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Office of Undergraduate Research

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience Development (CUREd) Program

Overview

These awards, funded by the Office of Undergraduate Research, are for faculty members and instructors seeking to develop a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE). Proposals may cover creating a new CURE or expanding the reach of an existing CURE. Applications are accepted in the fall.

Funding

  • Applicants may request up to $2000 to cover any of the following expenses:
    • Supplies (including fees for services)
      • Must be allowable on state funds.
    • Support for Undergraduate Assistant(s)
      • May be dispensed as an hourly wage or stipend (depending on the situation), but must be budgeted at $15/hr.
      • Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to format any undergraduate assistance as a research experience. The Office of Undergraduate Research is happy to provide suggestions and guidance.
    • Additional Compensation
      • Proposed work must satisfy HR requirements for the additional compensation process.
  • Final amount awarded depends on availability of funds.
    • All funds must be spent before the end of fiscal year during which they were awarded.

Eligibility

  • Must be an NC State Faculty Member or Instructor.
    • Postdocs or graduate teaching assistants should work with the instructor of record for the proposed CURE.
  • Must be permanent EPS or full-time faculty at .75FTE or greater.
  • Must be able to spend funding by the end of the fiscal year.

Special Note:

The Office of Undergraduate Research can help you recruit students to help with the research components of developing a course.

Program Requirements

  • Complete proposed CURE development work (including all financial expenditures) by the end of the fiscal year during which the award was received. Substantial changes to the proposed work/course must first be approved by the Office of Undergraduate Research.
  • Complete a final report questionnaire covering the outcomes of the funded work, details of the new/expanded CURE, and a final accounting of expenses.
  • Participate in the CURE evaluation developed by Office of Undergraduate Research and the College of Education.

Deadlines

Completed Proposal

November 2, 2026 9:00 a.m.

Final Report

July 26, 2027 9:00 a.m.

Course Evalution

AY 2027-2028

Application Process

To apply, faculty and instructors should fill out the Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience Development Program Application Form. As part of this form, you will be asked to upload your proposal (details below), please use the following naming format, “Last Name, First Name_CUREd Proposal 2026-2027”

Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

  • Applicant Information (name, email, and department)
  • Co-applicant and Key Personnel Information (name, email, and department)
  • Lead Applicant’s Department Head (name, email, and department)
  • Course Overview
    • Title, Course Number, Home Department (proposed information is okay for CUREs being newly created)
    • Indicate: New Course vs Expansion of Existing Course
    • How will the course meet each of the defining criteria of a CURE?
    • When and how frequently will the course be offered?
    • Will the course be required, meet any degree requirements, or be an elective?
    • Which students will this course serve (majors and years)?
    • Projected enrollment numbers
    • Current status of the course and plans to be made permanent (if necessary)
    • Ledger 20 or 21 Account Number; 6-digit Departmental OUC Number; Bookkeeper Name; Bookkeeper Email
  • A 4 page (maximum, w/o references) proposal utilizing the following naming convention (CUREd Proposal_Last Name, First Name_AY20##-20##) and consisting of the following sections:
    • Title; Key Personnel (including supervisor); Description of the Course (please also indicate if this is a new course being proposed or an expansion of an existing course as well as the learning need or gap that this course will address); Student Learning Objectives; Timeline and Resources (discuss what work will be done to create or expand the given course and what resources will be used to do so); Budget and Justification; Sustainability (discuss how this course will continue to be offered in the future, if necessary include how it will be financially supported); References (additional pages are allowed for references)
      • As applicable, proposals need to discuss any necessary IRB (for human subjects) and/or IACUC (for animal subjects/use) approval.
        • Note: IRB and/or IACUC approval is required prior to receiving funding.

FAQs

What can I do if I’m unsure whether or not my proposed course meets the required definition of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience?

If you have questions about your proposed course’s eligibility, please reach out to [email protected]. We are happy to help potential applicants improve their chances for success.

The undergraduate I want to assist with my CURE development is currently supported by one of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s other funding programs. Am I still able to support them with funding from this program if awarded or do I need to select another undergraduate student?

Students who are currently supported by one of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s other programs are still able to be supported by CUREd Program funding provided the projects are separate. Students cannot receive more than one personal monetary award for the same project.

If I want to have an undergraduate participate in the CURE development process, do I need to have them selected by the time I submit my proposal?

No, we understand you may want to secure funding before recruiting your student(s). If you plan for your undergraduate to gain research experience through the process, the Office of Undergraduate Research is always happy to help you find undergraduate researchers. We can also help you edit your plans to turn the experience into a research project for them.

I’d like to have an undergraduate assist in developing my proposed CURE, how can I make that into a research project for them so they get more out of the experience?

There are multiple ways undergraduate assistance can be modified into a research experience as you collaborate on your CURE development. The Office of Undergraduate Research is happy to meet with prospective applicants to give customized guidance.

Several ways undergraduates can assist in a research capacity are:

  • Conduct a Literature Review (Note: University Libraries offers numerous literature review resources and workshops for students.)
    • Compile and analyze literature relevant to course development/instructional design especially in your field.
      • Based on the analysis, help create course materials.
    • Compile and analyze literature on CUREs in your field.
      • Based on the analysis, help create course materials.
  • Craft and Implement Surveys and/or Interview Questions
    • Assess the experiences and/or expectations of students who would be served by the proposed CURE.
      • What were the experiences of those who already took a standard version of the course? What would they recommend in a CURE?
      • What are the expectations of those who have not yet taken any version of the course, but either need to or would be open to taking it in the future? What hesitations or concerns do they have?
    • Assess the experiences and/or expectations of those hiring graduates in the field of the proposed CURE.
      • What skills or knowledge are potential employers wanting to see more of in their new hires that could be addressed as part of the proposed CURE?

What supply expenses are allowable?

Nearly any supplies and services needed for course development or research are allowable on state funds. However, please note that gift cards or other incentives for survey participation are not allowed. If this is a supply you need, we recommend utilizing a professional service that facilitates surveys and data collection on your behalf as those service fees are allowable charges.

If funds must be used by the end of the fiscal year, when will they be available to spend? How will funds be disbursed?

The Office of Undergraduate Research anticipates selecting awardees within a few weeks of the submission deadline. Once awardees are notified, we will endeavor to get funds moved to the ledger (funding account) provided by the applicant with their proposal as quickly as possible.

Office of Faculty Excellence (OFE)

Take advantage of OFE’s robust collection of teaching resources.

Digital Education and Learning Technology Applications (DELTA)

Utilize DELTA’s myriad of resources for instructional design and teaching.

If you have questions please contact the OUR at [email protected].