process can be found here: https://www.virginia.edu/vpr/irb/.
• All purchases that go beyond the above-stated regulations must be approved in advance by the Treasurer of College Council in consultation with appropriate University officials.

Violations of any of the above regulations will result in the cancellation of the grant.

Receipt of Award

Grant recipients will be required to meet with the Grants Chair to discuss grant requirements and payment procedures. Awards will be disbursed through direct deposit, which students must set up in their SIS accounts, using the following link. Recipients are on their Honor as students of the University of Virginia to spend the money as detailed in their approved budgets, and any changes to this budget must be reported to and approved by the Grants Chair.