FALL 2023 Provost Undergraduate Research Initiative Logo

  • Provost's Undergraduate Research Initiative (Fall)

    College of Social Science / 2025-26 Academic Year

  • The College of Social Science announces the SSC-Provost’s Undergraduate Research Initiative Program (SSC-PURI), which supports undergraduate research through awards of up to $2,000 for Fall-Spring semesters for students majoring in our College.

     

    The SSC-PURI provides talented undergraduates, from first-year students to seniors, with an opportunity to work closely with faculty on substantial research projects—usually, but not exclusively, as part of the faculty member’s own scholarly project. 

     

    Proposals are due on Friday, October 3, 2025. 

     

    Please use the Program Guidelines to aid in filling out the application.

     

    Note: The Faculty Sponsor(s), will need to sign the application prior to submitting this application online. Faculty Sponsor(s) are responsible to consult with their Chair/Director about matching PURI funds up to $500 per student. 

     

    Note regarding signatures:

    If you have more than two students for the same project, please complete another application form to list the additional student. If the application is approved, we require a signature by each student and this will allow for that. Please ensure that the "Name of Project" is titled the same for each application form, to ensure that all students are included appropriately.

    If you do NOT have a student named before the October deadline, you may check the "I have no students at this time" box. This will open the "I am the Faculty Sponsor" section and allow you to sign and approve. IF you have selected this option, and later, you identify your student before the deadline, please go ahead and edit your application to include the student information, click on the green "Forward to Students for Signature" button so they can sign. (The college will do this if this occurs after the deadline.)

    When all signatures have been received, your application is complete. No further action is required.

  • Please note that students will receive their funds via stipend. This requires them to complete hiring paperwork. If your project is approved, it is the faculty mentor's responsibility to ensure their students complete the paperwork in a timely manner and ensure timesheets are submitted for their work.

  • Please include with your application:

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  • BEFORE CLICKING SUBMIT:

    Faculty Sponsor:

    NOTE: If you do not have your student(s) yet, please skip step #1 and go directly to step #2. If you later obtain your student information, and it's BEFORE the October 3 deadline, you can edit your application and include the student information. You will receive a link in your confirmation email to edit if necessary. Please follow step #1 so we can obtain your students' signatures.

    1. Click Green "Forward to Students for Signatures" button. This will automatically send an email with the link to your student(s) for their signature. You can exit out of the application. The information entered has been saved once you click on the green button.
    2. Once student signatures have been received (you should receive a notification that your application has been edited).
    3. You can use the link in your notification email to edit your application. You can check the "I am the faculty sponsor" box. This will bring up the agreement. If agreed to the conditions, please sign the application.
    4. Please check the "Approve" box and click "Submit".

    Student(s):

    1. Based on how your name is listed above, please check the "I am Student 1" or "I am Student 2" box.
    2. This will bring up the agreement. If you agree to the conditions, please sign.
    3. Please click the green "Forward to Faculty Sponsor for Signature" button. This will send an automatic email notification to let your faculty sponsor know you can signed the application and it is okay for them to complete the application.

    Once all signatures are obtained, the application is complete. The faculty sponsor will receive an email confirming that all requirements have been met before the deadline. 

    Decisions about the awards should be announced no later than Friday, October 17, 2025.

    If you have any questions about the application or have difficulty with the form, please reach out to Meghan Fang at fangmegh@msu.edu.

    Thank you!

  • Reminder for Faculty Sponsors and Student Researchers: Submission of a nomination gives the selection committee permission to review academic and financial aid records.

     

    By signing this application, I am stating that I have read and agreed to the requirements listed below: 

     

    1. I will complete required Responsible Conduct for Research modules. The Undergraduate Research Office will coordinate this requirement through email.
    2. I will track PURI experiences in the Spartan Experience Record using the My Spartan Story platform in collaboration with my research mentor and their team.
    3. I will present either a paper or a poster at the annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) in April of 2026.
    4. I will complete a final report describing my PURI experiences by the end of April 2026.
    5. I understand that it is my responsibility to work with the unit fiscal officer to complete my hiring paperwork and submit timesheets in a timely manner for work completed.
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  • Reminder for Faculty Sponsors and Student Researchers: Submission of a nomination gives the selection committee permission to review academic and financial aid records.

     

    By signing this application, I am stating that I have read and agreed to the requirements listed below: 

     

    1. I will complete required Responsible Conduct for Research modules. The Undergraduate Research Office will coordinate this requirement through email.
    2. I will track PURI experiences in the Spartan Experience Record using the My Spartan Story platform in collaboration with my research mentor and their team.
    3. I will present either a paper or a poster at the annual University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF) in April of 2026.
    4. I will complete a final report describing my PURI experiences by the end of April 2026.
    5. I understand that it is my responsibility to work with the unit fiscal officer to complete my hiring paperwork and submit timesheets in a timely manner for work completed.
  • Clear

  • Reminder for Faculty Sponsors and Student Researchers: Submission of a nomination gives the selection committee permission to review academic and financial aid records.

     

    By signing this application, I am stating that I have read and agreed to the requirements listed below: 

     

    1. I have consulted with my Chair/Director about unit matching funds or noted the funding situation in the Abstract.
    2. I will mentor the student(s) and encourage them to meet all PURI requirements including completing the Responsible Conduct for Research modules and presenting at UURAF in April of 2026.
    3. I will use the Spartan Experience Record to track the research experiences for my mentees.
    4. I will complete my portion of the final report and encourage my mentee to complete their portion by the end of April 2026.
    5. I understand it is my responsibility to ensure that my student(s) have completed their hiring paperwork and submit timesheets in a timely manner.
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