Student Impact Grant


Student Impact Grants provide funding for a variety of University of Iowa undergraduate and graduate student activities outside the classroom, such as research, travel, and service projects. The goal is to enable students to pursue opportunities that might not otherwise be possible without financial assistance.

The President's Office has generously allocated $7,000 per semester to help enhance the student experience through these grants. The designated funds come from generous philanthropic gifts made by alumni and friends who have chosen to provide unrestricted support to the university.

Grants are awarded twice a year. Applications are typically accepted for the summer/fall semester beginning in January and for the winter/spring semester beginning in September.

The grants are made possible by a partnership between the Office of the President and Student Advancement Network (SAN).

GRANT GUIDELINES

Award Application Process

Applications will be considered for funding based on the timeline below. An online form will be available for students and student groups to use when the application period opens. A maximum of $7,000 in total grants will be awarded. Grant amounts will range from $100-$1,000 awards.

Summer and Fall 2025 Semester Award Grant Cycle

  • September 2 : Application opens
  • September 27: Application deadline (5 p.m.)
  • November 20: Grant recipients will be notified about funding requests for winter or spring semester.
  • December 4: Signed recipient agreement form due
  • December 3: Summer/Fall 2024 grant recipient presentations detailing how the funds were used and how the grant enhanced the recipient’s Iowa experience. This event is open to the public.
  • December 23: Award transfers/payments for summer projects
  • January 21: Award transfers/payments for fall projects
  • April 29: Winter 2024/Spring 2025 grant recipient presentations detailing how the funds were used and how the grant enhanced the recipient's Iowa experience. This event is open to the public.

Student Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicants must be enrolled full time as a University of Iowa undergraduate or graduate student for the fall 2025 semester and be in good standing as defined in the University of Iowa Code of Student Life.
  • Student groups or organizations must be recognized by the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership or by a University of Iowa department.
  • If your program is funded in full by other programs or funding methods your program is not eligible.
  • Program/experience must abide by all university guidelines. Grant funding does not permit activities that conflict with these guidelines.
  • Program/experience must abide by all university research guidelines. Grant funding does not permit activities that conflict with Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines. Funding does not provide IRB permission for the project.
  • Funding requests must be shown to improve or enhance the student experience and may not be used to reimburse research subjects. Recipients will share about this outcome during a biannual Student Impact Grant Presentation event.
  • Once a student receives a grant, they are not eligible for another University of Iowa Center for Advancement student grant within the next three years.
  • Grants are not renewable.
  • Recipients must present during the Summer/Fall grant recipient presentation detailing how the funds were used and how your Iowa experience was enhanced because of this award. Presentations will be held on Dec. 2, 2025.

Review Process

Members of the University of Iowa Student Advancement Network will review all submissions and make a recommendation. A University of Iowa Center for Advancement employee will oversee the scoring and review process. After review, recommendations will be sent to the Office of the President, which will make the final decision on all grant awards.

Awardees will then be notified of their selection to receive a grant, and payment will be provided by the Office of the President through a transfer to the student's U-Bill or student organization's account. The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid will be consulted to ensure that funding does not affect other financial aid that a student may receive.

If you have questions, please contact Hannah McClintock at hannah.mcclintock@foriowa.org.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- As the University of Iowa readies to host the Big Ten Men?s Tennis Tournament this Thursday through Sunday, two loyal Hawkeyes have made a major gift commitment to ensure that student-athletes continue to receive top-notch training and instruction. Kirk and Diane Mellecker, of Park City, Utah, have made a major gift commitment to establish the Mellecker Family Head Men?s Tennis Coach Fund. This fund created the first endowed coaching position at the University of Iowa?held by head coach Ross Wilson?and also is the first such named position for men?s tennis in the Big Ten Conference. ?We are extremely thankful for this historic and generous gift from Kirk and Diane,? says Gary Barta, who holds the Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. ?The Melleckers are longtime supporters of Iowa athletics and have made an incredible commitment to the legacy of Iowa tennis. Their significant contribution will transform the lives of so many Hawkeye student-athletes for generations to come.? Kirk Mellecker (80BGS) has always had a passion for tennis. As a UI freshman, he aspired to compete for the men?s tennis team under coach John Winnie. ?I was really hoping to be a Division I student-athlete,? says Kirk Mellecker. ?To get through college, though, I had to work my tail off. It just wasn?t in the cards, but I?ve always had a warm spot in my heart for the Hawkeyes.? Kirk Mellecker, who is semi-retired after owning and operating a variety of food manufacturing businesses, understands the importance of retaining and attracting quality individuals. As someone who specialized in turning around struggling companies, he sees the value of having the right people on the front lines. ?When you get good people, you need to take care of them,? says Kirk Mellecker. ?Ross is one of those people, and I believe continuity is so important to the growth of the program. This gift is a way to make sure that we have the best possible people in the best possible situations, which creates the best possible chance for success.? Wilson, who is in his fourth year as Iowa?s head men?s tennis coach, has energized the Hawkeyes with highly rated recruits and an aggressive style of play. Wilson says he is extremely appreciative of continued support from the Melleckers, which is helping student-athletes succeed in the competitive Big Ten Conference. ?Kirk and Diane have supported our program since the moment I arrived at Iowa,? says Wilson. ?They are committed to giving our student-athletes the best experiences on and off the court. I look forward to continuing to build our program alongside them and celebrating the future success of our players.? The Melleckers? $2.4 million commitment also includes the creation of an excellence fund, which will address the most pressing needs of the tennis program. In the short term, this fund is helping bring a United States Tennis Association Futures Tour event to Iowa City. The tournament, which will be held in July for amateurs and professionals, will provide current Iowa tennis players with elite level competition on campus and will help bolster future recruiting efforts by the Hawkeye coaching staff. ?We want to help Ross build a perennial top 25 program,? says Kirk and Diane Mellecker, who created a scholarship five years ago for Hawkeye men?s tennis student-athletes. ?We have the facilities, we have the people, and now we have the resources to compete at a high level.? The Melleckers have one son, Justin (16BS), a fifth-generation UI graduate who works at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is the home of two professional tennis tournaments?the BNP Paribas Open and the newly formed Oracle Challenger Series, which provides additional playing opportunities around the nation to collegiate and professional athletes. Justin Mellecker is working in all aspects of this dynamic organization. ?Hawkeye athletics have always been an important part of our lives,? says Kirk Mellecker. ?Our family is spread around the country, but the Hawkeyes bring us back together. They?re the glue that holds us together.?

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