Career Opportunity Fund

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Alumni & Career Services provides a limited amount of money for degree-seeking students each semester. These funds allow students access to career development opportunities during their career exploration and job search processes. In order to fund as many students as possible, students are limited to two funding opportunities per academic year while funding is available.

Please note, career development opportunities do not have to be sourced by Alumni and Career Services in order to qualify for funding.

Follow the steps below to determine funding eligibility and apply for funding. DO NOT make any purchases prior to receiving funding approval. Items purchased prior to approval will not be reimbursed.

Steps To Apply for Funding

1. Carefully review the “Types of Funding Available” and “Qualifying for Funding” sections below prior to submitting your application.
2. If your request falls within the guidelines listed, fully complete and submit the application at the bottom of the page.
3. Applications for funding will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Applications should be submitted as far in advance of the opportunity as possible, but no less than 1 week prior to the opportunity for which you are seeking funding. It can take a week or more to determine funding eligibility. Submitting an application does not entitle you to funding or to purchase items. Purchases made prior to receiving funding will not be reimbursed.
4. You will be notified if you are eligible for funding; and, if so, what steps you will need to follow to make your purchases and receive reimbursement.
5. Approved purchases must be made prior to the end of the academic year or they will not be reimbursed. All receipts should be submitted immediately after purchase for reimbursements. Receipts older than 90 days will not be reimbursed. 

Types of Funding Available

Travel Reimbursement
Students who have a career development opportunity such as (but not limited to) interviews for job, internship, or professional graduate school; Health Preceptorship; Spider Shadowing; or Spider Road Trip may apply to receive funding to cover all or part of the travel expenses necessary to make the opportunity possible. If you are approved for funding, travel should be booked using economy class on the lowest cost carrier meeting appropriate time considerations. Alcoholic beverages and/or travel insurance, are not reimbursable expenses. Any changes to approved travel plans require additional approval from Career Services.

For Spider Road Trips: Funding is available for students who would be otherwise unable to afford the cost of participating in a Spider Road Trip. Costs associated with the trip covered by the Alumni and Career Services include: transportation costs between organizations (subway or bus), hotel accommodations for the night before the trip begins, and typically several meals. Students may apply for travel reimbursement for other costs associated with the trip, including: transportation to destination city and back to the University of Richmond or to your home, an additional night in the hotel if arriving early, professional attire, and some meals.

Professional Wardrobe Reimbursement
This funding will provide reimbursement for one professional outfit such as a suit, lab attire, etc. that are a necessary part of career development and job search or graduate school interview processes. Please note that you can only use funding once per academic year for professional wardrobe reimbursement. 

Graduate/Professional School Application Fees
Funding is available for graduate/professional school application fees and/or testing fees. Prior to requesting funding we ask that you first seek a waiver from the university/testing agency for which you are applying. Please note that funding is not available for test preparation courses or classes.

Qualifying for Funding

• Students must qualify for need-based aid per the University’s policies to be eligible for funding. If you are unsure of whether you qualify for need-based financial aid, contact the Financial Aid office.
• This fund is primarily designed for degree-seeking undergraduates in the following schools: Jepson School of Leadership Studies, School of Arts & Sciences, School of Professional & Continuing Studies, and Robins School of Business. There is limited funding available for graduate and professional students in the following schools: School of Professional & Continuing Studies, School of Law, and The Richmond MBA.
• Students may be granted up to $250 for an opportunity and funding will be given as a reimbursement after a purchase made by a student.
  • Prior to receiving the reimbursement, students must share the following:
    • Outcome of the interview or one page written summary of the experience (Health Preceptorship, Spider Shadowing, or Spider Road Trips)
    • Original, itemized receipt(s) of purchase(s)
• Applications for funding will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Please submit your application as far in advance of the opportunity as possible, but no less than 1 week prior to the opportunity for which you are seeking funding.
• Please note that students are not guaranteed funding. 

Application