Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of financial support are available to students interested to do research?
Undergraduate Research Scholarships of up to $1,000 per semester are awarded to qualified undergraduate students involved in independent scholarly research. The office also provides up to $1,500 in matching funds for graduate students who are involved in independent creative and scholarly research.

I am a student looking to conduct research or to find a research project I am interested in? Where should I start? Who/where should I contact to get information?
Contact the Dean of the school or Chair of the department in which you are  interested to find out what ongoing research projects their faculty are involved in. You can also check with your academic advisor. Research the school/department website to learn of the kinds of research studies faculty members are conducting and make an appointment to see them or send an email.

How may I apply for an Undergraduate Research Scholarship or Graduate Matching fund?
A faculty mentor with whom you will be collaborating with must submit an Undergraduate Research Scholarship application at the beginning of the semester or a graduate Assistantship Appointment contract. Applications are available online.  

How will I be notified of the outcome of my application?
All decisions made will be communicated to your research adviser/mentor via email.

Are undergraduate Research Scholarship available in the summer?
Yes.

What other kinds of financial support/scholarship are available?
Check with your school/department and/or student financial aid office to see what other scholarships are available and deadlines for receipt of applications.

What are Faculty Activity Creative Awards (FAR)?
These are financial awards given yearly to faculty based on the level of scholarly productivity and creativity determined from the annual January reports.

How are  FAR awards received?
Individuals may elect to receive the awards as taxable income or request that it be put in a non taxable research fund that can be used for professional development.

Do I need to notify the office of my decision on how I wish to receive these funds?
Yes, persons must notify the office on how he or she wishes to receive these funds so that the appropriate forms are filled out.

What is a faculty Research Grant?
This is a scholarly research grant awarded on a yearly basis by Andrews University, through the Office of Research, to all Andrews University faculty who apply and are approved.

How may I apply for an internal Faculty Research grant?
Each year, announcements are sent out to all university faculty via email notifying them of the application cycle. Applications are then submitted electronically.

How many times is the faculty research grant awarded in an academic year?
The grant is awarded once during the academic year to those who qualify.

How many times can I apply for a grant within an academic year?
Once.

What happens if my grant application is denied?
You may consider applying again in the next application cycle and/or make an appointment to speak with the Dean of research.

Who administers the internal Research grant?
The Office of Research and Creative Scholarship

What becomes of my unused faculty research grant at the end of the fiscal year?
Individuals who are in the first year of their grant can apply for an extension of these funds(application available online) to the following year not more than once. Applications must be received before the end of fiscal year prior to the year for which extension is being requested to allow ample time for review. Individuals for whom a carry over request was approved in the previous year are not be eligible for another extension and thus will lose any unused balance.

Where do I go help with writing?
Individuals who are seeking guidance for preparing a grant proposal or who may have other grant-related questions may make an appointment to meet with the Associate Dean of Research and Creative Scholarship. During the application cycle for the Andrews University faculty research grants, persons are encouraged to submit a pre-proposal for critique and evaluation by an anonymous peer review group before the final deadline.

When will I be notified of the decision of my grant application?
Decisions are sent out before the beginning of the fiscal year.

How do I know what my balance is at any given time?
You may contact the Office of Research to obtain this information. Periodically, a financial statement will be mailed out to you for your record.

What is the IRB?
The Institutional Review Board or the IRB for short was instituted to protect the welfare of human subjects recruited to participate in research and to ensure that such research is performed under ethical standards with the highest level of integrity and expertise.

How often does the Andrews University IRB meet?
The Board convenes on the second Monday of every month, except for holidays, to review proposals that fall under the "full review" category.

How many levels of proposal reviews are recognized by the AU IRB?
Exempt, Expedited and Full. Applicants are advised to submit a proposal at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled IRB meeting if he or she suspects that their study may fall under full review. Review the published AU guidelines for more information.

How do I begin the process with the AU IRB
Fill out and submit an application online.

Can I apply for retroactive approval for a research project already?
No.

What must I do if my study is not completed within 12 months from the date of my approval?
Request an extension before your approval notice expires by filling out the "Continue Review" application found on the website. The request must be received at least 2 weeks before end date.

How does the AU IRB work for me?
The IRB provides awareness and seeks to safeguard individuals involved in research  from potential risk.

Is there a particular format to submit proposals to the IRB?
Yes. Proposals must be tailored after the format outlined in the IRB application.

How long is my IRB approval to conduct a given research valid for?
One year from the date of approval.

What should I do if I need to make changes to my study after an approval is granted?
A letter should be submitted to the IRB with the name of researcher, title of research, protocol # assigned and the intended change(s) to be made.

Can I get approval for a study that has started or been completed prior to turning in an application to the IRB?
No. Applications must be submitted and approved by the IRB before any research can begin.