High Impact Experience Grant Policy

Purpose

The High Impact Experience Grant (HIEG) is designed to support undergraduate students who pursue transformative learning experiences beyond their required academic coursework. The goal of these grants is to help students participate in opportunities that enhance their skills, broaden their perspectives, and provide meaningful career preparation.

The Impact Center strives to provide every Muskingum student with at least one high-impact opportunity during their college journey. Thanks to the generosity of Muskingum alumni and friends, the HIEG program helps offset costs such as travel, accommodation, program fees, living expenses, and necessary materials and supplies.

Eligible Experiences

Funding requests must align with Muskingum University’s six categories of high-impact experiential learning (see HIE definition chart):

  • Civic Engagement – Community projects, service programs, or leadership in civic life.
  • Work-Related Learning – Internships, practica, or on-campus employment with significant skill application.
  • Entrepreneurship/Innovation – Starting an organization, developing solutions, or creative projects.
  • Faculty-Student Research – Departmental or independent research under faculty guidance.
  • Study Away – Study abroad, faculty-led tours, or national exchange opportunities.
  • Leadership – Significant campus leadership roles, leadership academies, or team captaincies.

To be eligible, an experience must:

  • Be of sufficient duration and intensity to provide meaningful growth.
  • Include structured reflection on personal development, skill application, and impact.
  • Require students to publicly share outcomes with peers, faculty, or staff.

Ineligible (Capstone) Experiences

Capstone requirements embedded in degree programs are not generally eligible for HIEG funding, including:

  • Student teaching
  • Clinical rotations
  • Internships required for the major
  • Senior seminar or other culminating courses

While these are valuable, they are degree requirements rather than optional, supplemental opportunities. Exceptions may be considered if a capstone includes unique, extended, or cross-disciplinary elements, such as:

  • Student teaching abroad
  • Internships outside a student’s normal living area requiring additional financial support
  • Expanded projects that go beyond the standard scope of the requirement

Additionally, HIEG funds are not typically intended to replace lost wages from missed employment or to serve as compensation for unpaid internships. However, the committee may consider exceptions in special circumstances or when the proposed experience represents an exceptional opportunity for the student.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Undergraduate student with a minimum 2.0 GPA
  2. Good social standing under the Student Code of Conduct
  3. Completion of at least one full-time semester
  4. Enrollment in the semester of funding (summer experiences permitted if fall enrollment is confirmed)
  5. Graduating seniors may apply for summer experiences but not those beginning after September

Funding may not be awarded retroactively

Students may receive up to three HIEGs total, with a combined cap of $2,500 per student

Grants are awarded individually (not for group experiences). Students participating in group experiences may apply for the HIEG individually, if the experience meets the general eligibility criteria.

Application Process

Students are strongly encouraged to begin the process at least two weeks before the application deadline:

  1. Access the application on the Impact Center website under Signature Services> High Impact Experience Grant.
  2. Complete all sections thoughtfully and submit.
  3. Receive an email confirming the application is under review.

Applications are reviewed by the High Impact Experience Committee, which uses a scoring rubric (see rubric information below) based on:

  • Potential positive impact
  • Personal and professional benefits
  • Impact of funding on participation
  • Justification of funding need
  • Demonstrated financial need

The committee does blind review (no access to student name, race, or gender) to minimize bias.

Committee Formation and Review

The High Impact Experience Grant Review Committee serves as impartial reviewers for the HIEG applications.

Members of the committee collaborate directly with the Impact Center, which provides input, guidance, and oversight. This partnership ensures that the review process is fair, consistent, and student-centered, while also aligning with university policies and the broader mission of career and experiential learning at Muskingum.

Review Process

  • Review and score grant applications using a standardized rubric.
  • Ensure impartiality through anonymized (blind) review.
  • Provide feedback and perspective in collaboration with the Impact Center.

This model ensures consistency, fairness, and strong alignment with the University’s educational mission.

Scoring

The scoring rubric contains the following criteria:

  • Potential Positive Impact – Contribution to personal and professional development.
  • Justification of Funding Need – Clarity and thoroughness in articulating the need for financial support.
  • Personal and Professional Benefits – The specific ways the experience would enhance skills, knowledge, and career goals.
  • Impact of Funding on Participation – The extent to which funding enables or enhances participation.
  • Financial Need (optional) – Considered if applicants permitted a financial aid review.

The Impact Center reviews the individual committee scores to establish final rankings. A minimum threshold is set, using either the overall average tiered score or the median score of the applicant pool, depending on which provides the most accurate benchmark for that cycle. Students falling below this threshold are not approved for funding, while those who meet or exceed it receive tiered award amounts based on their overall score.

Deadlines & Funding Timeline

Application deadlines are posted on the Impact Center High Impact Experience Grant webpage.

Timeline:

Committee decision within 5 weeks of deadline

Funding disbursed 2–3 weeks after approval

Students should allow 7–8 weeks from deadline to receive funds

Pre-Funding Requirements

Before disbursement, students must:

  1. Receive approval notification from the Impact Center
  2. Attend a High Impact Experience appointment (Impact Center) including:
    • Review of stipend procedures
    • Signing an Agreement to Participate outlining responsibilities
  3. Commitment to complete a post-experience survey, which may include writing a thank-you letter to donors and providing a photo for reports

Funding Disbursement

Direct deposit: 3–7 business days after appointment

Check: Issued Friday after the first Monday following the appointment

Consequences of Incomplete Participation

Failure to complete an approved HIE may result in:

  • Ineligibility for future HIEG funding
  • Requirement to return awarded funds (considered case by case)
  • Potential negative impact on faculty/peer relationships and future job prospects

Impact Center–Facilitated Internships and Supplemental Stipends

In certain cases, the Impact Center may offer or coordinate unpaid or underpaid internships in which the Impact Center has direct management or significant administrative involvement. To ensure these experiences remain accessible and equitable for students, the Impact Center may provide a stipend to supplement wages or replace compensation that would otherwise not be provided.

Stipend Determination:

Final stipend amounts will be determined by the Senior Director of the Impact Center and the Director of Career Development and Experiential Learning, with oversight from the Vice President of Student Engagement and representation from the Advancement Office.

Stipend amounts will be determined by:

  • The availability of funds within the High Impact Experience Grant (HIEG) program.
  • The scope, expectations, and nature of the internship work involved.

This process ensures that students are fairly supported while participating in Impact Center facilitated internships and that the allocation of funds remains consistent with the goals of the High Impact Experience Grant program.