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College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts is at the heart of Cal Poly, encompassing arts, humanities, communications, and social sciences.

Research

The college offers various research programs, including:

• CLA Programs
  • CLA Summer Undergraduate Research/Creative Activities Program (SURP)
  • CLA Scholarship Support Program (CLASS)
  • CLA Grant & Fellowship-Related Incentive & Recognition Programs
• Division of Research Funding Opportunities
  • RSCA Internal Grant Program
  • Teacher-Scholar Mini-Grant
• College & Campus Resources
  • CLA Access, Community and Equity (ACE) Program
  • BEACoN Research Scholars
  • Office of Student Research
  • Student Research Instagram
  • CSU Research Competition
  • Find External Funding
  • External Proposal Initiation Form
  • Animal Subjects Research
  • Export Control
  • Human Subjects Research

CLA Summer Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity Program (SURP)

The CLA SURP is designed to support CLA research and creative activities while engaging undergraduate students in mentor-led scholarship. All students who are CLA majors and/or minors may apply.

Goals

The CLA SURP has four primary goals:

1. Promote diverse and equitable engagement for CLA students in mentor-led research and creative activities
2. Build lasting student-mentor mentoring relationships
3. Enhance faculty/staff participation in scholarship
4. Enrich a culture of scholarship in the CLA

2026 SURP Student Dates

• CLA SURP Student Applications
  • Open: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
  • 2026 CLA SURP Project Options
  • Student Application (MS Form)
  • Student Application deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026, 11:59 pm
  • Notification by: Friday, March 20, 2026
• Info Session
  • Thursday, February 26, 2026, 10:10-11 am (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 2:10-3 pm (Zoom)

More Information on CLA SURP 2026 for Students

• Students have the opportunity to explore available projects to which they can apply.
• Students can apply to projects in departments across the college, as long as they meet the required qualifications listed.
• When applying, students must specify to which position(s) they are applying.
• Students can apply for up to multiple positions at the same time.
• Some SURP opportunities are virtual; others require in-person attendance. This information is listed by project.
• Selected CLA SURP students will receive a financial award of $3,500 to support their engagement and participation in this opportunity.
• The $3,500 financial award is designed to enable students to participate in mentor-led scholarship and mentoring activities for 7 weeks in Summer 2026 for approximately 20 hours per week.

Application Sections

Each application will contain the following sections (each with a maximum of 500 words):

1. Personal Statement (general; applies to all projects to which you are applying)
2. Benefits Statement (general; applies to all projects to which you are applying)
3. Project-specific Interest Statement (submit one for each project to which you are applying)
4. Project-specific Preparation Statement (submit one for each project to which you are applying)

2026 SURP Mentor Dates

All CLA faculty, including full- and part-time lecturers, are eligible to submit SURP proposals for Summer 2026.

• The application to serve as a SURP Mentor in Summer 2026 is Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:59 pm CA time.
• Faculty in all disciplines are encouraged to apply to serve as a research mentor in the CLA Summer Undergraduate Research/Creative Activities Program.
• This program is open to all lecturer and tenure-line faculty in the CLA. Professional staff may serve as a co-mentor.
• Individuals who have previously served as SURP mentors, including in Summer 2025, are encouraged to apply to serve as mentors in Summer 2026.