Domestic Conference Travel Grant

These grants are available for faculty who are presenting papers or creative works at established academic conferences. This grant does not support conference participation in any other capacity (such as commentator, member of a discussion panel, poster sessions, session chair etc). Faculty are eligible for up to $700 of domestic conference travel support in a single academic year. Grants will cover only transportation by the most economical carrier (air, train, or personal car) and conference registration fees (grants do not cover local or site travel to and from airport, parking, or per diem). Faculty may present at more than one conference during the academic year and are encouraged to combine travel to multiple conferences into one application when possible.

Maximum award amount for domestic travel is approved for the academic year beginning September 1 and ending August 31.

Applications

Applications should be submitted at the regularly scheduled deadlines, and should be sent to the Taft secretary at ML 0369. Applications for Domestic Travel Grants must be received no later than the first Taft application deadline after the completion of the travel.

Six Collated Copies of the application packet should contain the following:

• Signed cover sheet
• Statement of relevance of paper or creative work to the research career of the applicant, the timeliness of the conference, and the significance of the particular presentation opportunity for exposure, collaboration, and dissemination, and finally, plans for publication or further development. This statement should be between 150-200 words.
• A brief budget outline with explanation of costs.
• Copy of announcement of the conference.
• Copy of acceptance of the paper or creative work from the conference organizers.
• Abstract of paper (150 word limit).
• Two page curriculum vitae that has been updated within the past month.

Criteria for Selection

• Relevance of paper or creative work to the research career of the applicant.
• The significance of the particular presentation opportunity for exposure, collaboration, and dissemination.
• Evidence of productivity from any Taft grants in previous five years.
• The manner in which the application fulfills the stated program guidelines.

Priorities

• The committee assigns a higher priority to applications from junior faculty in tenure-track positions.
• The committee assigns a lower priority to applications from previous recipients of Taft grants.
• Emeriti who remain active within the University community are eligible to apply, but will be given a lower priority.

Obligations of Grant Recipients

• Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received, both inside and outside the university, is required. The Taft grant may not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when a deficit in the project budget is anticipated even with such non-Taft funds. For example, Taft Travel Grants may supplement funds from non-Taft sources in cases where the necessary and reasonable costs exceed the established Taft limits.
• If there are any changes in plans from the originally approved application, the Taft grant recipient must notify the Chair of the Taft Executive Board in writing and receive written approval for the changes. Failure to comply with this rule will nullify the grant and require return of the award.
• Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft grants should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Research Center. Copies of such publications should be sent to the Chair of the Taft Executive Board.
• See the Reimbursement Procedures for additional information.

Reimbursement Procedures

The following procedures should be followed in order to insure reimbursement of travel expenses:

• Domestic travel grants cover transportation in the form of airline/train ticket or personal car mileage and conference registration fees only. Travel to and from the airport or train is not covered. Registration fee is for the conference and should be separated from any additional membership/organization fees.Taft Awards can only reimburse the actual conference registration fee and not any membership/organizational fees.
• As you will be required to present receipts to obtain payment, please be sure to obtain receipts.  If you are using an e-ticket for air travel, please request a receipt from the airline which clearly indicates the travel points and dates, and the fare.  When in doubt, request a paper ticket.

Upon Return:  The grant recipient should complete a travel expense envelope (A113), and relevant receipts should be enclosed. The envelope should be sent to the Taft secretary at ML 0369 no later than 30 days following your return. Please note that:

• Original receipts (including the boarding stub from your plane ticket) must be included in the envelope. ALL receipts for any expenses pre-paid by the university must be included.
• The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized, nor can line items be claimed that were not authorized.
• Any transfer between line items on approved budgets must be approved by the Chair of the Taft Faculty Executive Board.
• The expense envelope must be sent to the Taft secretary for processing and signature, even if other campus agencies are also funding the travel. Department level processing to reimburse using department funds should be completed first and Travel Expense Report should then be sent to Taft.