SOAR FAQs
Here's a list of common questions about SOAR. They are in no particular order. If you don't see your question addressed, feel free to send it to the chair of the SOAR Advisory Committee (travis.knapp.1@vcsu.edu).
How long should a project last?
Ultimately, a project's length is up to the student and the mentor. You have until you graduate to finish your SOAR project. Many students do their project in a semester, though others stretch theirs across multiple semesters. The committee generally recommends a project be about 60-100 hours of work.
Do I have to have a certain GPA or number of credit hours to apply?
No. Any current VCSU student can apply. Your application consists solely of your project proposal and mentor recommendation form.
Can I turn in my application early?
Please do. The committee realizes that the first Monday in November and April can be a busy time of the semester. You can apply at any point between the job being posted to the VCSU Jobs website (typically in week two or three of the semester) and the deadline.
When will I hear back?
The committee aims to have responses for applicants around two to three weeks after the deadline. Once applications are submitted, they have to be collected, distributed to committee members, graded and scored, and then discussed. Once discussed, then the chair of the committee works through the VCSU HR system to notify applicants of their status, providing feedback on their proposals.
How is my application judged?
You submit your application through the VCSU jobs website and your mentor emails their mentor form to the SOAR Advisory Committee chair, who then collects all the applications and distributes them to members of the SOAR Advisory Committee. Application Proposals are scored according to the SOAR Rubric (see Information for Applicants page). Once all applications
If accepted, how or when do I get paid?
As part of the application process, you and your mentor set up benchmarks for the project. If your project is awarded a grant, you will then revise those benchmarks and determine how to distribute the $1,000 across those benchmarks.
Once those benchmarks are satisfactorily met, your mentor will submit a Personnel-Action Form (PAF) for you to be paid. You will be paid via VCSU Payroll, which will be set up through HR after your application. This means you may have to complete some mandatory employee trainings.
How can I use my $250 for materials and expenses?
Generally, expenses are reimbursed. You and your mentor should forward your receipt to the SOAR committee chair who will then forward it on to the business office.
Alternatively, your faculty mentor can use their Purchasing card (P-card) and, when it comes time to reconcile the bill, have the Business Office charge the SOAR account. For questions about this process, ask the SOAR chair or Nickki Brockopp [nichole.brockopp@vcsu.edu].
I want to travel to a conference and it will cost more than $250. What should I do?
Unfortunately, the SOAR funds only cover $250 for expenses. We encourage you and your mentor to find alternative funds to help pay for conference or presentation travel. We do not recommend using the $1,000 to cover those expenses, but ultimately that is up to the student.
Who can be my mentor? How do I find one?
Any faculty member currently employed at VCSU can serve as a SOAR mentor.
The committee generally recommends starting by asking faculty members who know you. You can also look at the list of SOAR Advisory Committee members, which includes their disciplines, to ask their recommendations.
Does my project need to go through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process?
Research proposals involving human participants, or their personal identifiable information, requires approval from VCSU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) before the research begins.You do not need approval to submit a grant proposal, but your application should acknowledge whether you will go through the IRB review process. Your faculty mentor should be able to help with this.
The use of human subjects in research is governed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to protect them from any potential harm in the research process. More information is available from the following links:
Additional IRB-related questions can be sent to the chair of the IRB, Dr. Kerry Gregoryk (kerry.gregoryk@vcsu.edu).
If my proposal is not accepted, can I apply again?
Yes! If your apply and your proposal is not accepted, your notice letter will contain feedback from the committee on what they saw in your application and how it can be improved.
Can I do multiple SOAR projects?
Sure - just not at the same time. You would have to go through the application process again.
My project is taking longer than expected; can I get another grant to finish the project?
No. Part of doing research is managing time expectations. The same project cannot receive multiple grants, but if you want to do a new project based off a previous project, you are welcome to submit a proposal for it.
Can two people both receive money for a joint project?
Sometimes, though grants are awarded to the project itself. In most cases, this means both students would split the $1,000. The committee contemplates this on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the nature of the work involved, a faculty mentor can make the case to the committee that both students should be awarded a full grant, but there is no guarantee that the committee will agree.
Return to:
SOAR Overview
Information for Applicants
Information for Faculty