GRA Award Tiers and Application Process

GRA awards provide faculty with research support while offering graduate students meaningful mentorship and applied experience on active scholarly projects. The Research Development Committee invites faculty to apply for Graduate Research Assistant support during each call cycle.

Key details:

  • Calls are held twice per year (Fall and Spring)
  • Funding allocations depend on Graduate College support to the College

 

GRA Award Tiers

Faculty may request one of three funding tiers, as defined in the current application form, based on project scope and research needs.

When selecting a tier, successful applications clearly:

  • Justify why GRA support is essential to the project
  • Define the GRA’s role and responsibilities
  • Explain how the support will impact project outcomes

Requests for higher-tier funding should include proportionally stronger justification.

Application Process

To apply for GRA support, faculty should complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the current GRA application form.
  2. Compile all required materials into one MS Word document.
  3. Email the completed packet to the RDC Chair at rdcchair@university.edu.

Please submit materials as a single document to streamline review and avoid missing items.

What Strong Applications Include

Strong applications clearly demonstrate both research value and appropriate use of GRA support. Successful submissions typically include:

  • A well-defined project scope and explanation of why the work matters
  • Specific, feasible deliverables for the award period
  • A clear GRA work plan aligned with those deliverables
  • Expected scholarly outcomes such as manuscripts, analyses, datasets, or other research products

Deadlines and Notifications

Deadlines, award availability, and expenditure timelines are announced with each call. Refer to the most recent call announcement for current details.

Have Questions?

For questions about eligibility, tier selection, or strengthening your application, contact:

Research Development Committee (RDC) Chair
afrenc20@kennesaw.edu