Research Grant Application 2026–2027

Application Deadline

December 13, 2026

Research Grant proposals and all supporting materials must be submitted no later than December 13, 2026.

$1,000 Research Grant

This funded research grant is designed to recognize, honor, and financially support individuals who are seeking to complete a comprehensive research study relating to college counseling practices.

$500 Research Grant

This funded research grant is designed to recognize, honor, and support individuals who are seeking to complete a comprehensive research study relating to the provision of professional counseling to college student populations and/or to the mental health professionals who provide them.

Topics Likely to Be Chosen

• Topics related to serving diverse or underserved populations on college campuses.
• Topics related to the practice of counseling at community colleges, traditional college campuses, or other higher education institutions.
• Topics related to the mental health of college students.
• Topics related to violence, threat assessment, suicide prevention, and treatment.
• Topics related to the teaching of counseling theory and practical skills courses to new counselors as they relate to work on college campuses.

Topics Unlikely to Be Chosen

• Very focused academic or statistical studies that have little practical application for college counseling.
• Studies simply replicating existing research or past studies.
• Studies in which the choice of college students as participants is incidental to the main topic.

1. Application Form

The completed application form should be included with the Research Grant proposal.

2. Supporting Letter

Student applicants must include a supporting letter from a faculty sponsor.

3. Research Proposal

The Research Proposal should be no more than five pages, not including the application form and bibliography, and should address the following:

• Statement of Need: Summary of relevant data or other evidence supporting the need for the study.
• Background Review: Review of selected pertinent research germane to the topic as specified in the purpose of the award.
• Research Design and Analysis: Description of the research design and plans for data analysis.
• Dissemination of Results: Explanation of how the results of the research will be disseminated, such as an ACCA conference presentation or peer-reviewed journal article.
• Detailed Budget: A detailed budget of all expenses is required. Examples may include researchers' salaries, statistical consultation, compensation for research participants, web services, supplies, graduate student assistance, and travel expenses. All existing funding for the project must be disclosed.

1. Appropriateness and Importance of the Research: The appropriateness of the research for the purpose of the grants and its pertinence to the work of mental health professionals working in higher education settings.
2. Quality of the Proposed Research: The required documentation of the Research Proposal sections listed above should be thorough and informative. The methodology proposed should follow accepted practice for research of that kind.
3. Ethical Standards: The purpose of the research, as well as its methodology, should adhere to all applicable ethical standards as delineated in the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics.
4. Financial Need: The budget requested for the research project should be appropriate given the nature and scope of the proposed project.
5. Plans for Dissemination: The researcher(s) should offer a feasible and timely plan for dissemination of the results.

All applicants will be notified of the selection committee's funding decisions by December 30, 2026.

Grants will be awarded during the February 2027 ACCA Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. Research Grant recipients are strongly encouraged to attend the conference, where they will be recognized.

Apply for an ACCA Research Grant

Complete the online Research Grant application and submit all required proposal information by December 13, 2026.

Research Grant Application

Oren Shefet, PhD

Research Grant Committee Chair

Email Oren

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Becca Smith is quoted in the Washington Post article "College mental health centers are swamped. Here's what parents can do."

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Janelle Johnson on College Counseling” Psychotherapy.net Interview. Follow the link to read the full interview.