Student Academic Enhancement Fund applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now closed. We funded 24 projects a total of $11,083.00 and we look forward to supporting more academic endeavors starting in Fall 2024.

The Student Academic Enhancement Fund is designed to support undergraduate CAS students and student groups in the pursuit of academic interests, endeavors, and achievements outside of the classroom.

Fund Guidelines:

  • Individual CAS students are eligible for funding once per BU career
  • CAS student groups are eligible for funding once per academic year
  • Average awards range from $500-$700
  • Requests should be submitted at least four weeks in advance
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
  • If requesting funds for material goods (i.e. printers, books, etc) the request must provide benefit to the CAS community beyond the individual requestor
  • If requesting funds for an ongoing project, the request must provide benefit to the CAS community beyond the individual requestor

Common uses of funds include, but are not limited to:

  • Conference Fees (domestic travel only)
  • Materials for academically related presentations, projects or events outside of the classroom (i.e. student group events or projects)

Requests must be academically related:

  • Requests must be related to a major or minor offered within CAS

Funds may not be requested/used for:

  • Living costs associated with internships
  • Graduate/Professional school visits or interviews
  • Semester long travel
  • Direct contributions to fundraisers/charities
  • Participation in study abroad programs
  • Course materials such as books and supplies
  • Events/research/travel over summer
  • Personal costs (i.e. living expenses)

Notes for travel requests:

  • BU does not encourage using personal vehicles for any student organization business or activity. If you do use a personal vehicle in such an instance, the vehicle owner’s insurance must provide coverage in the event of an accident.
  • The primary driver must be 21 or older

Each request is evaluated by a team of Student Academic Life professionals in the College on a rolling basis. Please be sure to allow ample time between your funding request submission and the date on which you will need the funding. Funding requests submitted too close to the date of an event, conference, etc., are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

If your request is approved, the College will require the submission of a written description of:

1) How the funds were used  2) The benefits derived by use of the funds, as well as photos, when applicable. (Submission is required within one week of the event. Failure to submit receipts within the one week timeline may result in loss of funding. )

Faculty may make course-related submissions to the CAS Academic Enhancement Fund here.

Questions should be directed to CAS OSPL Director, Stacy Ulrich, here: srulrich@bu.edu.

This application process is for undergraduate CAS students only.