Experiential Learning Grant
Apply to receive funding from the Fulton Schools for your educational travel experiences
What is the Experiential Learning Grant (ELG)?
The Experiential Learning Grant is offered by the Fulton Schools Office of Academic and Student Affairs. We believe extracurricular experiences are critical to a student’s academic and personal development. Conferences, study abroad, and other experiences allow students to make positive community impacts, learn valuable skills, and gain recognition for themselves, the Fulton Schools, and ASU.
Who is eligible?
Any currently enrolled Fulton Schools undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing may apply.
This includes but is not limited to, students participating in Entrepreneurship & Innovation activities, Grand Challenges Scholars, and graduate students seeking travel and related funding.
Are you a Grand Challenges Scholar?
If you are a GCSP Student, apply for the GCSP ELG on the GCSP website below.
Click here to access the GCSP ELG website and Application.
What is the application timeline?
Rolling Applications
Applications for experiences are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning you can apply for a spring experience during the fall semester. However, there are specific deadlines for each semester’s experiences and additional deadlines for travel.
Important: If you are applying for an experience that involves travel (domestic or international), you must follow the additional travel deadlines, which are separate from the general semester deadlines.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester:
The last day to apply for a fall experience is September 25th.
- Spring Semester:
The last day to apply for a spring experience is February 15th.
Decisions will be made by March 1st.
- Summer Semester:
The last day to apply for a summer experience is April 15th.
Decisions will be made by May 1st.
Travel Deadlines
- International Travel:
Applications for international travel must be submitted at least
12 weeks before the start of the experience. This applies even if the term deadline (e.g., September 25 for fall) is later than this travel deadline. - Domestic Travel:
Applications for domestic travel must be submitted at least
6 weeks before the start of the experience. Again, this travel deadline takes priority over the term deadline.
Example:
If you’re applying for an experience that takes place in early October, and the term deadline is September 25th, you would still need to meet the 6-week domestic travel deadline (which would be mid-August). Similarly, for international travel, you’d need to apply at least 12 weeks in advance, regardless of the September 25th deadline.
Application Requirements
Online application
Submit an online application that includes information about yourself and the experience you are hoping to fund. Provide documentation about the experience, such as:
- Name of experience
- Conference/Program website
- Location
- Date of experience
When you click on the form, please click ” Sign in with Single Sign On.” You must sign in with your ASU email.
Personal statement
Write a 400-word minimum personal statement that is thoughtful and well-articulated. Use one of these prompts to develop your statement:
- What is your motivation for participating in this experience?
- What are your intended outcomes for this experience?
- How will this event enhance your academic experience?
- What actions will you take that will maximize your learning experience?
- How does your cultural or personal background influence your interest in this experience?
Generative AI is a technology that can often help students learn theories and concepts. However, the Experiential Learning Grant does not allow generative AI tools for any portion of the application process, including personal statements. Students confirmed to be engaging in non-allowable use of generative AI may be at risk of being ineligible for the Experiential Learning Grant.
ASU has many campus resources to support the writing of your personal statement. Please use them! You can schedule an appointment with the Writing Center or contact a faculty member in your school for feedback.
Unofficial transcripts
How to download your Unofficial Academic Transcript from My ASU:
- Select Unofficial Transcript to download a PDF transcript.
- Log in to My ASU.
- Go to the Classes tab in the upper left.
- Click Transcripts & Test Scores.
Faculty letter of support
Request a letter of support from a Fulton Schools of Engineering faculty mentor expressing support for you and your participation in the experience.
If you are presenting at a conference, ask your mentor to mention it in the letter.
faculty recommendation preferred (staff can provide this if necessary)
Experience confirmation
Provide evidence of the experience you plan to attend, such as a website URL or an email confirmation.
If you are presenting at a conference, provide proof you have been invited to speak. For example, an acceptance email or an event itinerary with your name on the schedule.
Specifics about monetary requests
You will need to provide specific amounts for each item in your request, as well as the total amount you are requesting. Funds may be requested for travel- or experience-related expenses. Examples include:
- Event/conference registration
- Airfare
- Hotel
- Mileage
- Car rental
- Meals during the experience
- Ground Transportation
- Materials/supplies needed for the experience
- Other travel or experience-related expenses
If you have applied for other funding sources, be prepared to describe the details of your additional funding requests.
Research Abstract
If you are applying for travel funds to present research at a conference, submit a research abstract. The abstract should be 50-100 words long and written in the third person for a general (non-expert) audience.
You must register with the Global Education Office
If you are traveling internationally for a trip that is not organized or sponsored by ASU (such as personal travel, internships, conferences, or events outside of ASU), you must register your travel with the Global Education Office. The process can take several days, as there are multiple levels of approval before your trip is confirmed.
*Students will not be approved until the Global Education Office approves their travel
Funding
Funding Information
Funding limits
You may be eligible for funding up to:
- Domestic travel – $800 per fiscal year
- International travel – $1000 per fiscal year
Once you receive grant approval
If your funding request is approved, you will be required to make your travel arrangements with the Fulton Schools’ Business Office. This is a requirement of ASU’s travel policy. You will receive more information at the time of grant approval.
After the Experience Requirements
Share your experience with us!
If you receive a grant, you must submit a focused reflection on your experience and at least one horizontal photo of you engaged in the experience (more are welcome) when you return within one month of your return.
Your reflection should summarize the outcomes of your event/project/travel and describe how the experience will enhance your engineering education and professional preparedness no longer than one page.
Send your written reflection and photo to Stephanie Becerra within one month of your return.
FAQs
Student Engagement will respond within 14 business days when you submit your application.
In most cases, you can apply while still securing your opportunity, but you must be able to provide proof of your acceptance or confirmation before the grant deadline.
You may apply multiple times, but you may only be funded once during an academic year (e.g., 2024-25; 2025-26).
Yes, you can apply if you are receiving other funding. You must disclose this on the application if you have received funding from other departments.
If you are being funded through a Fulton Student Organization (FSO), please note that the amount of funding will vary because the ELG can only be used as supplemental funding.
We highly recommend your letter of recommendation is written by a faculty member who knows you well and can speak to your academic abilities, work ethic, and potential for success in the proposed experiential learning opportunity.
If you are unable to obtain a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, you can submit one from an ASU staff member who can address your qualifications, work ethic, and the impact this experience will have on your education and career.
If you encounter any issues regarding the application or website please reach out to:
Stephanie Becerra
Management Intern, Student Success and Engagement
[email protected]
Reach out to a faculty member who is familiar with your academic work and can speak to your ability to succeed in the proposed experiential learning opportunity. Provide them with sufficient time to write the letter, and be sure to share details about the experience, why you’re applying for the grant, and any specific points you’d like them to address in the letter.
No. The grant does not typically fund your experiences in their entirety. Applicants should seek additional funding sources, such as the following:
- Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Funds-Tempe
- Undergraduate Student Government Poly (USG Poly)
- Graduate Professional Student Association (GPSA)
- Barrett Honors students: Thesis & Project Funding
Please be ready to provide documentation that you applied for other funding in your application.
The grant can cover any expenses related to the experience up to the approved amount. You have the flexibility to decide which expenses the funding will cover.
- Event/conference registration
- Airfare
- Hotel
- Mileage
- Car rental
- Meals during the experience
- Ground transportation
- Materials/supplies needed for the experience
- Other travel or experience-related expenses
Ready to apply?
Once you have all your application requirements prepared, submit your application online.
When you click the form, please click ” Sign in with Single Sign On” You must sign in with your ASU email.