AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (ACS) - PROJECT SEED Program Guidelines for Coordinators and Mentors

Sep 21, 2026

American Chemical Society (ACS) Project SEED program guidelines for coordinators and mentors define requirements for economically disadvantaged student selection, including income thresholds, documentation, and restrictions on discrimination. The document details program location expectations, fellowship amounts for Summer I and Summer II, and timing for disbursements tied to financial statements, surveys, and final student and mentor reports. It also specifies funding rules, eligibility prerequisites, student–mentor ratio limits, research project presentation and change approval within one week, and insurance considerations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Financial Guidelines for Student Selection

Eligibility

Location

Fellowships and Duration of the Program

Payments, Surveys, and Final Reports

Funding from Participating Institutions

Fellowship awards

Program/Student Termination

Academic Guidelines

Program Content

Student Pre-requisites

Students/Mentor Ratio

Research Projects

Accident Insurance

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (ACS) PROJECT SEED PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR COORDINATORS AND MENTORS NOTE: If special circumstances suggest departure from the guidelines, please consult with the ACS Project SEED staff at 1-800-227-5558, ext. 4380. FINANCIAL GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT SELECTION 1. Eligibility – The student must be recognized as economically disadvantaged. Preference will be given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 200% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size ( [http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty](http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty)) . An economically disadvantaged student applicant who is physically disabled must be considered on the same basis as any other applicant and may not be discriminated against in any way. Students cannot start working until the Student Application form and proof of family income (IRS 1040) are received and approved by the ACS Project SEED office. ACS reserves the right to deny funding for any student who does not meet the guidelines described above unless prior approval is obtained by the ACS Project SEED. ACS will not be liable for funds distributed to students not previously approved by Project SEED. All students being considered for Project SEED with a family income over 200% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines must be supported in a letter signed by the coordinator/mentor and forwarded to the ACS Project SEED office. The student should be admitted to the Project SEED program only after other considerations besides income eligibility are approved by the Project SEED Committee. 2. Location – The student should be a commuting student, except in those cases in which the institution (college, university, industry, or government lab) can provide room and board and appropriate supervision at no cost to the student. 3. Fellowships and Duration of the Program – Summer I and II students will receive a competitive fellowship with the minimum for each program determined by the Project SEED Committee of the ACS. The Summer I and II fellowships are $2,500 and $3,000, respectively. The costs of supplies or laboratory materials cannot be deducted from student fellowships. Both programs expect at least 8 weeks of participation at approximately 40 hours per week. 4. Payments, Surveys, and Final Reports – Two checks will be sent from the ACS Project SEED office to the institutional sponsor or the ACS Local Section officer for disbursement to the student(s) . The first check (the amount approved minus $500 per student) will be sent upon receipt of the Student Financial/Information Statement. The second check ($500 per student) will be sent upon receipt of all required paperwork and the Follow-Up Survey, Student Report, and Mentor Report. If this procedure is in conflict with the institution’s administrative practices, other appropriate action can be considered. However, under no circumstances may mentors/coordinators deposit ACS Project SEED monies into their personal funds. Mentors who disburse funds before the receipt of approved funds from ACS Project SEED do so at their own risk. The ACS offers “Automatic Direct Deposit” of Project SEED student payments. Your institution or university may take advantage of this payment method by filling out the enclosed Authorization of Direct Deposit Form and submitting it to the address indicated on the form. The ACS Project SEED office recommends this payment method for faster payment issuance. 5. Funding from Participating Institutions – Participating institutions are encouraged to provide supplementary funds for each student. Also, the participating institution – or another source of local funds – will be expected to bear any overhead expenses. 6. Fellowship awards – Fellowship funds will be awarded and determined by the number of students approved by the Committee. The initial amount of the award letter may vary and will be subject to the final number of participants who complete the program. If the tot

FAQs

What criteria determine student eligibility for ACS Project SEED funding?

Students must be recognized as economically disadvantaged, with preference for those whose maximum family income does not exceed 200% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size. Physically disabled applicants are considered on the same basis and cannot be discriminated against.

How and when are Project SEED payments disbursed to students?

Two checks are sent to the institutional sponsor or ACS Local Section officer: the first upon receipt of the Student Financial/Information Statement (approved amount minus $500 per student), and the second upon receipt of required paperwork and follow-up materials (including the Follow-Up Survey and final Student and Mentor Reports).

What academic and mentoring requirements must coordinators/mentors follow?

Mentors should work with no more than two SEED students during the summer, and coordinators/mentors should present only one project per student. Any project change must be approved by the ACS Project SEED committee within one week of receipt of the acceptance letter.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Arica Lee