SOF UG/G Application

Student Opportunity Fund Application

Student Applications for Tier I, II, III
The Rockford University Student Opportunity Fund (SOF) provides funding for educational opportunities that enhance the student experience and augment the University’s academic program. SOF is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students.

SOF funds are available to:
• traditional undergraduate students beginning the sophomore year at RU (freshmen students
can apply for Tier I funding only as a part of a faculty/staff led group project),
• transfer students beginning their second semester at RU, and
• graduate students beginning their second semester at RU (graduate students can only apply
for Tier I or Tier II funding)

Students can request funds at three levels:
• Tier I: Maximum individual award of $250.00 toward local activities/events
• Tier II: Maximum individual award of $1,000.00 toward off-campus activities/projects such
as travel (including short-term study abroad), conference etc.
• Tier III: Maximum individual award of $3,000.00 toward away semester (semester study
abroad etc.)
Name

First NameLast Name
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Rockford University email:
ab123456@rockford.edu

Project Name
Project Start Date

MonthDayYear
Date
Project End Date

MonthDayYear
Date
If it is a group project, please name the other people in this project:
Expected graduation date
Example: Spring 2025
Major
Current GPA
Faculty / Staff sponsor for this project:
Upload faculty / staff recommendation letter:

doc, pdf, jpg
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Are you a graduate student?
- Graduate Student Application criteria:
  • Only academic conferences related to their graduate work is allowed
  • Graduating graduate students can present research at a conference within 90 days of graduation
  • Graduate students are only eligible for Tier I (max $250) or Tier II (max $1000) awards.
  -- Conference attendance only qualifies for Tier I
  -- Presentation at a conference required for Tier II application
  • Graduate Student are eligible for a lifetime amount of $1000
  • Graduate students that were RU undergraduates are subject to the following:
  -- $3000 from undergraduate days do not carry over
Do you currently work full-time for an employer?
Would any of the costs associated with this project be covered by your employer?
If you answered "yes" to the previous question, how much is your employer sponsoring and for what expense?
Have you ever received SOF funding before?
If so, please list all previous SOF awards received with the dates of those awards

Tier of Funding

TIER 1: Maximum individual award involving local activities/events: $250.00
Application Requirements:
• Have a minimum of 2.0 GPA
• Have a faculty/staff sponsor letter of recommendation
• Provide a budget for the amount requested
• Provide supporting documentation for the budget line items

TIER 2: Maximum individual award involving off-campus activities/projects such as travel/conference: $1,000.00
Application Requirements:
• Have a minimum of 2.5 GPA
• Have a faculty/staff sponsor
• Provide a budget for the amount requested
• Provide supporting documentation for the budget line items

TIER 3: Maximum individual award for away semester (study abroad etc.): $3,000.00
Application Requirements:
• Have a minimum of 2.5 GPA
• Be a junior or senior at the time of application
• Have a faculty/staff sponsor
• Have a letter of support from the Office of Global Affairs
• Provide a budget for the amount requested
• Provide supporting documentation for the budget line items
Which Tier of SOF funding are you applying for:
Please provide a description of your project (500 words max):

0/500
How will this project support and/or enhance your educational experience at Rockford University? (250 words max)

0/250
How does this project connect to Rockford University’s liberal arts values? (500 words max)

0/500
Justify your travel and lodging costs.

0/250
How do you plan to successfully navigate the differences in the educational systems between RU and the host institution? (500 words max)

0/500
How do you plan to cope with the cultural differences between here and your destination? (500 words max)

0/500
Please upload an itinerary for your trip.

accepted formats: .doc, .pdf, .jpg
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Budget Information

IMPORTANT: Please upload quotes (links, screenshots, pdfs of quotes etc) for each budget line item. Budgets that do not have quotes/documentary evidence will not be considered.
Number Airfaire (Total)
Number Car mileage cost at current IRS rate
Number Bus/Train
Number Local transportation (taxi, rideshare, etc)
Number Vehicle rental
Number Gas / Fuel
Number Lodging (Total)
Number Registration
Number Supplies
Other / Food (per diem)
Total (estimated) budget
Amount requested from SOF (please note the caps for the tiers)
Please include links (if any) to support your budget line items.
Please upload associated / necessary files to support your budget line items. (You can upload a max. of 10 files. Each file must be less than 10MB.)

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Student Opportunity Fund recipients are expected to:
1. Acknowledge SOF as a source of funding in all activities related to this project.
2. Provide a testimonial.
3. Participate in an SOF showcase that celebrates all SOF funded projects.
Please sign below to indicate your acceptace of the SOF requirements of funding. By signing you give permission for Rockford University to use your photograph / testimonial in promotional materials.

Signature: Signature* Date
SOF email
example@example.com
OAA email
example@example.com
Should be Empty:

Student Opportunity Fund Application