Request for Proposals and Guidelines for Conferences to be held in Academic Years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010

Conference proposals should be research-oriented with a well-defined theme or topic that is timely, interesting, and of scholarly importance to a discipline or a set of disciplines. Conferences normally last two or three days. Advertising and a call for papers should target a large, well defined audience - local, regional, or national. If the proposed conference has a highly specialized or technical focus, the proposal must be sure to explain its significance for evaluation by non-specialists.  Budget requests should be no more than $10,000 and smaller proposals may receive priority.

All applicants are encouraged to submit draft proposals for review and comment at least one month prior to the application deadline. Upon request, Taft chair will make available proposals and final reports of prior Taft-funded conferences to assist in preparing a preliminary application. All proposals should follow the Conference Application Checklist.

If possible, Taft funds should be used as seed money to attract outside grants. Taft funds will not replace departmental or other commitments for annual conferences. The proposed budget should indicate both tangible and in-kind departmental support. Honoraria are provided for keynote speakers and other participants, but not UC faculty members. Funds may be available for publishing conference papers. A final report and accounting are required 60 days after the conference as detailed in the Final Report checklist detailed in this document.  While faculty applicants are given priority, graduate student organizations of Taft departments may apply for conference funds.


Application Checklist for Taft Conference Proposals

I. Cover sheet
1. Conference title followed by a one sentence summary
2. Conference chair/director
3. Budget summary:
     A. Taft share; B. Other Funding; C. Total Cost
4. Beginning and ending date
5. Location
6. Taft disciplines
7. Cosponsors
8. Conference participants: name, role, and credentials of each
9. Evaluation committee (members independent of conference planners)

II. Detail Budget with Costs Assigned to Taft, Department, or Other Grants
1. Itemized estimates of honoraria for participants
2. Estimated travel, food, and lodging expenses
3. Promotion - printing, brochure, ads, postage
4. Publications
5. Other

III. Proposal Narrative (No more than 800 words)
1. Purpose
2. Format and content
3. Publicity plan
4. Target audience and impact (estimate numbers - local, regional, and national; graduate students, general public, academic specialists)
5. Evaluation plan
IV. Tentative Conference Schedule
V. Letter of Support from Department Head and any other Letters of Support

Final Report Checklist for Taft Conferences
Due within 60 days after conference

I. Basic Conference Documentation
1. Publicity materials and clippings of press reports
2. Sample letter of invitation to major speakers
3. Conference program

II. Demographics
1. Number of individuals attending different conference activities
2. Local/regional/out-of-state attendance
3. Minority participation
4. Approximate number attending by groups - faculty and graduate students, academic disciplines, scholars and non-professionals

III. Budget Report - Actual Expenditures

IV. Narrative - 750 - 1,000 words describing activities and procedures, strengths and weaknesses - what might be done differently.

V. Evaluation - Based on either oral or written assessment by audience and speakers prepared by committee independent of conference chair and planners.