Undergraduate research, civic engagement and service learning, internships, field work, mentoring and advising, presentations at professional meetings, participation and leadership in social and professional organizations, international travel and study, and culminating capstone experiences are central elements of department plans to enhance the learning experience of our students.
These funds are allocated to support QEP implementation, support faculty, student, and staff activity directly related to intentional, integrative, engaged teaching/learning and cannot be used for other purposes. Please see below for opportunities to enhance the teaching/learning environment for our students/faculty.
You may want to reference examples of projects funded by various QEP grant opportunities. Please see examples of QEP funded project Grant Assessment Reports by clicking this link.
1. Undergraduate Research Educational Stipends
The purpose of the Undergraduate Research Educational Stipends is to provide support
for undergraduate students to engage in research and creative scholarship under the
guidance of a faculty mentor. This program is administered by the Committee to Institutionalize
Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship (CIURCS). Undergraduate research
and scholarship at WCU are defined as: An inquiry, investigation, or significant creative achievement conducted by an undergraduate
student with a faculty mentor and designed to make an original intellectual or creative
contribution to the discipline with an expectation of dissemination. In some fields this work may consist of a discovery-based research project while
in other disciplines this may consist of the demonstration of creative achievement
through public performance, juried exhibition or demonstration. The undergraduate
research educational stipends will require students to make connections and synthesize
their learning at WCU. Please see attached for guidelines and application.
2. QEP Development Grants
These grants for up to $1250 provide support to a faculty or staff member for academic
and co-curricular activities connected to the implementation of the QEP goals (effective
communication; practice civic engagement; solve complex problems; clarify and act
on purpose and values; and synthesis). Applications are accepted througout the academic
year.
3. Undergraduate Academic Project Grants
These grants for up to $400, administered through a faculty committee and the Honors
College and funded by the QEP, support undergraduate research and creative work at
Western Carolina University. Any full-time student or group of students working with
a faculty sponsor is eligible to apply for a grant that might provide support in many
ways, including travel to discipline-related conferences, equipment, or supplies.
Rolling application.
4. QEP Engagement – Non-Conference Travel Requests
In a few instances, faculty or staff may request funds to support student travel for
reasons other than presenting at a professional conference. While these funds are
limited, the QEP Steering Committee will review and support applications that meet
the spirit of the QEP. Rolling application.
5. Student Travel Funds for Conference Presentation
These grants are designated to support student travel for conference presentations.
Funds will support graduate or undergraduate students whose work explicitly connects
with QEP learning outcomes.
6. Assessment Mini-Grant
The purpose of the QEP Assessment Mini-Grant is to encourage development and implementation
of effective program assessments by providing resources to help defray the costs of
such efforts. Goals are to encourage development or implementation of assessments
aimed specifically at a program’s QEP efforts; to promote best practices in assessment
of the QEP at the program/unit level; and to facilitate faculty/staff participation
in the scholarship of assessment. Grant requests up to $2500 will be considered.
The number of grants awarded will be based on the yearly budgeted amount.