Scholarships, Funds, and Grants

The College of Liberal Arts Student Research Fund supports research by students enrolled in CLA degree programs. Projects may include, but are not limited to, Master’s theses, senior projects, senior theses, or independent studies conducted in any CLA department. Funded projects must have a faculty sponsor who is a member of the faculty in the College of Liberal Arts. If the faculty sponsor is not from the College of Liberal Arts, the student’s department chair must approve the faculty sponsor participation.

Students may use these grants ($500 maximum) to cover the expense of, for example, materials, software, postage, copying, and research travel. Grant money may not be used for tuition, secretarial assistance, entertainment, or for compensating each and every participant in a study. When the project is completed, applicants must submit a copy of the research to the Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

How to Apply for a Small Grant for Independent Student Research

College of Liberal Arts Student Research Application and Budget (pdf document) >

First, talk it over with a sponsor
You must discuss your research idea with a faculty member who agrees to serve as sponsor. Working closely with your sponsor, determine:

• the problem to be explored
• the objectives of the project
• the activities to be undertaken
• a budget

Then, write the proposal
Your proposal should be brief—no more than 1000 words, or four double-spaced pages—yet informatively specific and rigorously organized. The proposal must include five sections: Problem, Objectives, Activities, Budget, and Contact Information. You must also include an approval form signed by your faculty sponsor and your department chair.

1. Problem: Describe the problem you wish to explore, or the question to which you seek an answer.
    
2. Objectives: Describe the anticipated outcomes of your project (“To learn …” “To discover…” “To create …”). If appropriate, describe the social and/or scholarly benefits of the project.
    
3. Procedures: Describe what you will do to complete the project. Be sure to aim this description toward generally educated readers who will not be familiar with your professional jargon. At the same time you should thoroughly describe your methods so it is clear how you will be able to answer the problem described in Section 1. Include a timeline with estimated date of completion.
    
4. Budget: Itemize the costs of completing your project. All items requested in the budget should be accounted for in your Procedures. Please remember that grants are limited to $500.

5. Contact Information: Please include your e-mail address.

Finally
Every proposal must be signed by the applicant, the faculty sponsor, and the Chair of the sponsor’s department.

Email your application to: 

Deadlines for Submission of Proposals

There will be two deadlines for submitting applications for awards during each academic year. For projects submitted on September 18 and to be completed during the academic year (October 1-June 30) all funds must be expended by June 30. Proposals submitted on February 15, for projects to be completed from March 1 to June 30, all funds must be expended by June 30.

The funds cannot be applied retroactively, so students are encouraged to plan ahead with their faculty sponsor.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Student Travel Fund has two main purposes:

1. To support student travel to present original research/papers at conferences, up to a maximum of $500
2. To encourage study or research abroad, up to a maximum of $750
   
   Please note, these funds cannot be applied retroactively, so please plan ahead with your faculty sponsor.

How to Apply (Conference Presentation)
College of Liberal Arts Student Travel Fund Application and Budget (pdf document) >

Submit an application which details travel to present a paper at a professional conference. The proposal must include:

• The titled of the conference, dates, and location
• A detailed budget; eligible expenses include conference registration, transportation, accommodations and meals. (If presenting with other students, shared accommodations will be preferred, when possible.)
• Written evidence that the paper was accepted for presentation
• Approval form signed by your sponsoring faculty or your advisor and home department chair
• Email your completed application to: 
  • Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean CLA

    bjrgla@rit.edu

How to Apply (Study Abroad/International Research)
College of Liberal Arts Student Study Abroad Application and Budget (pdf document) > 

Submit an application which details the following:

• A brief description of no more than 300 words regarding the travel, its purpose and its value to your educational or professional enrichment
• The duration of time to be spent abroad
• A budget itemizing expenses
• Proof of acceptance into a study abroad program or approval of the research project if working with outside sponsors at the time of this application. Note the degree of your language preparation, if applicable.
• Approval of your advisor and department chair
• Email your completed application to: 
  • Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean CLA

    bjrgla@rit.edu

Timeline

In early 2020, the College of Liberal Arts and RIT’s Office of International Education and Global Programs introduced an automatic grant of $500 for liberal arts majors studying abroad on RIT study abroad programs. The grant is designed to encourage students to pursue a global experience as part of their studies.

• There’s no application form to fill out.
• The grant is automatically applied to the student’s eServices account.
• There’s no required length of study.
• It's a one-time grant that can be used for programs lasting a few weeks to a semester or longer. Students aren’t required to study in a particular country, or a particular subject, as some scholarship programs do. For students at the Henrietta campus of RIT going on a program to one of RIT’s international campuses also counts. 

To qualify for the grant, liberal arts majors must:

• Achieve an academic average of 2.5 or above
• Be in good academic standing
• Enroll in one of more than 600 RIT-approved study abroad programs
• Verify their enrollment into one of those programs. 

Questions? Contact Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean at the College of Liberal Arts, at bjrgla@rit.edu

The Clark Internship Support Fund supports internships and co-ops for students enrolled full-time in the degree programs of the College of Liberal Arts. It is intended to provide partial financial assistance to students who wish to accept professionally valuable internships and co-ops that do not include sufficient levels of financial support. Awards shall be based on academic merit or financial need, at the discretion of the award committee, and though the award is available to both men and women, preference shall be given to women enrolled in the programs of the College.

The College of Liberal Arts reviews applications for Clark internship assistance each fall and spring. (See application dates below.) Applicants must be Liberal Arts degree program students who plan to go on a co-op or internship during the upcoming fall, spring, or summer semesters.

How to Apply 

Clark Internship Support Application and Budget (pdf document) >

• Complete an application form and email it and a document that verifies your of co-op/internship offer (e.g. an email or letter from your internship or co-op employer in which they offer you an internship/co-op position) to: 
  • Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean CLA

    bjrgla@rit.edu

     

• Deadlines: October 31 (for spring co-ops/internships) and March 27 (for summer or fall co-ops/internships). Deadlines are subject to rolling availability of funding. To inquire about availability of funding after the deadlines have passed, email: 
  • Gail Merritt, Senior Staff Specialist

    585-475-7631, cgmgla@rit.edu

If you receive an award, please note that you will be required to:

• Write a "thank-you" note to donors who made this award possible. Details on donor names and titles will be provided by the Office of Student Services, which will also handle postage and mailing of the notes.
• Due within three weeks of the start of the semester following your internship/co-op, write a brief summary (2-3 pages) of your experiences during your co-op or internship and email it to: 
  • Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean CLA

    bjrgla@rit.edu

The Alumni & Friends Endowed Scholarship supports students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in the College or RIT, are enrolled full time in a Liberal Arts undergraduate degree program, and are in good academic standing. Eligible students must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in their degree program. The scholarship rewards students who have exercised leadership in improving the life of the RIT community.

Deadline: First Friday in April.

How to Apply

The Alumni & Friends Endowed Scholarship is administered by a committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Applications must include the following:

• A letter of support from the Chair of the student's program attesting to his or her good academic standing.
• Either a letter from a faculty member who can speak to the student's performance in a particular course or a letter from a member of the RIT community who has observed the student's work in a leadership capacity.
• A short essay of 250-500 words. In this essay the student should describe a specific event or activity in which she or he took a leadership role, explain that role, and discuss the benefit to the College or RIT community.

Examples of leadership include but are not limited to: serving as an officer in an active club or student organization, organizing an important event, or making a significant contribution to the College or RIT community independently of any particular club or organization.

Completed student applications and letters of support (chair and faculty or RIT community member) should be submitted by email to: 

RIT alumni and friends of the College, John and Kristine Simmons wish to expose high-performing RIT undergraduates to government and public policy careers through co-ops and internships in public policy, government affairs and issue advocacy. This fund creates the opportunity for students to learn first-hand about government service and operations and to deepen their understanding of democratic institutions and citizen engagement.

Open to students of any College of Liberal Arts major or double major. Selection for this scholarship will be based on:

• Full-time undergraduate enrollment in the College of Liberal Arts with an interest in public service and public policy
• Must secure an internship at the federal, state or local level in public service
• Good Academic Standing

Awards are intended to support stipends, relocation costs, housing, and/or some discretionary expenses. The awards are granted to make public service internships accessible to qualified applicants.

How to Apply 

Simmons Fund Application and Budget (pdf document) > 

• Complete an application form and send it along with verification of co-op/internship offer to:
  • Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean CLA

    bjrgla@rit.edu

• Deadlines: October 31 (for spring co-ops/internships) and March 27 (for summer or fall co-ops/internships). Deadlines are subject to rolling availability of funding. To inquire about availability of funding after the deadlines have passed, email:
  • Gail Merritt, Senior Staff Specialist

    585-475-7631, cgmgla@rit.edu

If you receive Simmons Scholars Internship Funds, please note that you will be required to:

• Due within three weeks of the start of the semester following completion of your internship, write a brief summary (2-3 pages) on your internship experiences, including highlights, responsibilities, and overall impact of the internship. Your statement will be shared with the Office of Career Services to help other students learn about the opportunity and experience. Email your statement to:
  • Bradley Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean CLA

    bjrgla@rit.edu

Past Simmons Scholars in the News:

• Political science and marketing double major completes co-op at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
• Student earns internship with U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle

The Liberal Arts Multidisciplinary Scholars program gives financial support to students in STEM majors who are interested in adding a second major from the College of Liberal Arts. The program was designed to enable students to double major and enrich their educational experience at RIT, while also ensuring they will graduate on time.

The program was created in 2022, thanks to a gift from Joyce Pratt, chair of RIT’s College of Liberal Arts National Council. When Pratt was a college student in the 1960s, she wanted to double major in math and Slavic languages and literature. At the time, her university said that her choice was not a viable option. Now, she is passionate about giving other students the opportunity that she didn’t have.

For more information about the program, email the COLA Office of Student Services.