FAQ's on Funding
ELIGIBILITY
Am I eligible to receive a Sorin Fellows Program grant?
Applicant must be Sorin Fellow with a record of participation in the life of the program at the time of their grant proposal in order to be eligible to receive a Sorin Fellows Program grant.*
Sorin Fellows must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, or Holy Cross College.
*Please note, students graduating at the end of the current academic year are not eligible to receive summer funding.
GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS
How do I apply for funding?
Apply for a Sorin Fellows Program Grant here. There are different types of grants, depending on whether you are doing research, attending a conference, requesting support for a spiritual or human formation opportunity, or seeking placement in an internship. All grant applications require the submission of a proposal description, itemized budget, and curriculum vitae. A faculty letter of recommendation is encouraged, but not required (send to sorinfellows@nd.edu).
What makes for a competitive funding proposal?
A successful grant proposal effectively communicates how the project:
— Serves to enhance one’s academic and/or vocational endeavors, particularly in light of the Catholic moral and intellectual tradition.
— Aids to explore, deepen, or advance a robust understanding of human dignity, authentic human freedom, and the common good.
— Reflects and aligns with the mission of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture.
What expenses are Sorin Fellows Program grants eligible to cover?
Sorin Fellows Program grants are meant to help defray costs directly associated with the carrying out of a research project, conference participation, formation experience, or an internship/placement, including:
— Flights/Transportation (flights and/or gas mileage to and from internship location)
— Registration Fees (conference/seminar registration fees)
— Cost of Living (lodging, meals, daily transportation, etc.)
— International Health Insurance (when applicable)
What expenses are Sorin Fellows Program grants not eligible to cover?
University policy precludes Sorin Fellow Program grants from covering and/or defraying the cost of various expenses. Sorin Fellows Program grants are not eligible to defray the following costs:
— Placements without a stipend or salary (ex. wage-equivalency stipends).
— Material goods (electronics, research lab materials).
— Tuition (any domestic or international classes or seminars that result in course credit).
How are funding proposals weighed?
A proposal is weighed by its merit and feasibility, its resonance with the mission of the de Nicola Center, and the applicant's record of participation in the life of the Sorin Fellows Program at the time of application.
Can I apply jointly with another Sorin Fellow for a shared project?
Yes! Sorin Fellows are welcome to apply jointly for funding for shared projects. Sorin Fellows should submit individual applications, noting in the project description if the project is shared with another Sorin Fellow funding proposal. The individual funding limit of $5,000 per applicant still applies to shared projects.
I won’t know if I’ve been accepted to the research site/conference/seminar/service program or placement until after the funding deadline, should I still apply?
Yes! Sorin Fellows are welcome to apply pre-emptively for research projects, conferences, service programs, or placements. In these cases, applicants are eligible to be offered funding on a tentative basis. To complete the grant proposal and be eligible to receive funding, the applicant must furnish proof of (1) a project confirmation, conference registration, acceptance/offer from a sponsoring organization, or another suitable form of documentation; (2) proof of acceptance, commitment from the student, or another suitable form of documentation.
I have secured funding from another source, can I still apply for a Sorin Fellows Program grant?
Yes! Pursuing and securing supplemental forms of funding enhances the competitiveness of your application. In the application, applicants must itemize their anticipated expenses, note the total amount of funding requested both for the project and from the de Nicola Center, and identify any outstanding funding requests for the project as well as all funding secured through other sources.
Combined funding from a Sorin Fellows Program grant and other sources may not exceed the project’s total budget, and applicants must promptly inform the Sorin Fellows Program administrator of additional funding received at any point from application submission through completion of the trip.
Recipients must return any paid funds if they cancel the trip and must repay any non-refundable expenses incurred by the de Nicola Center (i.e. airfare directly paid) if cancellation is not due to documented illness or another justifying circumstance.
Do I need to have a specific project in mind when applying for a Placement Referral Request?
No. The Placement Referral Request serves to provide Sorin Fellows the opportunity to describe, in as much detail as possible, subject areas and fields of interest for potential summer placements. Sorin Fellows are welcomed and encouraged to identify individuals and organizations of interest to them, but need not provide those details for their request to be considered.
FUNDING CYCLES AND DEADLINES
When are the funding cycles?
Funding cycles take place over the course of the academic year (Fall semester, Winter Break, Spring semester) for projects that take place through the calendar year.
When are the application deadlines and notification dates?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. For priority funding consideration for projects during academic break periods, deadlines will be listed on the individual grant pages.
What is the difference between the priority deadline and the rolling deadline?
Grants offered for projects taking place over the course of the academic year while classes are in session are accepted on a rolling basis.*
Proposals for projects taking place while classes are not in session (including Fall semester mid-term break, Winter break, Spring semester mid-term break, and the summer recess), include a priority deadline.
Priority Deadline: Dates by which the submission of a grant proposal for a project taking place while classes are not in session receive priority review and consideration by the de Nicola Center; also guarantees notification of funding decision by set date.
Rolling Deadline: Each funding cycle’s rolling deadline allows Sorin Fellows to apply for grants for projects that take place while classes are in session.
Grants submitted after the priority deadline for projects taking place while classes are not in session (including Fall semester mid-term break, Winter break, Spring semester mid-term break, and the summer recess), are typically reviewed within three weeks of submission. However, these grant proposals are considered only after all proposals that were submitted by the priority deadline.
* Please note, Center-supported travel may not interfere with class attendance or completion of final exams as scheduled without receiving express permission from faculty in advance.
When will I be notified if I have been offered funding?
The timing of funding notifications depends on (1) application date; (2) project date.
Proposal submitted on a rolling basis for projects taking place while classes are in session: within three weeks from the time of application.
Proposal submitted by the priority deadline for projects taking place while classes are not in session: see notification dates for respective priority deadlines.
Proposal submitted after the priority deadline for projects taking place while classes are not in session: within three weeks from the time of application.*
*Please note, grant proposals submitted by the priority deadline for projects taking place while classes are not in session enjoy (1) first review and consideration; (2) guaranteed notification by set date.
Is there an individual funding limit per application?
Yes. There is a $5,000 individual funding limit per funding cycle. The majority of grants awarded typically fall between $1,000–$2,500 (depending on the scope of the project). Fellows cannot apply for multiple grants to fund the same project during a single funding cycle. Fellows can apply for multiple grants to fund distinct projects during a single funding cycle [e.g., International Conference ($2,000) + Research Project ($2,000) = $4,000]. Fellows can apply for multiple grants throughout the academic year. Each grant requires its own application [e.g., Fall semester Conference grant & Spring semester Research grant].
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR FUNDING RECIPIENTS
I’ve been offered funding, now what? How and when will I receive my funding?
After signing and returning your offer letter, funding is disbursed in one of two ways:
- For Notre Dame students who have a bank account on file with the university because of on-campus employment: A direct deposit will be issued into the bank account you have on file with the university.
- For Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College students, as well as Notre Dame students who do not have a bank account on file with the university (via insideND): A check will be made out in your name and you will be notified when it is available for pick up at the de Nicola Center offices.
Funds are typically made available to you within two weeks of your signing and returning your offer letter to the de Nicola Center.
Will I receive my funds in a lump sum or in multiple deposits?
Sorin Fellows typically received their funds in a lump sum. Situations in which an awardee requires multiple deposits are considered on a case by case basis.
I will be traveling internationally with the support of a Sorin Fellows Program grant, do I need to do anything to prepare?
Yes. Grant recipients are required to abide by all university policies relevant to one’s travel and placement. These policies may include, but may not be limited to:
- Obtaining proper permissions for international travel from Notre Dame International prior to payment of awarded funds.
- Submitting a complete Health Questionnaire and attending all required orientations.
- Obtaining international health insurance through GeoBlue (undergraduates only).
- Students are responsible for arranging their own travel and lodging during the course of their funded project; students traveling internationally should be prepared to apply for any necessary visas, etc., well in advance of their proposed project date.
My research will involve human subjects, do I need to interface with the IRB?
It depends. Students engaged in human subjects research (i.e., interaction with a living person or private information from existing data, documents, records or diagnostic specimens) must have their projects approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and pass the internet based training modules on the protection of human subjects. Review deadlines, submission process, and information about IRB education and training may be found on the Notre Dame Research website.
Questions concerning whether your research qualifies as human subject research should be directed to the Notre Dame Research at 574-631-1461 or compliance@nd.edu.
What follow-up is required when I receive a Sorin Fellows Program grant?
After conducting the project, grant recipients must provide the de Nicola Center with a 500-1000 word report about the experience and its outcome, as well as at least one high-resolution digital photograph (3000 pixels wide or larger) of the recipient on location during the placement. Reports and photographs must be emailed to the Center's Student Program Manager by the deadline communicated at the time of award. Unless permission is expressly denied, the de Nicola Center retains permission to share these reports and photographs.
The funding I’ve received will lead to a published paper or presentation, what attribution to the de Nicola Center is required?
Sorin Fellows whose funding, in whole or in part, results in a published paper, article, or conference presentation, must cite the support provided through the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture in any associated printed and/or published materials.