Academics

Remote Innovation Grants available for summer 2021

Grants from the Student Engagement Network can be applied in many different ways

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Student Engagement Network (SEN) has opened the application process for a new round of grants that will support both remote and in-person undergraduate engagement experiences during summer 2021.

The deadline to apply for a Remote Innovation Grant is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 21. The application can be found here. Award decision notifications will be sent by the week of April 5, and all engagement experiences during this grant cycle should be completed by Aug. 15, 2021.

Undergraduate students from all Penn State campuses are invited to apply for a grant, which is designed to support expenses related to completing an experience in the spirit of remote or in-person living and learning and that that complies with safety protocols Penn State has put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students who are granted funding will receive $1,000 or $2,000 to complete their experience during the summer and are required to participate in the SEN Online Canvas course (no tuition cost, non-credit bearing), centered on the student engagement journey. Each student will also be assigned a Penn State Engagement Coach to help them complete their virtual/remote experience. A total of $90,000 in grants will be awarded in summer 2021.

Projects must comply with federal, state, local and University policies related to COVID-19 safety.

The below are examples of the types of engagement experiences SEN will consider for funding. Students are encouraged to reach out to SEN staff if they have questions about Remote Innovation Grants.

  • undergraduate research
  • professional experiences
  • community-based learning
  • creative accomplishments
  • courses with an out-of-class component
  • organizational experiences
  • peer mentoring
  • self-directed student engagement
  • volunteerism
  • employment experiences
  • study away/study abroad experience

To see previously funded projects, visit engage.psu.edu/stories.

The Student Engagement Network is a joint initiative between Undergraduate Education, Student Affairs, and Outreach and Online Education. The mission of the Student Engagement Network is to advance the power of participation by connecting students with experiences that empower them to make a positive impact as citizens and leaders of the world.

Last Updated March 4, 2021