Eligible and Ineligible Stipend Expenses

Martinson Creative Learning Stipends support necessary and reasonable costs or funding needs directly connected to an approved experience.

An expense is not automatically eligible simply because it is related to the experience. Honors EDGE determines eligible costs and funding during application review.

General Eligibility Standard

An expense should be:

Necessary for participation
Directly connected to the approved experience
Reasonable in amount
Included in the application budget
Supported by appropriate documentation
Consistent with University requirements
Incurred within the approved experience period

Study-Abroad Expenses

Eligible expenses may include:

Program fees
Required transportation
Lodging
Required local travel
Other approved program-related costs

Study-abroad awards may cover up to 90% of eligible costs, with a maximum award of $3,500.

Incoming first-year students are not eligible for study-abroad stipend funding during their first year.

Undergraduate-Research Expenses

Eligible expenses may include:

Research materials
Supplies
Specialized equipment needed for the project
Participant costs
Approved data or software costs
Research-related travel
Conference or presentation costs connected to the approved research
Other necessary project expenses

The maximum undergraduate-research award is $1,500.

The project must be an approved undergraduate research experience.

Internship Support

Internship stipends are intended to reduce the financial barrier associated with participating in an approved unpaid or underpaid internship.

Funding may include:

Support based on approved internship hours and the compensation provided by the internship
Approved transportation costs necessary to participate in the internship

The maximum internship award is $2,000.

The application must disclose:

The expected number of internship hours
Any wages or salary
Any stipend or honorarium
Employer-provided transportation support
Other compensation or financial assistance connected to the internship

Internship funding does not support:

Housing or temporary housing
Clothing or professional attire
Equipment
Personal purchases
Costs unrelated to participation in the approved internship

The final award is determined through the application review and may be lower than the amount requested or the $2,000 maximum.

Community-Engaged Project Expenses

Eligible expenses may include:

Project materials
Supplies
Transportation
Equipment needed for the community-engaged project
Other approved costs directly connected to the work

The maximum community-engaged project award is $2,000.

The project must involve meaningful work with or for a community partner or public purpose.

Expenses That Are Generally Ineligible

Unless Honors EDGE provides written approval, stipend funding does not support:

Expenses unrelated to the approved experience
Routine personal expenses
Regular semester tuition or University fees
Costs already fully covered by another source
Purchases made for another person
Entertainment or recreational expenses unrelated to the approved learning experience
Alcohol
Fines, penalties, late fees, or cancellation fees
Luxury upgrades
Unreasonable or excessive travel and lodging costs
Equipment or materials that are not necessary for the approved research or community-engaged project
Purchases made outside the approved experience period
Expenses without required documentation
Costs associated with an experience that was not approved
Expenses exceeding the amount or categories identified in the award notice

Other Funding and Compensation

Students must disclose:

Financial aid
Scholarships
Grants
Employer support
Internship wages
Faculty or departmental funding
Program discounts
Travel awards
Other contributions connected to the experience

Honors EDGE may adjust an award to avoid paying the same expense twice or funding more than the eligible cost or documented need.

Purchases Made Before Approval

Students should not assume that an application will be approved.

Do not make nonrefundable purchases or financial commitments based on anticipated funding.

An expense incurred before written approval may be ineligible.

Budget Changes

Contact Honors EDGE before moving funds between expense categories or using an award for a purpose that differs from the approved budget.

Material changes may require written approval.

Final Determination

The award notice establishes the approved amount and expenses for each recipient.

When this general guide and an individual award notice differ, the conditions in the written award notice control.

Questions

For questions about a proposed expense, contact Honors EDGE before making the purchase:

honors@montclair.edu