Thanks to the generosity of OWU Alumni and Friends we are able to provide OWU Connection grant funding to remove barriers and stress related to financial needs you may face exploring undergraduate research, service and community learning, travel and cross-cultural experiences, and career development.
All connection-related funding is made through this application.
All OWU students are eligible to apply for the various OWU Connection grants to support their OWU Connection experiences. However, alumni are unfortunately not eligible to apply for our grants. Please note that we are only able to support experiences that take place while you are still a student.
These grants are intended to close gaps between what you will make including any revenue you will receive through other funding sources, and your expenses. However, applying does not guarantee funding.
Expenses allowed through these grants include:
Any expenses not directly related to your OWU Connection experiences (ex: a gym membership) are not applicable. In addition, if you are splitting the costs of things like rent, Uber, etc. please only include your portion in the budget.
For the 2024-25 school year, we will review applications on a rolling basis. We commit to responding to you as quickly as possible. Typical responses are shared within 14 business days. If you do not hear sooner, we guarantee that you will receive notification by the following dates: Thursday, September 26, Thursday, November 28, Thursday, February 20, and Thursday, April 16. You can still complete the application if you receive an offer after April 16. However, we cannot guarantee the availability of funds. If the funds will be needed more urgently, please contact connect@owu.edu.
Ohio Wesleyan works with the Christopherson Business Travel team. They will help you make all of your travel arrangements and provide price estimates as you're building your budget. Contact the Christopherson University Team by phone: 800-285-3603 or email, university.travel@cbtravel.com. Please contact iocp@owu.edu for help if needed.
The answer is… it depends! The OWU Connection grant program has simplified your options, there is no need to apply to more than one grant. Your application will be reviewed by all appropriate parties and fuding will be gathered as appropriate to best support you.
There is a chance that your experience is a great fit for a Theory-to-Practice grant. For example, did you learn something in class that struck your interest? For example, maybe you want to dive deeper into why an organism functions in a certain way, experience life in a culture different from your own, or provide service through sustained volunteerism. Does this idea or activity require more than $4,000 of funding, if so, Theory-to-Practice grants are best suited for you.
Yes, you will need to show proof that you have received an offer from the host of the experience or program when you fill out the application. However, you do not need to show proof that you have accepted the offer.
Check processing typically takes a week and a half, however, at times it may take longer.
All grant payments will go through NelNet which is OWU's payment processing system for students. Please make sure your NelNet is properly set up using their FAQ sheet.
Yes, you will need to resubmit a budget showing an increased need. Send this budget directly to connect@owu.edu.
No. The university cannot release grant funds if you have a hold on your OWU account. Please work with financial aid to establish a payment plan or release the hold.
For your application, we ask that your budget include the estimated spending for the duration of your OWU Connection experience for any directly related expenses (see above questions for examples of what our grants will cover). Click here for a template (must open with OWU email) that you can make a copy of and fill in with your own information. The first sheet is the budget template for the grant application. The second sheet is a template for the budget and actual spending that will need to be submitted at the end of your OWU Connection experience if you are approved for a grant.
More questions? Please contact connect@owu.edu or careers@owu.edu.