REACH

How to Apply

The REACH 2026-2027 application will be available on Monday, December 1, 2025 on D2L.

Go to D2L
REACH2026
Assessments
Assignments
APPLICATION to download the 2026-2027 REACH Application.

If you have any questions, email ovcr@siu.edu. The deadline will be January 26th, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

The REACH (Research-Enriched Academic Challenge) award offers the opportunity for SIU Carbondale undergraduate students to work with a faculty member on independent creative activities or research.

Full-time SIU Carbondale undergraduate students can begin applying for the 2026-27 Research-Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH) award competition on Dec. 1. Students with a GPA of 2.8 or higher are eligible. The application deadline is Jan. 26, 2026.

Full-time undergraduate students working with a faculty member can qualify for REACH awards of up to $2,000 to support expenses associated with original creative activity or research projects.

Faculty need to submit recommendation forms and letters of support to REACH 2026 D2L class by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 3th, 2026.

Students will find application instructions, as well as eligibility and additional information, in the REACH 2026 class in D2L Use the Discover feature and type in the class name if you do not see it upon log in.

Team and individual projects from all disciplines are encouraged. Successful team applications can receive $500 per additional team member in addition to the up to $2,000 REACH award.

Eligible awardees can be paid 10 hours per week for work on their projects during the FALL 2026 and SPRING 2027 semesters.

Award recipients will be required to present a poster detailing their research or creative activity projects, and faculty mentors will be required to serve as judges at the undergraduate research showcase forum or CARP 2026 on April 9th, 2026, in the Student Center Art Alley. A final report of their work will be due May 8, 2026, in the D2L class REACH 2026.

More information is available at the SIU REACH Award website, at 618-453-5289 or by email at ovcr@siu.edu

REACH Applications

Who is eligible to apply for REACH?
Degree-seeking undergraduates in all SIU Carbondale majors are encouraged to apply.

Applicants who are currently enrolled as a full-time Southern Illinois University Carbondale student with a GPA of 2.8 or higher.

Applicants who are enrolled as a full-time SIU Carbondale undergraduate student during at least the fall and spring semester of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Applicants who will work closely with a faculty mentor in their area of research/creative interest to plan the project, prepare the application, and carry out the project.

Only one application may be submitted per student.

Past recipients of this award are not eligible to reapply.
Awards of up to $2,000

Support original creative activity and research projects by SIU Carbondale undergraduate students working with a faculty mentor. Awarded projects also include the opportunity for REACH recipients to be paid for 10 hours per week through an undergraduate assistantship for working on their projects for the fall and spring semesters of the award period; however, the REACH recipient must meet undergraduate assistantship eligibility requirements.
Award Announcement

Applications are evaluated by reviewers working in the fields of study but should be relatable to all who view them. Reviewers will submit their scoring sheets by February 27th, 2026. Emails to participants will follow with the formal announcement of the winners being made at the Awards Ceremony for the Creative Activiites and Research Presentation Forum on April 9th, 2026, in Old Main of the Student Center at 3:30 pm. All are to attend as photgraphs will be taken for the media.

Congratulations 2025-2026 REACH Students

Previous Award Winners

2024-2025 Award Winners

2023-2024 Award Winners

2022-2023 Award Winners

2020-2021 Award Winners

The following students were awarded the REACH award at the Student Creative Activities and Research Forum held virtually on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. The winners were announced in the Awards Ceremony.

2019-2020 Award Winners

The following students were awarded the REACH award at the Student Creative Activities and Research Forum on Monday, April 8, 2019.