Hello colleagues! October brings us fall colors, apple cider, pumpkin spice, and Halloween. Be sure to take advantage of beautifully sunny days while they last!

Proposal Deadlines

The second round deadline for the Catalyst Grant for Research and Creativity, Collaborative Research and Creative Activity Initiative, and Affiliate Faculty Support Fund will be here before you know it. There are two remaining submission cycles this year with deadlines on February 2nd and March 16th.

Undergraduate Research Fair – October 7, 5:00–7:00 PM (Valley Campus)

Please encourage your students to attend this year’s Undergraduate Research Fair! We’re excited to welcome over 30 participating departments and organizations, including the City of Grand Rapids, AmeriCorps, and the West Michigan Environmental Council.

Visit our website for more details, including a Faculty Guide to URF and promotional materials. 

Building an Undergraduate Research Mentorship Practice – Mentoring Community

OURS Faculty Fellow, Dr. Anna Hammersmith, is leading a mentoring community focused on supporting student researchers and scholars. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 3:00–4:00 PM in Zumberge Hall, Room 3000. If you're interested in joining or learning more, feel free to contact Anna at hammeran@gvsu.edu.

Fear Smarter, Not Harder: The Science on Fear and How We Can Use It to Help Our Students

Join OURS and Natashia Swalve (PSY) to learn more about fear, including a fear of failure to imposter syndrome, and how an understanding of fear can help faculty guide students to fear smarter, not harder.

Date & Time: October 23, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: 2201 KC, Valley Campus

New Edition of Scholarship of Practice in Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Now Available

The latest issue of SPUR is out! This edition features insights and best practices from faculty and professional staff on mentoring across diverse academic settings.
Access it here: SPUR Summer 2025 Issue

Free access to SPUR is one of the many benefits of CUR membership (psst… it’s free!).

Updated NSF Training Requirements

Effective October 10, 2025, the NSF is requiring all Principal Investigators and Key Personnel listed on grant submissions to complete Research Security training. This training must be completed PRIOR TO GRANT SUBMISSION. Please be sure to account for this training when planning your grant proposal submissions. See the GVSU Responsible Conduct of Research website for more information.

Updated NIH Training Requirements

Effective January 25, 2026, the NIH is requiring all Principal Investigators and Key Personnel listed on grant submissions to complete Research Security training. This training must be completed PRIOR TO GRANT SUBMISSION AND RENEWED ANNUALLY IF AWARDED. Please be sure to account for this training when planning your grant proposal submissions. Awardees must also renew this training on an annual basis. See the GVSU Responsible Conduct of Research website for more information.

Office Hours

The ORCI will be hosting open office hours every Tuesday (1-3 pm) and Friday (9-11 am) in October. Have a question for us? Use this Zoom link to log in and meet with us during these days/times. No registration is necessary.

Federal Government Shutdown and Your Grant Proposal

Federal grant proposals are impacted by the shutdown, because federal personnel in the granting agencies are likely to be furloughed and cannot work on evaluating new proposals, nor communicate with applicants. If you are applying for a grant, you should presume, until you see otherwise, that all previously posted deadlines are still active. The submission portals are still active and accepting submissions, however federal staff won't be available to answer questions. Planned webinars about specific opportunities are likely to be cancelled.

Federal Government Shutdown and Your Active Grant

Federal grants are impacted by the shutdown, because federal personnel in the granting agencies are likely to be furloughed and cannot process awards and funds transfers. In the short term, if you are working on an active grant, you can continue to work unless you receive a stop-work order from the funding agency. You will likely receive a general message about the lapse in appropriated federal funds, and you may receive a message more specific to your project. Please reach out to your Grants and Contracts Specialist for assistance in interpreting these messages and for advice on how to proceed.