Alumni Relations

Alumni Enrichment Awards

Alumni Enrichment Awards were created in 2001 by the University of Delaware Alumni Association (UDAA) to provide, through financial assistance, opportunities for students to enrich their education at the University of Delaware.

Up to $2,000 per individual and up to $2,500 per registered student organization (RSO) may be awarded to allow students to take part in opportunities outside of the traditional classroom in which they may not otherwise be able to participate. These opportunities to enrich the UD experience may include, but are not limited to, academic competitions, research or program-related presentations, leadership conferences, research, service-learning or other academic endeavors. Receipts must be submitted to verify expenses for all money received.

Applications will be considered on four occasions, according to the following schedule. As of the February 2009 deadline, retroactive applications will not be considered and all programs must be completed prior to a student’s graduation from UD.

Alumni Enrichment Award Criteria—Individual

Please read this website carefully as guidelines and criteria have changed!

Please answer the following questions before completing an AEA application. Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements or that include requests for items not funded will not be forwarded to the review committee for consideration.

If you answer 'Yes' to any of these questions, you are not eligible to apply.

• Is your overall GPA lower than a 3.0?
• Does your request take place after your graduation from UD?
• Is your request a traditional study abroad program without additional service learning or undergraduate research?
• Have you received an AEA award this academic year?
• Will you earn credit for the program you are requesting funding for?
• Are you asking to be reimbursed or will the program take place prior to the notification date of the round in which you applied?
• Is the destination you are traveling to listed on the US State Department’s travel warning page?
• Does your request include any of the following expenses: food, tuition costs, salaries or any payments to individuals, alcohol, hardware or equipment such as computers, musical instruments or camcorders?

Preference is given to:

• First-time applicants
• Undergraduate students
• Legacies
• Programs with a higher likelihood of bringing positive attention to UD, the UDAA or the applicant
• Students who are sharing the cost of the program or are utilizing other funding sources

To apply for the Alumni Enrichment Award:

• Complete the Individual application.
• Attach an essay, not to exceed two pages, explaining why you are a good candidate for the award and how the program relates to your program of study, educational and long-term goals.
• Include, in essay or otherwise, a detailed description of the program, conference, competition, etc., for which you are requesting funding. If you are presenting at a conference or symposium or are receiving an award please include a copy of the agenda or some other form of verification.
• Include documentation that verifies the cost of the program (i.e. website printouts, quotes from travel agents, mileage estimates for gas costs from website, etc). The committee needs to see how your costs are calculated and where the estimates came from. An expense form is included in the application to help you calculate the amount of your request. Rent or hotel charges will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Attach one letter of reference from your faculty advisor or a member of the UD community who endorses your proposal and how you would use the award. Reference letters from outside UD may be submitted as additional support.
• Attach an unofficial or official copy of your transcript.

If the opportunity you are applying for is either an individual off-campus UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH or SERVICE-LEARNING project, additional steps in the application process are necessary before the application can be submitted to the Office of Alumni Relations for consideration. Please contact Sue Serra in the Office of Service Learning at (302) 831-3188 for more information.

Examples of recent programs receiving individual awards include:

• Performing at the Chamber Music Festival in Bastad, Sweden.
• Presentation of research at the International Conference of the Book in Madrid.
• Receiving an award at Music Teacher’s National Association Conference.

Alumni Enrichment Award Criteria—RSO

All Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and chartered Greek Organizations in good standing at the University of Delaware are eligible to apply. Applications will be shared with the Student Centers for verification and approval prior to being forwarded to the review committee. Any applications in violation of University policies will not be considered.

Please read this website carefully as criteria and guidelines have changed!

Please answer the following questions before completing an AEA application. Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements or that include requests for items not funded will not be forwarded to the review committee for consideration. If you answer 'Yes' to any of these questions, you are not eligible to apply.

• Is the nature of the request purely social in nature?
• Are you requesting funds for a required conference for group chartering?
• Does your request benefit a small number of RSO members? (ex. less than 10% of the membership of the RSO)
• Does your request take place after members of the RSO will graduate from UD?
• Have you received an AEA award this academic year?
• Are you asking to be reimbursed or will the program take place prior to the notification date of the round in which you applied?
• Do any components of the trip or activity you are requesting funding for violate University policies?
• Does your request include any of the following expenses:
  • Food?
  • Tuition costs?
  • Salaries or any payments to individuals?
  • Alcohol?
  • Hardware or equipment such as computers, musical instruments or camcorders?

Preference is given to:

• First-time applicants
• Undergraduate student groups
• Programs with a higher likelihood of bringing positive attention to UD, the UDAA or the applicant
• Programs with an academic or service component; purely social activities or required conferences for group charters will not be considered
• Groups who are sharing the cost of the program or are utilizing other funding sources

To apply:

• Complete the RSO application.
• Attach an essay, not to exceed two pages, explaining why your organization is a good candidate for this award.
• Attach a list of RSO members who would participate in this enrichment opportunity with expected year of graduation, major and degree program.
• Include, in essay or otherwise, a detailed description of the program, conference, competition, etc., for which your group wishes funding and indicate the dollar amount you would like to receive ($2,500 maximum per organization per year). Include documentation that verifies the cost of the program (i.e. website printouts, quotes from travel agents, mileage estimates for gas costs from website, etc). The committee needs to see how your costs are calculated and where the estimates came from. An expense form is included in the application to help you calculate the amount of your request. Rent or hotel charges will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Attach one letter of reference from the organization's campus advisor detailing his/her endorsement of the proposal and how the group will benefit from financial assistance.

Examples of recent RSO awards include:

• Registration cost assistance for Young Life to attend a mentoring camping trip.
• Competing at the American Mock Trial Association National Conference.
• Airfare assistance for the Women’s Club Lacrosse Team to compete at the WDIA National Championship.