ArtSci Catalyst Grants
2025-26

The College of Arts & Sciences will provide internal catalyst grants of up to $20,000 to help faculty cultivate their innovative research/creative/teaching activities that are likely to attract external funding, whether through federal agencies, private foundations, legislative avenues, or partnerships. Those that demonstrate cross disciplinary involvement will also be given priority. PIs will have up to 18 months to meet the goals outlined in their project.

Eligibility

Funding is limited and competitive.

  • Tenure-track, tenured, and professional practice faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences are eligible to apply for a Catalyst Grant. Those in limited term positions (e.g. adjunct faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate student assistants) are not eligible to serve as PIs.
  • Faculty are eligible for one award per fiscal year (July 1-June 30) in support of their area of excellence as defined on their role statement.
    • There are TWO (2) application cycles for 2025-26.
      • Cycle 1: Due October 1, 2025
      • Cycle 2: Due March 1, 2026
    • Notifications will be sent to faculty within 3 weeks of the due date.
  • Faculty with expenses of less than $1500 should apply for a C.A.R.E Award.
  • Faculty who offer matched funding through other sources such as returned F&A accounts, external grants and awards, other USU center awards, and private funds may receive priority.
  • Faculty may only be the primary investigator on one ArtSci Catalyst Grant at a time. Faculty teams may apply for 1 award per project, per fiscal year. Regardless of the number of faculty on a research team, the maximum funding per award is $20,000. Faculty may be co-Is on multiple awards per fiscal year but can only be listed as PI for one project (either individual or team).
  • Graduate and undergraduate students are not eligible to apply for ArtSci Catalyst Grants as PIs but faculty may pay graduate and undergraduate students through received funds.

Projects & Outcomes

Projects should develop new initiatives or directions in their discipline and generate outcomes that will lead to future external funding. Targets for extramural funding include federal sponsors, private foundations, and legislative funds. 

Funded projects must have clearly defined outcomes that include at least one research, creative, or teaching product (broadly defined). One outcome must be a grant or other extramural proposal to an extramural target within 18 months of project completion. 

Activities & Expenses

A broad range of activities and expenses can be supported by ArtSci Catalyst Grants. ArtSci faculty are involved in many research, creative, and teaching endeavors that require different kinds of activities. 

For example, PIs may propose field research/creative work, collection of pilot data, lab and scientific supplies/equipment, software, studio work, human subject focus groups, efficacy trials, analysis of existing datasets, community-engaged research with external partners, and a variety of creative expression. Other activities and expenses may also be appropriate and covered. While supplemental faculty salary is an allowable expense, those budgets that seek to cover other kinds of expenses, especially support for graduate and undergraduate students may be prioritized. 

Prohibited Expenses

  1. Conference travel and registration fees are not covered by Catalyst Grants unless it is paramount that an activity be conducted at a professional conference. Faculty should apply for a C.A.R.E. Award to cover conference expenses.
  2. Professional memberships in scholarly societies and groups.

Instructions

Please fill out the corresponding online form and upload documentation:

  • Project Narrative (3-pages maximum; 12pt font, single spaced); This narrative should be organized in the following format and in the following order:
    • Part I: Overview of Project: Briefly describe the proposed research, teaching, or creative project. 
    • Part II: Aims & Significance: Describe the aims and significance of the project, including how project aims/goals are innovative in your discipline.
    • Part III: Research Plan: Provide a detailed work plan that identifies project objectives, the person(s) responsible for carrying out the proposed work, the methods and resources to be used, and timelines for activities and project completion.
    • Part IV: Outcomes: List the intended outcomes. Include links to the extramural targets where appropriate. Briefly explain the justification for each extramural target.
  • Detailed Budget & Justification (no page limit): Provide brief justifications for each line item.
    • See above for a list of prohibited expenses. Although salary support is permitted, projects dedicating resources to the conduction of research/creative/teaching activities and student support may be prioritized.
    • List any sources of matched or contributing funding from other sources (e.g., departmental support, individual PI return accounts, external grants/awards)
  • Works Cited/Bibliography (maximum 1 page)
  • Updated Watermark Faculty Success (in lieu of a C.V., please update WFS)

Application Review

The College of Arts & Sciences Associate Deans review applications, score each according to a rubric, and make recommendations to the Dean for support. Please direct questions about this program to Associate Dean Julia Gossard (julia.gossard@usu.edu).

Receiving Funds

Funds are transferred to your Business Services manager in your home department who will create an index for you. Any travel that this award covers must adhere to Utah State University’s travel policies and procedures. Expenses beyond the approved award amount are the applicant’s responsibility. For student salaries or other expenses internal to the University, different procedures may be followed. Please contact your department’s business manager for questions related to index numbers, direct purchasing, and reimbursements.

Final Report

A final report at the end of your award period is required. You will also need to submit evidence of your final product to the Associate Dean for Faculty Success.