The Dr. Bill Wilson Student Initiative Grant supports innovative student projects that will improve undergraduate life at Rice.  This annual award provides seed money for student-initiated projects or starting a new student enterprise or organization.  Grants may be awarded to creatively enhance or augment existing initiatives in meaningful ways (not including simple expansion).

Available funding may vary from year to year but should be assumed to be no more than $20,000 divided among the winners.

Applicants are normally undergraduates, but other applicants will be considered if the project enhances undergraduate student life.

The grant is not intended to provide funds for ongoing or established events or organizations. This is not an “infrastructure” fund. New initiatives or events will be considered by established organizations, but preference will be given to new and innovative projects that have the potential to benefit Rice’s undergraduate population.

This grant cannot support students in establishing a personal business, nor can it support projects being done for academic credit.  The grant does not fund salaries or travel expenses.

For administrative purposes, grant recipients will need to have access to a university COA account.  This is typically done by registering as a university club, or by partnering with an existing university organization.  COA access does not need to be in place prior to application but will need to be in place for any funds to be disbursed.