EURēCA! Grants

• CU Denver undergraduate student working toward a baccalaureate degree  

• Must maintain at least part-time status (6 or more credit hours) throughout the duration of the award 

• Available to present at annual Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS) each spring even if you graduate prior to this date 

Regular and adjunct faculty from the CU Denver | Anschutz Campuses are eligible to sponsor one or more EURēCA! Grant students. 

Lecturer and instructor faculty must have permission of their department chair or program director.

Students conducting a team project can apply jointly.

• Teams of two can apply for $1,000, teams of three or more students can apply for up to $1,500.
• For team projects, each team member must submit a separate application form with independent goal statements. Incomplete team submissions will have their funding requests reduced.
• The uploaded proposal document should be identical with a single mentorship letter submitted that addresses all members of the team.

• initial support to the student in submitting the EURēCA! Grant application
• lead contact and support for projects utilizing human subjects, animal care, and/or project risk 
• support to initiate the project for fall or spring semesters 
• regular meetings with EURēCA! student(s) to review progress and oversee budget expenditures 
• support for Spring RaCAS presentation and final EURēCA! Grant report 

1. assesses student's proposed research, creative, or other scholarly activity, including efficacy and feasibility
2. describes how the activity contributes to the student's professional development
   
3. assesses student's academic preparation
4. addresses each member of the team if supporting a team project
5. clarifies role as mentor, including how often you will meet and how you will support throughout the project

Each student is responsible for submitting a complete EURēCA! Grant application. This includes the online application and unofficial student transcript. 

For team projects, each team member must submit a separate application form, however, the proposal and mentorship letters should be identical.

Application Materials (Preview Full Application):

1. Project Description (500 - 750 words, see requirements below, View Examples)
2. Bibliography (3-10 cited sources)
3. Detailed Project Timeline (include specific dates)
4. Budget Narrative (up to $500 for individual, $1,500 for team)
5. Unofficial CU Denver Student Transcript (View Instructions)
6. Additional Student Applicant Names (for team applications)
7. Faculty Mentor Letter of Support
8. If applicable, proof of IACUC and/or COMIRB approval

Faculty mentors are responsible for submitting the faculty letter of support for applications to be considered complete. 

The letter should include the following:

1. assesses student's proposed research, creative, or other scholarly activity, including efficacy and feasibility
2. describes how the activity contributes to the student's professional development
3. assesses student's academic preparation
4. clarifies role as mentor, including how often you will meet and how you will support throughout the project

The EURēCA! Grant program is designed to provide the flexibility needed to meet diverse educational needs of undergraduate students from the CU Denver Campus. View Grant Proposal Rubric Here.

Selection criteria include:

• quality of proposed project
• student learning potential
• faculty collaboration and mentoring
• budget justification
• academic record
• project potential for presentations and published papers
• quality of references
• overall writing ability (including grammar and spelling)

All awardees are required to: 

• Book at least one advising appointment or attend at least one event with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities during the 2023-2024 academic year

• Present the results of their grant-funded project at the 2024 CU Denver Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS), scheduled for April 26th, 2024

• Complete a brief final report and program assessment at the end of the funding period

If your project is selected for funding, the following agreements will be enforced:

• EXPENSES Students will use awarded EURēCA! funds only for the expenses detailed in the original Budget Narrative. Students will contact the URCA Office via undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu prior to making any equipment purchases or incurring any travel expenses to ensure that University policies and procedures are followed. If a student's budget plan deviates by more than 20% of my original budget plan, they will provide written justification to the EURēCA! program.
• MENTOR APROVAL Students' mentors must read and review the grant proposal and approve all aspects of the proposed research or creative activity.
• MENTORSHIP PARTICIPATION If students receive an award, their faculty mentor must have agreed to mentor their project, which includes meeting on a regular basis, providing budget oversight, and working with the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities, as needed, regarding adherence to university policies and procedures.
• EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES All equipment and supplies purchased with EURēCA! funds become the property of the University of Colorado Denver. Items having a use beyond the grant project (e.g., video equipment, computer hardware, geologists’ hammers, binoculars ,etc) must be returned to the department of the Faculty Mentor.
• NON-TRANSFERABLE FUNDING AND CHANGES IN BUDGET EURēCA! funds are not transferable and must be used prior to the end of the academic year in which they are awarded. If there is a change in a student's status (graduation, unenrollment, etc.) or students are unable to expend the EURēCA! funds, they will immediately notify the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities to review the impact on their budget.
• ENROLLMENT  Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester during the time the proposed project is conducted. They must complete their project prior to the end of the academic year in which they are enrolled. If graduating or entering a graduate program during the length of the EURēCA! award, they are no longer eligible to receive funding.
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Students will acknowledge financial support received from the CU Denver Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities and the EURēCA! Program in any articles, presentations, exhibits, recitals, etc. that result from this funding.
• ENGAGEMENT WITH URCA Students will book at least one advising appointment or attend at least one event with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities during the academic year of their award.
• RaCAS Students will present the results of the EURēCA!-funded project at the annual Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS) held each spring as a stipulation of EURēCA! grant funding.
• FINAL REPORT Upon completion of the EURēCA! project, students will submit to Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities a faculty mentor-approved final report, outlining project’s goals, process, and accomplishments. Submission information will be sent by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities during the Spring semester. If graduating early, students are still required to complete this report.

For questions regarding the EURēCA! Grant program or application process, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu).