Create One Application - Apply to Many Funders!

FAQs

 

FAQs About Creating Duplicate Projects in SAFE

Searching for Funding

When searching for funding in SAFE, students are required to respond to several questions about their intended project. It is presumed that the student will have already decided on these basic elements about their activity prior to applying for funding. These required fields are:

  1. Activity Type:
    • For Undergraduates-- Senior Thesis Research, Study Abroad, Internships, or Independent Projects
    • For Graduates--Research, Internships, or Conferences
  2. Time Period:
    • Fall Break, Fall Semester, Intercession Break, Spring Break, Spring Semester, Summer Break, or Winter Break.
  3. Location:
    • On Campus, Off Campus (Domestic), or Off Campus (International).
  4. Certificate (for undergraduates only): View of Undergraduate Search for Funding page:
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Students are asked to indicate any certificate programs which they are planning to complete.

View of Graduate Search for Funding page:



When funders create funding opportunities in SAFE, they specify the criteria for eligibility for the funding. Based on the parameters of their funding sources, funders may set very narrow eligibility criteria while others may keep it broad. The criteria set by funders which are automatically matched with the student's information and responses include:

1-4.  Same as above.

5.     Plan/Department/Division/Program/Degree/DCE/Generals Status

Funders can select one or more plan of these parameters or "no restrictions".

6.     Residential College (for undergraduates only)

Funders can select one or more residential college or "All".

SAFE will automatically match the student's search responses with the funder's eligibility criteria and display a list of all funding opportunities for which the student is eligible.

After the initial search for opportunities, students have the following options:

  1. Logout--none of the information entered in the search screen will be stored.
  2. Change Search Criteria--return to the search screen and change selections.
  3. Choose one or more opportunity (if available) and Apply for Funding.
  4. If the search yields no opportunities, the student can choose to create a project now and apply for funding with it later.

There is no limit to the number of funding opportunities a student can apply to with one application.

Apply to Multiple Funding Opportunities with One Application

Since each funding office establishes their own application periods, it is unlikely that all possible opportunities will be open at the time a student submits an application. Therefore, SAFE allows students to search and apply for additional funding opportunities and/or upload documents at any time prior to the project's start date with an existing application.

options for project actions
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SAFE will search and display a list of any additional opportunities that are available for this project. The student can review the list and select which opportunities to add by selecting the checkbox for Choose this Opportunity and then Apply for Funding at the bottom of the page.

Selected funding opportunities will be added to the student's application and will appear in the Funding Requests section of the project.

Note: The student can Find and Request Additional Funding as frequently as desired. There is no limit to the number of funding opportunities a student can apply to with one application.

Funders are encouraged to create multiple funding opportunities for all activity types they would fund.

Different Search Criteria, Different Results

Students may feel that their project can be classified as more than one activity type in SAFE (i.e. senior thesis research, internship, student abroad, or independent project). While it is true that some projects could be classified as more than one activity type, SAFE requires that students select the activity type that best describes what he/she will be doing.

Some students explore the funding opportunities that would be available to them for different activity types and find different (sometimes more; sometimes fewer) funding opportunities. It can be frustrating to think that by selecting one activity, a student is not eligible for some funding opportunities. Note that funding administrators are encouraged to create multiple funding opportunities for all activity types they would fund. In other words, they can make their funding available to one activity type only or they can make it available to all four.

Why Not Create Multiple Projects?

Since students can apply to additional funding opportunities with an existing application at any time prior to the project start date, there is no reason to create a duplicate project of the same activity type.

Some students may be tempted to create multiple applications for different activity types. It is not a good idea to create multiple projects for the following reasons:

  • Advisors and recommenders will need to submit an evaluation or recommendation for each of the applications. They may be annoyed or unwilling to submit more than one per student.
  • Funders can view all of a student's projects. If they see multiple projects for the same time period, location, etc. they may interpret them as different activities and will question the student's commitment to the project they're considering funding. They will likely decide to award their funds to a student who is clearly committed to one project.
  • Funders know students are instructed not to create duplicate projects in SAFE. When making awards, funders need to carefully review all of a student's other projects as well as awards received and try to calculate what is still needed. Most funding administrators do not welcome the additional work this requires and may decide not to fund the project at all.
  • If a student receives funding on multiple projects for the same activity in SAFE, he/she may encounter a terrific burden of accounting for the funding in required post-project documentation. In some cases, if students cannot adequately account for the use of the funds, they may be required to return the award or a portion of the award.

Exceptions--Is It Ever Permissible to Have Multiple Projects in Safe?

There are conditions in which it would be reasonable for a student to create separate projects for similar activities. Here are a few examples:

  • The student is applying for an internship and has created an internship project and applied for funding from several funding opportunities in SAFE. If the student is not selected for the internship, he or she would like to pursue an independent project. It is reasonable that the student might pursue both of these avenues for funding with the intention of accepting funding for only one of the projects. It is recommended that the student indicate their intentions in their applications to the funders so there is no question about the strategy or plan. 
  • A student has received funding through SAFE for a Study Abroad program this summer. He would like to apply for funding to travel to a conference in a nearby town while he's abroad. In this, even though the second project occurs within the time frame of the first project, it is clearly a distinct activity (specific dates, separate expenses, etc.). When creating the second project, he should be very clear about exactly how the funding will be used so the funding administrator does not have any questions about over-funding.

FAQs About Creating Duplicate Projects in SAFE

Can't I create multiple projects so that I can tailor my application to each of the funding sources to which I'm applying?

  • Students understandably want to present a strong application to each funding source. Sometimes, this may mean highlighting different elements of the project to different audiences. Students are encouraged to upload documents addressed to separate funding sources into their single SAFE application (eg "FIT Project Proposal" and "OUR Project Proposal"). Funding administrators fully expect and encourage students to apply to multiple sources for support.

    Note: Students can upload additional documents to their applications at any time.

I'm doing an internship in France this summer. The work I will be doing is related to my Senior Thesis Research. Can't I apply for senior thesis research funding for this?

  • If you have a SAFE application for the internship, you may not create another application for Senior Thesis Research. This would be a duplicate project for the same activity.

    If you do not have a SAFE application for the internship, you may create a SAFE application for senior thesis research. In this case, you must be clear about how your activity relates to the senior thesis research and precisely for what the funding will be used. Unlike internship funding, most senior thesis research funding is not to be applied to living expenses; but, rather, is limited to materials and supplies, travel, etc. Students are cautioned to pay close attention to each funding opportunities' guidelines and to be in full compliance with the award's terms and conditions.

I have received funding through SAFE for a Study Abroad program this summer. I would like to apply for funding to travel to a conference in a nearby town while I'm abroad. Can I do this?

  • Yes. Even though the second project occurs within the time frame of the first project, it is clearly a distinct activity (specific dates, separate expenses, etc.). When creating the second project, be very clear about exactly how the funding will be used so the funding administrator does not have any questions about over-funding.