First-generation Student Success Research Grants

Request for Applications

Title of the opportunity: You First at VCU Student Success Summer Research Grants

Description: The You First at VCU First-Generation Student Success and Research Center invites applications for funding to support scholarly activity focused on first-generation/low-income college student success. Projects may address student success barriers (social, academic, health related, and financial), new approaches and innovations to enhancing student success, faculty engagement in activities related to success of first-generation students, and teaching/learning approaches. You First at VCU is also interested in supporting interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches pertinent to the success of first-generation/low-income college students.

Note: Applications can focus on current research projects to help fund continued efforts, including summer pay, participation incentives, conference travel, etc. 

These awards provide funding of up to $3,000 to faculty. 

All full-time faculty regardless of rank or tenure status are eligible to apply.

Research funds are for Summer 2026 (May 15, 2026, to August 15, 2026). Awards will be made in May.

Submission instructions: Font should be Arial, at a size of 11 or larger. Margins, in all directions, must be at least one inch. The entire package should be uploaded as one PDF file in the Google submission form. Complete the following sections and save, in the order listed below, as a single PDF named PILastnameFirstname_fgssrg2026.pdf (e.g., SmithJane_fgssrg2026.pdf).

A complete application will consist of the following sections, submitted as a single PDF document as described above.

1. A preliminary statement clarifying that the focus of the project is on first-generation student success, low-income student success, or both first-generation and low-income student success.
   
   The focus of this project is on ________________ student success
   
   
2. Abstract (250 words maximum; concisely convey, in lay terms, the nature of the project and its significance)
   
   
3. Research Plan (3 pages maximum)
   1. Background & Significance
   2. Specific Aims/Research Questions
   3. Research/Scholarship methodology that is well-designed, including appropriate measures, protocol(s), and analysis
   4. Description of the contribution of the project to the investigator's scholarly trajectory/line of inquiry and plan for external support
4. References Cited/Bibliography (2 pages maximum; use the citation format appropriate for your field)
5. Biosketch/CV (up to 5 pages)
6. Budget Justification (1 page)
7. Acknowledgement and support from the department chair (or equivalent) of submission of this proposal (email is acceptable)

Submission deadline: Submit electronically no later than 5:00 P.M. on April 17, 2026.

Criteria for review:

The first and most important criterion is that the project addresses an issue relevant to the success of first-generation students.

• Significance - Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? Will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
  
  
• Innovation - Are the concepts, approaches/methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to the investigation of issues relevant to first-generation/low-income student success? 
  
  
• Investigators – Is the PI (and collaborators) well-suited to the project? If the project includes collaborators, are the investigators complementary?
  
  
• Approach – Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project?
  
  
• Feasibility and Future Directions – One purpose of the grant is to give a significant boost to the applicants for the next level of grant support, preferably external. It is important to provide evidence, by Biosketch or directly, of a plan or direction for your research trajectory that the current application supports.

Budget and Justification: Please submit a detailed account of the expenses associated with the planned proposal with written justification. One-page maximum.

• Personnel (9-month faculty summer pay or graduate/undergraduate student support): For each person employed under the grant, describe the activities they will perform, the estimated number of hours to be worked, the hourly rate of pay, and the total estimated cost of each assistant.
  
  
• Travel: List estimated airfare, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses as well as the approximate dates of travel and number of days of research (economy class flights only are allowed).
  
  
• Supplies: Please itemize supplies in separate subcategories, such as books, materials, recordings, tools, chemicals, reagents, etc.
  
  
• Equipment: Justify any equipment you need for the project, and estimate its cost.
  
  
• Other: Describe and estimate the cost of any additional research or scholarship activities to be supported by the grant, indicating how you arrived at the estimate.