CURCA Funding

The Stevens Science Center at Westfield State University

For Students

For academic year 2025-2026: Applications DUE before March 23, 2026

The CURCA Student Conference Fund  includes the Westfield Seed Money for Academic or Research Travel for Students (SMARTS) and Westfield Group-Seed Money for Academic or Research Travel for Students (G-SMARTS) Grants.

SMARTS grant: For students presenting their work at a conference. Up to $750 can be awarded for travel and conference-related fees. 

G-SMARTS grant: For students attending with other students and/or faculty members. All students and faculty attending must fill out the application.  Up to $1,000 per group can be awarded for travel and conference-related fees (note: this grant is to be split among a group so will likely only cover conference attendance fees). 

  • Intended to help students needing to travel to present or attend a conference directly related to their research or creative project can apply for funding.
  • Applicants should request funding at least 2 months in advance of attending the conference.
  • Students are only eligible for one SMART or G-SMART grant per academic year.
  • For more information about each grant, click on the application links below.

For Faculty

Faculty Facilitation Award (FFA)

  • The Faculty Facilitation Award (FFA) supports undergraduate research (UR) and creative activities (CA) that provide high-impact learning experiences for students at Westfield State University.
  • This grant supports the direct costs of research activities and creative scholarship, for example purchase of equipment and supplies; compensation for research participants; data analysis; and costs associated with performance, exhibition, publication, or
  • This grant does not cover travel costs for faculty or students.
  • Faculty cannot use an FFA to fund their own scholarly activities - the FFA is intended to support scholarly UR and CA projects by students that you are supporting as the faculty mentor.

For more information about CURCA grants contact Misty Woodbury at mwoodbury@westfield.ma