The Academic and Professional Enrichment Fund (APEF) provides travel funds to support undergraduate student travel to academic conferences and meetings coordinated by a faculty sponsor. 

APEF is available to all undergraduate students who may be looking for one time funding to attend an academic conference that is related to their major, minor, and/or professional goals, or to engage in a professional experience. Students must be accompanied by a coordinating faculty member.

Attending a conference with a faculty member can be a valuable experience which can enrich a student’s understanding of a discipline and subsequent professions. APEF is intended to assist students in attending such conferences. 

About the Award

AWARD
Awards of up to $500.00 will be granted per student for up to four students, totaling $2000.00 per faculty member. A faculty member may, if needed, apply for more than 4 students, however the award cap remains $2000.00. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship for additional information.

APEF is divided into 4 allotments which are distributed equally over the fiscal year (July-September, October-December, January-March, April-June). Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis each quarter (provided proposals meet established guidelines) until funds are exhausted for the quarter.

Please note: the APEF grant is coordinated by a faculty sponsor, but the funds are for student travel only. Faculty members and students are eligible for funding only once per fiscal year. No more than two grants per faculty department will be granted per fiscal year.

ELIGIBILITY
Funding is available to all tenure, tenure-track, visitor and affiliate faculty.

Funding eligibility is open to all undergraduate students who meet the following:

• Are at least halftime student of Grand Valley State University at time of travel (6 credits for undergraduates)
• Are in good academic standing with the university

Please note: APEF is NOT intended to fund class trips and is NOT intended to fund student presenters.

REVIEW
Although this is a non-competitive grant, applications will be reviewed by the Director of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship for eligibility, quality, and/or alignment with the intent of the Academic and Professional Enrichment Fund. Please allow 10 business days for grant application review.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted through our online form on a per quarter basis for the July 1-June 30 fiscal year until funds are depleted. Funding awards will be on a first come, first served basis.

The faculty member applicant needs to complete the application form and obtain the required signatures. The signature page must be submitted through the online application. If you have been approved for more than four students, please also include the additional student information sheet through the online form.

Applications are due to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship no later than 30 days before the intended travel within the appropriate funding quarter. We request a minimum of thirty days to process your application. For example, if your conference begins on May 1st, your deadline to apply would be April 1st.

Get Signatures

Complete Application Form

Additional Student Information (if needed)

Information for Department Coordinators

Report & Reimbursement Instructions

AWARDED FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES
The department should work with the student(s) to determine travel arrangements. It is up to the department to decide how the travel will be initially funded, whether that be by department purchases, student out of pocket purchases, etc. The awarded faculty's department must request a fund transfer through OnBase to OURS. Undergraduate Research & Scholarship is listed among the departments. Attach copies of processed student travel receipts (i.e. department purchases, processed student T&E forms and receipts, etc.) to the OnBase fund transfer request.  We will process the request for reimbursement transfer from the awarded faculty's department upon approval of the student report(s).

Faculty members are responsible for:

• Applying for the APEF grant
• Communicating APEF obligations to the students
• Communicating travel expense arrangements to the students
• Traveling to the conference with the students
• Making sure the students complete the APEF Survey and submit the APEF Conference Reflective Essay within 2 weeks from the last day of the conference

AWARDED STUDENT(S) RESPONSIBILITIES
The student(s) must submit the APEF Conference Reflective Essay and complete the APEF Survey within 2 weeks from the last day of the conference. This includes:

• APEF Survey and Reflective Essay:
  • SUBMIT THESE DOCUMENTS ONLINE - You will be asked to complete your actual budget. You will then complete the APEF Survey and then upload your APEF Conference Reflective Essay as a PDF document.
    • APEF Survey: This is a brief survey about your experience at the academic conference, performance, exhibit, or competition. 
    • APEF Reflective Essay: The Grand Valley education helps you develop skills that make our graduates well-rounded employees and citizens. This includes having well-developed skills in the areas below. Please submit a reflection essay that addresses how attending the conference contributed to your skills in TWO of the areas listed below. You can choose any two that seem most fitting to your experience. Be sure to submit any references used in your response. The essay should be at least 500 words. 
      • Leadership
      • Communications
      • Problem solving
      • Intercultural competence
      • Sustainability
      • Team Building
      • Team Leadership
      • Teamwork
      • Critical Thinking
      • Decision Making
      • Creativity

Information for Department Coordinators

Please note:

• The awarded faculty member's department is responsible for the initial travel costs for the students
• APEF covers student costs ONLY (not faculty travel costs)
• APEF grants up to $500 per student for up to 4 students
• The awarded faculty member's department must request reimbursement of student costs through OnBase. Undergraduate Research & Scholarship is listed among the departments. Attach copies of student travel receipts (i.e. department purchases, student T&E forms and receipts, etc.) to the OnBase fund transfer request
• OURS will process the request for reimbursement transfer from the awarded faculty member's department upon approval of the student report(s)
• If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected] or (616) 331-8100

Please Note:  The APEF grant and the ACF grant are mutually exclusive. A student may only receive one grant per fiscal year.