FUSE FAQ's

This grant is open to undergraduate students only. Applicants must be in good academic standing and must have achieved sophomore status (completion of at least one full year of undergraduate study) by the Award Date. Due to the length of the grant cycle, students who will graduate in less than two semesters after the Award Date (see timeline on main FUSE webpage) are not advised to apply.

Students must remain in good academic standing throughout the FUSE award period. Each student may receive only one FUSE award during their undergraduate career.

Projects from all disciplines, including research, creative activity, and artistic performance, are eligible for support. Projects must be student-initiated, though the initial idea or concept may originate from the faculty mentor.

Faculty mentors can be any faculty member that works for the university. Our office encourages students to find a faculty member who is in their interested field of study, one the student has taken a past course with, or one they feel they have made a connection with during their time on the Hill. 

Students who are awarded FUSE grants receive their stipend when the Final Report form has been submitted and all of the expected deliverables have been met. Students who do not successfully meet all the deliverables are not eligible to receive the $500.00 stipend. 

FUSE funds are accessed through each faculty mentor's department. The department procurement card can be used to purchase research supplies and make travel arrangements. After the purchase has been made, department personnel will send the transaction to FUSE for reimbursement. Students and/or mentors should not make purchases with a personal credit card as reimbursement cannot be guaranteed. Students and/or mentors are not permitted to sign any purchasing contracts. No spending will be allowed before the Award Date and should end 30 days prior to the Final Report End Date. For more details on spending guidelines, click here.

FUSE Applications are reviewed by a minimum of three faculty who are typically from the same academic college as the faculty mentor. 

Each cycle (Spring and Fall) run approximately 17 months. The Spring cycle begins in January and ends in May of the following year. The Fall cycle begins in August and ends in December of the following year. For example, Spring 2026 will run from 1-15-2026 through 5-15-2027. 

Visit the FUSE homepage.