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 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 (non-tenure-line 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 2021–2022: Five
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $10,000

Apply for an Advisory Board Award for Research and Creative Activity.

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. As such, the primary purpose of the ASURF program is to further the education and training of students through a research experience and professional development activities. Project proposals must be written by the student, and 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.

  • Eligibility: See guidelines for details
  • Application Deadline: February 11 of each year
  • Typical Award: $3,500
  • Number of ASURFs typically awarded per year: Seven

Apply for an Altoona Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

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 (non-tenure-line or tenure-line) or staff member
  • Application Deadline: August 10 and November 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.
  • Typical Award: $1,000–$3,000
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $7,500

Apply for the Chancellor's Development Fund.

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 (non-tenure-line or tenure-line)
  • Application Deadline: August 10 and November 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.
  • Typical Award: $1,000-$3,000
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $3,000

Apply for a Community-based Project Grant.

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 (non-tenure-line or tenure-line), with priority given to tenure-track assistant professors
  • Application Deadline: August 10 and November 1 of each year to the Associate Dean for Research.
  • Typical Award: $3,000
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $20,000

Apply for a Research Development Grant.

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 non-tenure-track faculty and tenured faculty members
  • Application Deadline: August 10 and November 1 to the Associate Dean for Research.
  • Typical Award: $4,000
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $8,000

Apply for a Senior Research Grant.

Undergraduate Research Grant (URG)

The primary purpose of the Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) is to further the education and training of students through a research experience or community-based project. To allow students to forgo employment so they may focus on their research projects, students may be awarded stipends up to $500 per semester and $1,500 for the summer. Faculty mentors must apply for a URG for their research mentees.

  • Eligibility: Any full-time student who will be enrolled during the award period.
  • Application Deadline: August 10 and November 1 to the Associate Dean for Research
  • Average Award: $2,000
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $40,000

Apply for an Undergraduate Research Grant.

Travel Grants for Faculty and Students

Faculty Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity (Travel 1)

Up to $2,000 is available for a full-time faculty member for travel to support research, creative activity, or staying current in their field. If a faculty member would like to travel more than once, a separate application must be submitted for each trip. Priority will be given to faculty presenting at a conference, but any type of travel for research or creative activity purposes can be funded through these grants.

  • Eligibility: All full-time faculty, tenure-track, tenured, or non-tenure-track
  • Application Deadline: August 10, November 1, February 1, and May 1 each year

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

Student Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity

Penn State undergraduates may apply for funding up to $1,500 annually to present their work at a conference or exhibition. Students must submit the Student Research Travel Grant application with a statement of support from the faculty mentor.

  • Eligibility: Any full-time student who will be enrolled during the travel period.
  • Application Deadline: August 10, November 1, February 1, and May 1 each year
  • Typical Award: $1,000
  • Expected Funding for 2022-2023: $10,000

Applications are not being accepted at this time.

2023-2024 Undergraduate Research Conference Presentation Support

Apply for Undergraduate Research Conference Presentation Support

Application Due Dates
Funding Opportunity Due Aug 10 Due Nov 1 Due Feb 1 Due Feb 12 Due Mar 1 Due May 1
Advisory Board Award for Research and Creative Activity (ABFRCA) No No No No Yes No
Altoona Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (ASURF) No No No Yes No No
Chancellor’s Development Fund (CDF) Yes Yes No No No No
Community-Based Project Grant (CBPG) Yes Yes No No No No
Research Development Grant (RDG) Yes Yes No No No No
Senior Research Grant (SRG) Yes Yes No No No No
Undergraduate Research Grant (URG) Yes Yes No No No No
Faculty Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity (FTGSRCA) Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Student Travel Grant in Support of Research and Creative Activity (STGSRCA) Yes Yes Yes No No Yes