Student Impact Grant


Student Impact Grants provide funding for a variety of University of Iowa undergraduate and graduate student activities outside the classroom, such as research, travel, and service projects. The goal is to enable students to pursue opportunities that might not otherwise be possible without financial assistance.

The President's Office has generously allocated $7,000 per semester to help enhance the student experience through these grants. The designated funds come from generous philanthropic gifts made by alumni and friends who have chosen to provide unrestricted support to the university.

Grants are awarded twice a year. Applications are typically accepted for the summer/fall semester beginning in January and for the winter/spring semester beginning in September.

The grants are made possible by a partnership between the Office of the President and Student Advancement Network (SAN).

GRANT GUIDELINES

Award Application Process

Applications will be considered for funding based on the timeline below. An online form will be available for students and student groups to use when the application period opens. A maximum of $7,000 in total grants will be awarded. Grant amounts will range from $100-$1,000 awards.

Summer and Fall 2024 Semester Award

  • January 16: Application opens
  • Feburary 16: Application deadline (5 p.m. CST)
  • April 12: Grant recipients will be notified about funding requests for the summer or fall semester.
  • April 22: Signed recipient agreement form due
  • April 23: Winter 2023/spring 2024 grant recipient presentations detailing how the funds were used and how the grant impacted the recipient’s Iowa experience. This event is open to the public.
  • May 13: Award transfers/payments for summer projects
  • August 23: Award transfers/payments for fall projects
  • December 3: Summer/fall 2024 grant recipient presentations detailing how the funds were used and how the grant impacted the recipient’s Iowa experience. This event is open to the public.

Student Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be enrolled full-time as a University of Iowa undergraduate or graduate student for the spring 2024 semester and be in good standing as defined in the University of Iowa Code of Student Life.
  • Student groups or organizations must be recognized by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership or by a University of Iowa department.
  • If your program is funded in full by other programs or funding methods your program is not eligible.
  • Program/experience must abide by all university guidelines. Grant funding does not permit activities that conflict with these guidelines.
  • Program/experience must abide by all university research guidelines. Grant funding does not permit activities that conflict with Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines. Funding does not provide IRB permission for the project.
  • Funding requests must be shown to improve or enhance the student experience and may not be used to reimburse research subjects. Recipients will share about this outcome during a biannual Student Impact Grant Presentation event.
  • Once a student receives a grant, they are not eligible for another University of Iowa Center for Advancement student grant within the next three years.
  • Grants are not renewable.
  • Recipients must present during the summer/fall grant recipient presentation detailing how the funds were used and how their Iowa experience was enhanced because of this award. Presentations will be held on Dec. 3, 2024.

Review Process

Members of the University of Iowa Student Advancement Network will review all submissions and make a recommendation. A University of Iowa Center for Advancement employee will oversee the scoring and review process. After review, recommendations will be sent to the Office of the President, which will make the final decision on all grant awards.

Awardees will then be notified of their selection to receive a grant, and payment will be provided by the Office of the President through a transfer to the student's U-Bill or student organization's account. The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid will be consulted to ensure that funding does not affect other financial aid that a student may receive.

If you have questions, please contact Tegan Donahue at Tegan.Donahue@foriowa.org.

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It was supposed to be a routine well check for 10-month-old Kelsey Roberg, but her mother, Cindy, suspected something wasn?t quite right. A few days before the appointment in the Twin Cities, Cindy noticed that Kelsey?s abdomen was distended. ?It quickly went from a well baby check to a cancer diagnosis within 24 hours,? says Kevin Roberg (73BS), Kelsey?s dad. Kelsey was diagnosed with Wilms? tumor, a rare kidney disease that primarily affects young children. Wilms? tumor most often affects just one kidney, but for Kelsey?the youngest of three children?it was found in both kidneys. ?The doctors decided to remove one kidney and tried to save the other,? says Kevin. Although not yet 1 year old, Kelsey began receiving chemotherapy. But before Kelsey turned 3, the cancer had become more aggressive and spread to her lungs. Kelsey fought cancer for 5 years, but died on July 30, 1990, just one day shy of her sixth birthday. Even though Kelsey?s life was cut tragically short, the Robergs learned much from her. ?Kelsey taught me to live one day at a time,? says Kevin, who worked in the health care sector, and now works on various business and real estate ventures. ?I was someone who was always looking for tomorrow and not appreciating today. She taught me to live each day to its fullest.? While Kelsey has been gone for nearly 30 years, her family continues to honor her life through their philanthropy. The Robergs started a golf tournament?Kelsey?s Classic?in the Twin Cities to benefit the Ronald McDonald House at Children?s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, where Kelsey was a patient. To date, the tournament has netted more than $2 million to help build a family resource center within the hospital. When University of Iowa Stead Family Children?s Hospital was completed a few years ago, the Robergs were so impressed with the facility, they decided to make a bequest in their estate to Iowa?s only comprehensive children?s hospital. ?I love what Iowa is doing for children,? says Kevin, who now splits his time in between Naples, Florida, and Pine River, Minnesota. ?Between their new facility and the care process that is in place, I can?t think of a better children?s hospital. They are clearly putting the kids first.? Kevin gives back to Iowa because of what his alma mater gave him?a successful career?and to continue to carry Kelsey?s name and memory forward. ?The longer I?ve been away from Iowa, the more I appreciate what the university did for me,? says Kevin. ?My wife and I feel a responsibility to give back, and we believe that giving back to support kids and their families is so worthwhile. We?re honored to help the university in any way that we can.?

Each year since 1963, we've honored University of Iowa luminaries with our prestigious Distinguished Alumni Awards.

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