Faculty Undergraduate Student Engagement (FUSE)
Internal FUSE Grant – Spring 2027 Cycle
The submission window for the Spring 2027 cycle will open on September 4, 2026.
Are you interested in research, travel, and hands-on learning?
Looking for a strong resume builder?
Want to work closely with a faculty expert who will mentor you?
FUSE Grants
FUSE grants support undergraduate students’ intellectual development by fostering active engagement in research, creative and scholarly activities, and artistic inquiry.
Eligibility
All undergraduate students in good academic standing who will reach at least sophomore status at the time of Award Start Date may apply. FUSE is especially well-suited for sophomore and junior-level undergraduates.
Student Spotlight: Caelen Gibbs
Dance, Religion, and Cultural Identity in Japan
Caelen Gibbs, a senior double major in Dance and Asian Studies from Brentwood, Tennessee, received a Spring 2025 FUSE grant for his project Religion and Culture Through Dance and the Arts. The grant supported his international travel to Tokyo in Spring 2025, where he immersed himself in Japan’s religious dance traditions. He examined how sacred and traditional forms of dance serve as conduits between bodily ritual, spiritual values, and cultural identity. After his field study and while being mentored by Professors Anna Patsfall and Meghen McKinley, he created a new contemporary choreographic work that translates these traditions into modern dance. His piece premiered in WKU’s Last Chance to Dance (Fall 2025) and Evening of Dance (Spring 2026). Caelen’s project demonstrates how undergraduate research at WKU, including support for international travel and field research, fosters interdisciplinary inquiry, cultural understanding, and creative innovation.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.