You may apply for funding if you are a current DUCOM medical student in good standing or a current graduate student in the Drexel Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies in good standing.

Please note: Students on EDGE years or independent study are not eligible to apply for an Alumni Association Grant.

The DUCOM Alumni Association supports two categories of funding: Professional Development (POD) Grants and Discretionary Grants. POD grants support individual students and Discretionary Grants support programs and services that are hosted and/or delivered by recognized student organizations.

POD Grants aim to directly enhance an individual grantee’s medical/scientific education and professional development. POD Grants support students who are presenting at recognized medical or scientific conferences or who are engaging in activities, such as summer research, to further their educational experience.

• Professional Development (POD) Grants include two levels of funding: Academic Tier 1 and Experiential Tier 2.
• Academic Tier 1 Grants are appropriate for individuals planning to present at a recognized medical or scientific conference or a national medical society meeting. Poster and oral presentations are eligible for up to $500 in grant funding.
• Experiential Tier 2 Grants are appropriate for individuals planning to further their professional experience such as offsetting costs when doing a summer research project. Students seeking Experiential funding can apply for up to $250.

You will need to complete an application for all POD funding and submit it along with a letter of support from your faculty-level sponsor. The DUCOM Alumni Association's Student Grants web page has more details and the required application form.

An individual may apply for up to two Academic Tier 1 Grants per academic year for presenting at two different medical or scientific conferences

An individual may apply for one Experiential Grant per academic year and must be able to demonstrate how this experience will enhance experience in their field of study.

According to the Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship (MSSRF) rules, participants are not permitted to receive other funding for the same project and period.

Discretionary Grants support compelling projects or events hosted by recognized student groups that have an educational focus, and/or enhance interactions between students and alumni and/or promote tradition or the awareness of the Alumni Association.

Funding of programs that include and promote the active participation of alumni is particularly appropriate, as are those that reflect the College’s mission statement to excel and innovate “in education, research, and delivery of compassionate care in our culture of diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration and opportunity.”

For these grants, the Alumni Association may be able to support requests up to $1,000.

As the student organization representative, you will need to complete an application for a Discretionary Grant, which must include a proposed budget and a project description. You will also need to submit a letter of support from a faculty-level advisor involved in the proposed program/activity.

If your organization is funded, you will need to acknowledge the DUCOM Alumni Association’s support at the event and in all related written materials in print and online. You will also be asked to submit a project summary report within 30 days of the project’s completion.

The DUCOM Alumni Association's Student Grants web page has more details and the required application form.

A recognized student organization or program may apply for one Discretionary Grant per academic year. Grant applications from organizations and programs that have not previously received Alumni Association support are particularly encouraged.

For POD Grants (Academic Tier 1 and Experiential Tier 2), a letter of support must be submitted along with the application and written by a faculty-level professional sponsor who knows you in a professional context and is involved in the Drexel student organization you represent. The sponsor does not have to be a Drexel faculty member. Family members should not write letters of support for any Alumni Association grantee.

For Discretionary Grants, a letter of support must be submitted along with the application and written by a faculty-level professional who knows you in a professional context and is involved in the Drexel student organization you represent.

Yes, there are restrictions. Here are the main ones:

• Alumni Association funds cannot be applied to car rentals, gasoline purchases, or business or first-class travel.
• Professional Development (POD) Grants cannot be applied to the purchase of food or beverages.
• Discretionary Grant funding can not be used to support the cost of food or beverages or for non-educational related gifts or giveaways.

If you have any questions about how Alumni association funds can be spent for specific budget items in your application, please contact medical.alumni@drexel.edu.

There are four funding cycles per academic year, with four separate deadlines. The DUCOM Alumni Association's Student Grants web page lists the specific dates for the current academic year. In general, applications for all grants must be received before the date of the event or conference. “Retroactive” funding requests are generally not considered.

Notification of the Alumni Association’s funding decision can take up to a month after the application deadline.

In general, the Alumni Association requires that you acknowledge the Association’s financial support of your grant in all materials related to the activity which has been funded, conference deadlines and event dates permitting. You can obtain the Association’s logo for use in your printed materials and slides by emailing medical.alumni@drexel.edu. If you have any questions about how to acknowledge Alumni Association funding, or if you would like assistance with the wording of the acknowledgment, please contact us at medical.alumni@drexel.edu.