ASW Student Funding
Opportunity Fund
Apply for funds to attend a conference or professional meeting, conduct research, or engage in the service of others.
What Is It?
Students should apply for funding if the money will be used to pay for preparation costs, registration costs, travel costs, lodging, or other such expenditures for attending an academic conference, attending a significant professional meeting, conducting research, engaging in the service of others, or any other event that shall significantly advance the student’s personal, professional, and/or academic growth. Priority is given to students who have exhausted other funding options first.
Selection Procedure
The Opportunity Fund Committee evaluates received requests within 2 weeks of being submitted.
- Maximum funding per student: $400
- Maximum funding per student for entire time at Westminster: $800
- Maximum funding per event (for group events): $1,200
- Maximum funding for graduate school visits (program not offered at Westminster): $200
- No tuition expenses or program requirements will receive funding
- No study abroad programs will receive funding
- No May Term Study Experience will receive funding
- Funding is designed for unexpected opportunities*
*Unexpected opportunities defined as any event that is not anticipated annually by a school organization or group. Some examples of expected opportunities may include conferences departments attend regularly or competitive tournaments for teams that have existed for more than one year. The Opportunity Fund Committee will determine if an opportunity is unexpected.
2014 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
This was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. The conference lasted three days, and each day was filled with seminars, mentoring, socializing/networking, job hunting, and so many other great things. I was able to network with incredible women in my field and get interview experience. I also learned that I’m interested in several fields that I had never considered before. This opportunity was the missing link between my education and my career. After attending this conference, I sincerely hope that I can inspire other females to seek out this life changing experience.
– Hanna Rosen
2014 Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
All six of us are pursuing the Outdoor Education & Leadership minor, and attending this conference was the perfect supplement to our coursework. One of the most meaningful aspects of the conference was getting to meet professionals who have pursued career paths similar to what many of us have been considering. We appreciated being exposed to the wide variety of paths that exist in the outdoor industry, and figuring out which of those seemed most appealing to us. Furthermore, the ideas presented in the presentations were directly applicable to Westminster’s Outdoor Program. The knowledge we have gained will help us to improve the quality and experience the Outdoor Program offers.
– Outdoor Leaders Group (Brett Carroll, Tyler Price, Zoe Zulaf, Katherine Dalrymple, Nathan Maples, and Graham Archer)
2014 Investor Event at Santa Clara University
I was given the opportunity to travel down to California and present to an audience of investors at Santa Clara University. I presented on a course that my peers and I made in hopes of getting funding for a clinic we plan to build in Uganda. I learned that each investor has different interests and that fundraising methods change based on the individual. The experience expanded my knowledge of raising money and public awareness. I will apply the skill I learned to my next fundraising event.
–Brolin Mawejje
Upon completion of your approved event, please fill out the Opportunity Fund response form to detail the benefits of your experience. Please also submit a photo of your experience to the ASW Director of Budget and Accounting at aswbudget@westminsteru.edu.
Westminster Innovate
We want to promote your initiatives.
What is it?
The ASW Innovate Fund was created to support projects that contribute to the education
and improvement of the Westminster Community. We want to help you make an impact.
Innovate Fund is open to faculty, staff and student applications which allows it to
be flexible and helpful for special initiatives and large projects. Led by the student
body president, applicants of Innovate Fund will also receive direction and connections
to help them succeed. Led by the student body president, applicants will also receive
direction and connections to help them succeed.
Approved projects will be required to send updates and photos to the ASW president
and are subject to the ASW General Budget Policies and restrictions.
The Feminist Club and ASW brought The Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault to Westminster’s Campus in 2016
and 2017 for their 40-Hour Sexual Assault Counselor Training. Over 30 community members
have received this training and certification.
This initiative is anticipated to run yearly, and the training is open to the entire
Westminster Community. It’s goal is to build a Westminster Culture that supports survivors
of sexual assault.
The ASW Innovate Fund was created to support projects that contribute to the education
and improvement of the Westminster Community. We want to help you make an impact.
Innovate Fund is open to faculty, staff and student applications which allows it to
be flexible and helpful for special initiatives and large projects. Led by the student
body president, applicants of Innovate Fund will also receive direction and connections
to help them succeed. Led by the student body president, applicants will also receive
direction and connections to help them succeed.This form will allow us to have a quick
view of your idea, and to get in touch with you. If you have any questions please
email aswpresident@westminsteru.edu.
ASW Eco-Warrior Grant
Implement your innovative sustainability project or a brilliant idea into the Westminster community.
Mission
The ASW Eco-Council recognizes that student-driven projects directed towards environmental efforts are an essential component on the road to a stronger and more self-sustainable campus. The council encourages Griffins to turn their research, class projects, and simply bold initiatives into action throughout the Westminster community by using the Sustainability Fund (Eco-Warrior Grant) specifically designated for this purpose. Providing the necessary support and helping students access the tools and resources needed to bring their ideas to life is one of the Eco-Council's core priorities.
Eco-Council Structure
The Eco-Council meets throughout the semester to review grant applications and discuss the progress of the previously funded projects. The council consists of 5 members: the ASW director of budget and accounting, ASW vice president, an ASW senator, an Environmental Center employee, and an Environmental Studies faculty member. The Environmental Center manager serves as the Eco-Council chair and is a non-voting member of the council, serving as the advisor for new applications and the point of contact for new and approved applications.
Grant Eligibility
All students registered for at least 2 credit hours are eligible to apply for the Eco-Warrior Grant. Students can apply in teams or individually. Teams must designate 1 main contact.
Application Process and Timeline
Before submitting an application, all applicants must meet with the Eco-Council chair for guidance. Applicants should discuss proposed ideas with the chair to create the strongest, most concise application possible. After meeting with the council chair, applications will complete the online application.
The council's chair will contact applicants within 1 week of receiving their application to provide a timeline for the review process and ask any necessary follow-up questions. After the Eco-Council reaches a decision, the Eco-Council chair will contact the applicant with a decision and future steps.
Selection Procedure
The Eco-Council evaluates received applications within 3 weeks of being submitted.
- Students can apply for up to $2,500.
- Students can apply for up to 2 Eco-Warrior Grants during their time at Westminster with a combined maximum amount of $2,500.
- Only projects that have an impact in the field of sustainability, and that add value to Westminster and its students, will be funded.
- Quality of work plan, budget, and application materials
- Impact on furthering campus sustainability efforts and environmental initiatives
- Transparency, replicability, and continuity in the planning and implementation processes
- Innovation, creativity, and perceived impact on the Westminster community
Each grant recipient will be assigned an advisor, if they don’t already have one, that sits on the Eco-Council. In most cases, the Eco-Council chair will serve as the project advisor. Each recipient is required to report on the progress for the duration of the project.
Questions? Please email Keaton Schrank, Eco-Council chair, at kschrank@westminsteru.edu.
Project Follow-Up
Once you’ve finished your project, please complete the Eco-Warrior Grant experience form in order for us to share your success with other students and document how grant funds have been used. We appreciate your efforts and are excited to see how the funds were used!
Interested in joining ASW Leadership?
For more information on ASW positions, perks, and responsibilities and to learn of upcoming elections and open positions