Provost Scholars Program

Professor and Student working in a research lab

Provost Scholars Program

A new pilot pairing Iowa State undergraduates with faculty or staff mentors for paid research experience, scholarship support, and direct engagement with university leadership.

Program Overview

The Provost Scholars Program combines a scholarship with paid, faculty- or staff-mentored research or project work. Each cohort of scholars also meets periodically with the Provost throughout the academic year for professional development and direct engagement with university leadership.

$3,000 Annual scholarship per scholar

200–300 Paid work hours per academic year, at $15 an hour

About 25 Scholars selected annually, across all undergraduate colleges

8 semesters Maximum renewal period, contingent on eligibility

Submission of an application does not guarantee selection.

Get Involved

For Students

Provost Scholars work closely with a faculty or staff mentor on research or a project, while also engaging with the Provost throughout the academic year.

To qualify, students must:

Be a current undergraduate student with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher
Have an interest in undergraduate research

All applicants must also meet scholarship and student employment eligibility requirements.

Scholars are expected to:

Work 200–300 hours per academic year with a faculty or staff mentor
Follow all Iowa State student employee policies, including time submittal in Workday
Present annually on their research or project each spring
Meet with the Provost and attend the welcome reception
Sign a letter of intent and complete an annual renewal form

How to apply:

Apply for the Provost Scholars Program

For Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff mentors guide a Provost Scholar’s research or project experience and support their academic and professional development.

Mentor commitment includes:

Supervising student work and certifying hours in Workday
Identifying and guiding a research or project experience for the student’s spring presentation
Meeting regularly with the student and supporting their academic and professional development
Assisting the student in preparing a spring presentation
Mentoring for graduate school exploration and applications
Completing an annual evaluation and renewal form

In recognition of this commitment, mentors receive:

$1,000 annually in project or research support funding

How to apply:

Apply to Become a Provost Scholars Mentor

The Provost Scholars Program is supported through funding and sponsorship from the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost. The Office of Student Financial Aid oversees program administration, including applications, student-mentor matching, employment compliance, and eligibility monitoring.

Questions about the Provost Scholars Program? Contact the Student Employment Center in the Office of Student Financial Aid at provostscholars@iastate.edu.