Discovery Funds
About Discovery Funds
Discovery Funds for the 2024-25 school year have all been awarded! We are no longer accepting applications. The application pool will reopen in September.
Grants from the Discovery Fund aim to support an enriching off-campus educational experience within the United States. The Discovery Fund is administered through the Office of the President. Applications for individuals and groups are accepted September 15th through April 30th, or until funds are depleted, and are reviewed weekly. Applicants will receive email notification of approval/denial of their request. You may contact hogge@berea.edu with any questions or follow-up.
The difference between an Individual Application and a Group Application is primarily where the money is directed. A successful Individual Application results in a direct deposit to the student’s bank account prior to the event, and a successful Group Application results in a transfer of funds to a departmental account as reimbursement after the event.
Individual Student Applications
Grants from the Discovery Fund aim to support an enriching off-campus educational experience within the United States. Students may apply for these funds on an individual basis to help pay for various types of experiences including, but not limited to: individual conference attendance, travel as part of a course, or independent learning opportunities.
Note: These funds are not intended for purposes for which there are other designated funds. Examples include faculty-led conference travel, job or grad school interviews, certifications, etc.
Discovery funds are intended to supplement a student’s personal funds. They are not meant to cover the entire cost of an experience.
Group Applications
Faculty/staff may apply for a grant from the Discovery Fund on behalf of a student group by completing a Group Application form. Funds are intended to supplement funds for enriching off-campus educational experiences within the United States, and are not intended to cover full costs. If there are departmental funds designated for a specified purpose, such as field trips, those restricted funds should be sought/used before Discovery funds, if possible.
NOTE: Faculty-led student travel for conference attendance may be fully funded up to $1,500 per person through the Office of Academic Affairs as Bridge Conference Funding (instead of Discovery Funds).