CURCA Funding

The Stevens Science Center at Westfield State University

For Students

For academic year 2025-2026: Applications DUE before March 23, 2026

The CURCA Student Conference Fund  includes the Westfield Seed Money for Academic or Research Travel for Students (SMARTS) and Westfield Group-Seed Money for Academic or Research Travel for Students (G-SMARTS) Grants.

SMARTS grant: For students presenting their work at a conference. Up to $750 can be awarded for travel and conference-related fees. 

G-SMARTS grant: For students attending with other students and/or faculty members. All students and faculty attending must fill out the application.  Up to $1,000 per group can be awarded for travel and conference-related fees (note: this grant is to be split among a group so will likely only cover conference attendance fees). 

  • Intended to help students needing to travel to present or attend a conference directly related to their research or creative project can apply for funding.
  • Applicants should request funding at least 2 months in advance of attending the conference.
  • Students are only eligible for one SMART or G-SMART grant per academic year.
  • For more information about each grant, click on the application links below.

For Faculty

Faculty Facilitation Award (FFA)

  • The Faculty Facilitation Award (FFA) supports undergraduate research (UR) and creative activities (CA) that provide high-impact learning experiences for students at Westfield State University.
  • This grant supports the direct costs of research activities and creative scholarship, for example purchase of equipment and supplies; compensation for research participants; data analysis; and costs associated with performance, exhibition, publication, or
  • This grant does not cover travel costs for faculty or students.
  • Faculty cannot use an FFA to fund their own scholarly activities - the FFA is intended to support scholarly UR and CA projects by students that you are supporting as the faculty mentor.