Advancing Intelligent Minds (AIM)
DEVELOPMENTAL GRANT 

The Graduate School offers AIM Developmental Grants to provide funding to assist graduate students gain practical experiences or conduct scholarship that is relevant to the student’s field of study.  Recipients of this grant must propose to develop a tangible product, such as a performance, publication, presentation or scholarly document.  Projects must be completed within one academic year.

Interested students should submit a proposal describing their intended project, product and budget to the Graduate School.  We encourage proposals that will advance student inquiries in new and innovative directions.  Proposals may be disciplinary, but interdisciplinary or collaborative projects are encouraged, as are entrepreneurial endeavors and community/civic engagement projects which demonstrate significant scholarly, research and creative components.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?  

Minority or Underrepresented Graduate Students

HOW TO APPLY:

Carefully complete the online form and have a letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor (endorsed by your graduate program director) submitted via email at tgsdiversity@jmu.edu. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2023 at 11:59 PM.

AIM Grant Application Form 

HOW GRANTS ARE FUNDED:

Grants will be selected for full or partial funding.  The maximum grant award is $500.  The amount of funding for selected grants will be determined by the proposal.  Funding can be used for supplies, equipment, research expenses, travel, conference registrations, workshops, seminars or related fees.  Grant funds must be spent before June 9.

Note: Funding is typically not awarded for equipment or software that is freely available for student use on campus. Any equipment purchased with grant funding must be listed in the proposed budget, and will remain the property of JMU.

If you have questions about this process, please contact Dr. Deborwah Faulk at tgsdiversity@jmu.edu 

Showcase of Graduate Scholarship and Creative Activities
Students applying for an AIM Grant should plan on attending the Showcase for a short presentation about their research/project in April.