Table of Contents

Internal Grants for Faculty, Staff, and Students

Travel Grants for Faculty and Students

Internal Grants for Faculty, Staff, and Students

Advisory Board Award for Research and Creative Activity

The Advisory Board Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award is intended to support meritorious research and creative activity by full-time faculty of the college. Awards and will be announced at the last meeting of the academic year for the Penn State Altoona Advisory Board (typically in April). Faculty who have received other college support for their research or creative activity are eligible for this funding but this funding must be used for some identifiable supplementary activity.

Eligibility: any full-time faculty member (fixed-term or tenure-line)

Application Deadline: March 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.

Typical Award: $2,000

Number of Advisory Board Awards in 2020–2021: 4

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $10,000

Altoona Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (ASURF)

The Altoona Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (ASURF) supports undergraduate students in intensive research or creative work during the summer so they may immerse themselves in their research or creative work with fewer distractions. Projects must be original, under the direct supervision of a faculty member, and provide research/creative activities experience in disciplinary focus, methodology, writing, and communication of results. Grants may be used to cover living expenses and project costs (supplies, materials, books, specialized software, etc.) but may not cover travel and associated costs or membership in professional organizations. Limit one fellowship per student per summer. An ASURF award may be combined with Penn State Altoona’s summer Undergraduate Research Grants.

Eligibility: see guidelines for details

Application Deadline: February 15 of each year

Typical Award: $3,500

Number of ASURFs typically awarded per year: up to 12 awards

Chancellor’s Development Fund (CDF)

The CDF supports projects promoting the development of the College’s instruction, students, administration, setting, and facilities. Monitored by the Associate Dean for Research, the Fund annually provides monies for competitive proposals from full-time members of the faculty and staff. The Fund will support travel expenses and the purchase of equipment and supplies that are directly related to project activities. For more details, download the CDF form.

Eligibility: any full-time faculty (fixed-term or tenure-line) or staff member

Application Deadline: August 1 and November 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.

Typical Award: $1,100–$3,000

Number of CDF awards in 2020–2021: 2

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $7,500

Community-Based Project Grant (CBPG)

Penn State Altoona actively supports community-based faculty research, instruction, and service projects of interest to residents of Central Pennsylvania. Full-time faculty may request funding for direct costs associated with community-based projects.

Eligibility: any full-time faculty member (fixed-term or tenure-line)

Application Deadline: August 1 and November 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.

Typical Award: $3,500

Number of CBPG awards in 2020–2021: 1

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $5,000

Research Development Grant (RDG)

The RDG program is a source of financial support for the research and scholarly creative activities of Altoona College faculty members. It is intended to foster new activities rather than to sustain research programs. RDGs are not intended to support instructional improvement or course development. Emphasis is given to the funding of activities of junior faculty attempting to establish a research/scholarly program and efforts of more senior faculty to establish a new area of scholarship.

Eligibility: any full-time faculty member (fixed-term or tenure-line)

Application Deadline: August 1 and November 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.

Typical Award: $3,000

Number of RDG awards in 2020–2021: 8

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $40,000

Senior Research Grant (SRG)

The SRG supports meritorious research by senior scholars. A senior scholar is defined as an individual who has been tenured and/or promoted by the college, has a substantial record of publication, has sought external funding from agencies or foundations appropriate to their field of study, and has a high probability of producing publishable scholarship.

Eligibility: Senior Instructors and Tenured Faculty Members

Application Deadline: August 1 and November 1 to the Associate Dean for Research.

Typical Award: $4,000

Number of SRG awards in 2020–2021: 9

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $15,000

Undergraduate Research Grant (URG)

Faculty members may request up to $500 per semester ($1,500 for the summer) to cover the cost of funding one or more undergraduate students to assist with research, pedagogical endeavors, or community-based projects. A full year's support ($2,500) may be requested in the fall (August 1) and spring and summer support ($2,000) in late fall (November 1).

Eligibility: Any full-time student who will be enrolled during the award period.

Application Deadline: August 1 and November 1 to the Associate Dean for Research

Average Award: $2,000

Number of URG awards in 2020–2021: 45

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $90,000

Travel Grants for Faculty and Students

Faculty Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity

Only tenure-track faculty members of the college are permitted to apply and are entitled to receive up to $2,000 in support of professional travel. For additional information about usage or disbursement, faculty members are encouraged to work with their respective division heads. Note: if a faculty member uses these funds for non-conference presentation travel then any supplementary travel grant funds must be used for a conference presentation.

Eligibility: tenure-track faculty members

Application Deadline: none

Apply for a Faculty Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity

Supplementary Travel Grant

Full-time faculty may apply for supplementary travel grants beyond their initial travel funding up to $2,000 for the presentation of research or creative activity at a conference in their field of study. Note: a faculty member may use these funds for non-conference presentation travel if they have already used the Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity to present at a conference. In exceptional cases, additional funds beyond the $2,000 limit may be requested at the discretion of the faculty member’s Division Head. Priority for such funding will be given to those individuals seeking promotion and tenured faculty.

Eligibility: any full-time faculty member (fixed-term or tenure-line)

Application Deadline:

  • May 24 for travel occurring between June 1–September 30
  • August 1 for travel occurring between September 1–April 30
  • January 6 for travel occurring between February 1–June 30

Expected Funding for 2020-2021: $50,000

Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Grant

NOTE: This application should be submitted by the student, not by the faculty mentor.

Penn State undergraduates who are presenting the results of their research or creative work at national or regional professional conferences may request financial support to defray the costs of attendance at the conference. Funding is available for students who are making a conference presentation and the presentation is related to the student’s academic program. The Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Request Form, together with a statement of support from the faculty mentor, should be submitted to the student's academic department (respective Division Head) for approval and forwarding to the Associate Dean for Research. The Associate Dean’s office will send the form to the Office of Undergraduate Education (or the Schreyer Honors College, if appropriate, which will then send it to the Office of Undergraduate Education). Once all approvals are obtained, the Office of Undergraduate Education will notify the college Associate Dean’s office. NOTE: Multiple requests from the same academic department to attend the same conference should be submitted together.

Eligibility: Any full-time student who will be enrolled during the travel period.

Application Deadline: submission to the faculty member’s Division Head, 30 days before the date of travel.

Standard Award: $900 ($1,200 if a Schreyer Honors College student)

Expected Number of Awards: 20

Student Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity

Penn State undergraduates may apply for funding up to $1,500 annually for research-related travel that is not necessarily related to a conference presentation. The Student Research Travel Grant form, together with a statement of support from the faculty mentor, should be submitted to the student's academic department (respective Division Head) for approval and forwarding to the Associate Dean for Research.

Eligibility: Any full-time student who will be enrolled during the travel period.

Application Deadline: submission to the faculty member’s Division Head, 30 days before the date of travel.

Typical Award: $1,000

Expected Funding for 2021-2022: $30,000

Due Dates Table
Funding Opportunity Application Due Dates
Aug 1 Nov 1 Mar 1 Anytime 30-days prior
Advisory Board Award for Research and Creative Activity (ABFRCA)     X    
Chancellor’s Development Fund (CDF) X X      
Community-Based Project Grant (CBPG) X X      
Research Development Grant (RDG) X X      
Senior Research Grant (SRG) X X      
Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) X X      
Faculty Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity (FTGSRCA)       X  
Supplementary Travel Grant (STG)
–Due May 24 for travel occurring between June 1–September 30
–Due August 1 for travel occurring between September 1–April 30
–Due January 6 for travel occurring between February 1–June 30
Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Grant (URCTG)         X
Student Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity (STGSRCA)         X