Office of Undergraduate Research
Legare 223
Phone: 803-777-1141
Email: our@sc.edu

MINI-GRANTS 

The Mini-Grant program was created to provide additional resources to promote undergraduate research at USC. Mini-grant funds can be used to purchase materials and supplies or to off-set travel costs required for conducting the research project.

Congratulations to OUR award recipients!

Deadline: Fall: Oct. 31, 2008 and Spring: Feb. 27, 2009
                  Applications may be accepted on a rolling basis, please contact our@sc.edu

Purpose: The Residential Mini-Grant Program supports undergraduate students who live on the Columbia campus or in a Columbia campus residential learning community in their pursuit of research, scholarship, and creative activities. Funds can be used to purchase materials and supplies or to off-set travel costs required for conducting the research project.

Amount: Up to $1000 for materials, supplies, and/or travel required to complete the project with a grant end date of one year after start of project. Ongoing support for continuation or completion of previously supported projects may be available in future semesters on a competitive basis. Funds are provided by reimbursement ONLY. All materials and supplies purchased through this program are USC property.

Eligibility: Full-time degree seeking undergraduate students who live on the Columbia campus and are in good standing working under the guidance of a USC faculty or staff member on any scholarly, research, or creative project are eligible. Applications involving off-campus advisors are accepted. Students who have received a previous Mini-Grant may apply for additional support and must provide evidence of satisfactory progress in their project to be considered for additional funding. Magellan Scholars are not eligible until the Scholar grant period ends. Preference is given to new applicants, projects, and non-Magellan Scholars.

Requirements: Students selected to receive awards will be expected to:

1. Work on an approved project under the guidance of a USC faculty or staff mentor;

2. Make significant progress toward the completion of their projects within the academic year; and

3. Participate in Discovery Day with a poster, presentation, or display. Students who fail to participate in Discovery Day will NOT be eligible to apply for future mini-grants OR Magellan funding.
   

1. an application form
2. a Project description and budget form; Uploaded to application form
3. a Mentor Agreement form; emailed or campus mailed to OUR

Sample Project description and budget forms

• Sample 1
• Sample 2
• Sample 3

Approval Criteria: This is a competitive program. Proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

1. The merit of the project itself;
2. The project’s potential to provide real involvement and learning for the student;
3. The impact of the project on the university, community, etc.; and
4. Equitable distribution of available grants.