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Catalyst Grants | First- and Second Year Students

The Honors Program’s Catalyst Grant provides support for research, civic, and/or leadership development experiences that involve serious engagement with diversity, equity, inclusion, or social justice issues. Early-stage efforts in these areas are welcomed, as the grant is designed to catalyze engagement that we hope you will continue over the course of your undergraduate career and beyond; ongoing efforts that can be enhanced through Catalyst funding are also welcomed. We expect to award a limited number of scholarships in the range of $500-1,000.

Eligibility: Honors students (in good standing) in their first or second year on campus (regardless of credit-hour standing) are eligible to apply. Includes transfer students.

Eligible and ineligible expenses will be determined in accordance with all university policies including health and safety policies. Funding cannot be used to pay U-M tuition. Typically, lab-funded research projects are not a funding priority, nevertheless, we invite such proposals illustrating the relationship of the activity to DEI and/or social justice. We will consider each request individually. Preliminary questions and discussions of possible Catalyst projects are welcome. Please contact us at honors.scholarships@umich.edu.

Catalyst-supported project requirements: Grant recipients engage in the proposed activity and complete three Canvas modules as a part of the grant reporting process. The grant reporting process is designed to foster community and support among recipients and advisors and to encourage stewardship of grant funds. The schedule for completing modules is bookended by an introductory post & reply (April) and an outcomes/reflections post (mid-December), with a progress post midway through the grant period (early September).

Timeline:  The application opens at noon the third Monday of January and closes at noon the last Monday of February. Decisions will be returned by late March. Grant funds may be used from the time of disbursement in March/April until the mid-December deadline for final reports. In 2024, the application will be open from noon on January 15th until noon on February 26th.

How:  Access the application form from a Umich email account. 

The application will ask you to:

(1)    Describe the activity for which you’re seeking support, including outcome goals. (≤ 200 words)

(2)    Explain how the activity is related to and contributes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or social justice. (≤ 200 words)

(3)    Explain how the activity contributes to your personal and/or academic growth and relates to any long term plans you are developing. (≤ 200 words)

(4)    Provide a budget for your activity.

(5)    Indicate any additional support sought from other sources. Other support is not required but we would like to know if you have applied for or received support from other sources.

(6)    Optional but strongly recommended: Provide an endorsement from a supervisor or faculty member involved in proposed activity or activity site. Endorsements should confirm the feasibility of your proposed project. (Suggested length: sufficient to the purpose; you will be able to attach a document or have an endorser send an email to honors.scholarships@umich.edu.)

 

Questions? Email honors.scholarships@umich.edu.

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