Funding for GradStarter Projects


Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ GradStarter Award

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) has secured $20,000 to use to support GradStarter projects. GPS will focus on funding projects that:

  • are pilot projects
  • improve graduate and postdoctoral scholarship and promote intellectual community
  • enhance the stature of Rice graduate students and postdocs
  • garner strong community support

Additionally, other Rice entities will be invited to review and fund submitted projects that align with their missions.

GPS funding decisions for GradStarter projects will be announced twice a year, early in the Fall and Spring semesters.

 

Spring 2018 Funding:  Proposals must be submitted by November 15th, 2017

Fall 2018 Funding:  Proposals must be submitted by June 15th, 2018.

 


Funding Allocation Guidelines

Please, refer to the following guidelines when developing and assessing your GradStarter project and budget.

The goal of GradStarter is to support projects that will have the greatest impact on the academic achievement of Rice graduate students and postdocs. Therefore, funds from the GradStarter award should not be used for the following:

  • Individual research projects required for your degree
  • Equipment or software for personal use
  • Travel
  • Student compensation or salaries
  • Gift cards
  • Contributions to campaign funds or partisan political endorsements
  • Donations to other organizations

Additionally, GradStarter awards are not intended to be a source of ongoing support. If you have a regularly occurring project that will continue outside the awarded year, please provide a plan for long term support and sustainability.

 


Funding Distribution and Reimbursements 

GradStarter funding is available through the payment of an invoice or through a Concur Expense Report.  Transfers and cash advances are not available.

  • To request that an invoice be paid, please send a scan of the invoice to Kiri Kilpatrick (kiri.kilpatrick@rice.edu) with the subject line “GradStarter Invoice.”  Please include the name of your funded project in the email as well.
  • For purchases made on a PCard, please title the Expense Report “GradStarter – Project Name.”  Save and upload the receipts.  These should be directed to Kiri Kilpatrick (kek2) for the expenses to be allocated.
  • For purchases made on a Student Activities PCard, when submitting a Student Activities Concur Report, please indicate that you received GradStarter funding from GPS under “Other funding explanations”.
  • For purchases made out of pocket, please include these in a Concur Expense Report from the account of the individual to be reimbursed.  Enter the expense as these as out of pocket expenses and submit to Kiri Kilpatrick (kek2) for allocation and reimbursement.

For assistance with Concur, please visit concur.rice.edu.

Balances are available by request.  Please send request and questions to Kiri Kilpatrick.