The Honors Research and Travel Fund (HRTF) supports Honors students engaged in experiential learning through research, conference travel, and study abroad. Honors students in good standing may apply. Maximum funding from the HRTF for any Honors student for all types of supported experiences is $5,000 over four years. All funding must be used and accounted for by July 1 in the academic year of the student’s graduation. Honors prioritizes first-time applications.
Students must seek matching funding (from sources such as departments, colleges, URCO, USUSA). The Office of Research website outlines funding opportunities and some departments or colleges also match funding. The OGE website outlines funding opportunities for study abroad, and students are also encouraged to consult USU’s scholarship platform ScholarshipUniverse for more information. Please note, however, that HRTF support is not contingent on other funding awarded.
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Research and Creative Work
Honors research and creative work awards support only those activities conducted within the framework of an approved Honors Mentoring Agreement (HMA) or Honors Capstone proposal.
Learning opportunities eligible for Honors research and creative work funding include:
- Research, scholarship, and creative activities or materials that are central to an Honors Mentoring Agreement (HMA) or Honors Capstone
- Research trips to archives, libraries, or field sites as HMA or Honors Capstone work
- International service opportunities as HMA or Honors Capstone work
- International or domestic internships as HMA or Honors Capstone work
- Enrollment as HMA work in a non-USU course that prepares the student for the Honors Capstone Project
- NCHC “Partners in Parks” program fees and/or travel expenses as HMA work
Note: Matching funds for a successful URCO grant do NOT require an HRTF application. The match will automatically be awarded by Honors.
Examples of ineligible expenses for HRTF funding include:
- Personal equipment (iPods, digital cameras, computers, or any equipment that would remain the
- student’s property)
- Non-professional or educational travel (personal trips, vacations, social events, or companion travel)
- USU tuition
- Student stipends or wages
The maximum award per research or creative work project is $500 (minimum $50); Honors students may apply for one research or conference travel award per term (up to $1000 total award annually), in addition to any study abroad funding awarded.
The application form requires 1) the total funding amount requested; 2) the title and start/end dates of the HMA the funding is intended to support; and 3) a list of other funding sources for which the student has applied. The application must also include 4) a detailed budget breaking out specific costs included in the total funding amount requested.
All students awarded Honors research funding must include in their HMA completion documentation an acknowledgment of Honors financial support; the HMA reflection must also include a paragraph on the professional and academic impact of receiving an Honors research award.
Conference Travel
Honors conference travel awards support honors students presenting at academic or professional conferences.
Learning opportunities eligible for Honors conference travel funding include:
- Oral presentations at academic or professional conferences
- Poster presentations at academic or professional conferences
- Panel or performance-based presentations at academic or professional conferences
Examples of ineligible opportunities include:
- Attendance at academic or professional conferences without presentation
- Attendance at academic or professional conferences for the sole purpose of participating in a workshop, training, or certification exam or for obtaining continuing education credit (although such opportunities may be covered by Honors research funding if they are tied to an Honors Mentoring Agreement)
The maximum award per conference is $500 (minimum $50); Honors students may apply for one research or conference travel award per term (up to $1000 total award per academic year), in addition to any study abroad funding awarded.
The Travel Reimbursement (TR) form used to close out the applicant’s Travel Authorization (TA) will serve as documentation of the completion of travel. No other reporting is required.
Study Abroad
Honors study abroad awards are limited to programs with a minimum duration of two weeks. Please note that students must obtain OGE approval of the proposed study-abroad program as part of submitting their Honors funding application in ServiceNow.
Examples of expenses not eligible for funding include:
- Non-professional or non-educational travel (personal trips, vacations, social events, or trips shorter than the two-week minimum duration for funding)
- Companion expenses
- Gifts and souvenirs
The amount of study abroad funding awarded depends on total cost, duration, and academic impact of the experience, but Honors typically awards $1000 for trips of at least four weeks and $500 for shorter trips (minimum two weeks). The maximum total award for study abroad over an applicant’s time as an undergraduate at USU is $1000.
The application form requires 1) the total funding amount requested; 2) the name and dates of the study-abroad program; and 3) a list of other funding sources for which the student has applied. The application must also include 4) a 200-word description of the trip and its academic impact and 5) a detailed budget breaking out specific costs included in the total funding amount requested (using the template provided in ServiceNow).
Students awarded Honors study abroad funding must, within one month of completion of travel, write and send to honors@usu.edu a reflection on the personal and academic impact of their study abroad experience.