OUR Project Award Program

• Awards are intended to support undergraduate students researching under the mentorship of a faculty member.
• Current undergraduate, degree-seeking students in good standing with the University are eligible to apply.
• Allowable mentors include current UWF faculty with various appointment types, including adjuncts, lecturers, post-docs, and tenure lines.

• Up to $500 for individual projects
• Up to $750 for group projects (two or more students)

Allowable expenses include travel to the field site, external library or archival facility; chemicals or laboratory equipment; photocopies of documents or research questionnaires; etc. Student or faculty stipends are not allowable expenses.

Note: Due to resource limitations, the awarding of grants is competitive. The University intends to achieve the broadest possible impact with the funds available. Therefore, some applications recommended for funding may only receive partial support. Undergraduate students should explore other sources of funding before applying for this grant. Any additional funding sources should be noted and accounted for in the budget narrative and the requested amount.

Research can be conducted in any discipline. Please use the following guidelines to determine whether or not the project is “research.” If the research does not meet this criterion, but you and your faculty mentor believe it is still “research,” please contact our@uwf.edu.

• The research is an inquiry or investigation on a topic related to the student’s professional interests.
• The research is conducted by an undergraduate student under the mentorship of a UWF faculty member.
• The research makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline. The format of the research is similar to professional researchers in the discipline.

Expectations of Participants: 

1. Students who receive an OUR Project Award are expected to complete the research project described in the approved proposal by the end of the academic year in which the award is made (i.e., the end of the spring semester).
2. Familiarize yourself with the OUR Project Award Recipient site for helpful information and tools as you utilize award funds and prepare your project.
3. Make consistent progress toward your research project until its completion.
   1. Students who fail to make consistent progress toward their research projects may forfeit all or part of their research funding.
4. Submit an abstract and present your research to the UWF Student Scholar Symposium - abstracts are typically due mid-February.
   1. Students can elect to present their research in various formats, including poster presentations, oral presentations, research panel discussions, etc. 
   2. The Student Scholar Symposium typically occurs on the third Thursday of April.
5. Submit a photo of yourself conducting/engaging in research. 
6. Act as an ambassador to the OUR program.
   1. Speak to at least one approved campus event, such as campus tour groups, classes, or other approved events, about your research experience at UWF.
7. Submit a final research report.
   1. Reports will include summaries of the research project, a copy of a research poster from the Student Scholars Symposium, and additional questions on the impact of the research experiences.

Students will receive a notification letter regardless of acceptance or denial. Award and denial letters will be emailed within one month of the application deadline.

If you have received on OUR Project Award, visit the OUR Project Award Recipients site for helpful information and tools as you utilize award funds, and prepare your project.