Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) Grants

The acting URC Coordinator is Julie Gannon, located in Ingram Building 014C 494-7848 (Office of Research Services)

Current URECA grant winners should address questions about hours and payments to Ms. Gannon  julie.gannon@mtsu.edu.

For questions concerning URECA proposals please contact Dr. Andrienne Friedli at andrienne.friedli@mtsu.edu

Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) grants are the result of a campus-wide initiative in 2004 to increase undergraduate research at MTSU. This program provides financial support to encourage MTSU students to get involved in research and creative projects throughout their undergraduate careers. Students can apply for funding using the guidelines accessible from the links on this page. The Committee on Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (includes faculty from all colleges) will review proposals and recommend awards. That selection will be based on a number of criteria, as outlined in the guidelines. Awards are administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. The program's goal is to immerse students in a culture of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity and engage them in the many elements associated with that culture, from preparation of a statement of the proposed activity to presentation of the final result of the project. Research or creative projects will typically relate to the work of one or more faculty members, but may be of the student's own design. The design of the program is intended not only to encourage students and engage them in scholarship, but as part of the process and preparation for graduate school and the workplace.

URECA will not fund a project for work that (1) has been previously performed, (2) is being fully funded simultaneously by another grant program, or (3) counts toward class credit. Undergraduate students seeking support as a "scholar" must be a collaborator with one or more faculty members and must have ownership of the project. 

A proposal can cover the semester of application and up to two semesters immediately following. Funding is only for work done subsequent to the award date. Notice of awards will generally be provided within four to five weeks of the submission deadline. Proposals should be delivered to the Undergraduate Research Center, Ingram Building, Room 014C, Attn: Julie Gannon. There are two types of awards available, Assistant and Scholar.

Assistant Participation in the project should contribute to the student's development as an artist or scholar. The amount of the stipend will be determined in consultation with the faculty mentor(s) based on the number of hours the assistant will contribute to a faculty member's project. The stipend award amount will not exceed $800.00. An additional award for justified expenses, up to $300.00 may be requested. Scholar Students seeking support as a scholar will be a collaborator with one or more faculty members, and will have ownership of the project. Stipends are paid up to $3,500.00. Additional requests supplies or travel as part of the project must be justified.

Please Note: If you are receiving financial aid through MTSU's Office of Financial Aid, please contact the financial aid office to discuss how an URECA stipend may affect your financial aid package. URECA stipends are part of the allowable amount of financial aid a student can receive, and registration for future classes may be blocked if you are already receiving the maximum.

DEADLINES

Academic Year 2013-2014

4 pm, Tuesday, October 1, 2013 for Fall Awards
4 pm, Tuesday, March 4, 2014 for Summer Awards