Travel for Research Grants

The Taft Research Center offers on a competitive basis travel grants for research on a specific project.Taft Travel Grants for Research will not be awarded concurrently with Faculty Release and Summer Fellowships but may be awarded to cover specific research expenses during a paid sabbatical leave. Grants cover airline ticket by the most economical carrier (or personal mileage), ground transportation to and from hotel; $150 per diem to include food, lodging and other research-related local transportation. The maximum grant is $3,700 in any 24-month period.

Applications

Applications should be submitted at the regularly scheduled deadlines.  Applications should be sent to the Taft secretary, ML 0369.  Applications for Travel for Research 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:

• A completed cover sheet.
• A description of the project being presented, including, as appropriate:
• the focus
• the theoretical framework
• methods and sources
• preliminary results
• the significance of the project to your discipline
• the significance of the project to your professional development

The description should be approximately 800 to 1200 words. Throughout, you should use language that will enable a multi-disciplinary review committee to evaluate the merit of your proposal.

• A brief budget outline with explanation of costs.
• Two page curriculum vitae that has been updated with the past month.
• A letter of reference from the applicant's head of department, program director, or dean sent directly under separate cover to the Chair of the Taft Faculty Executive Board at ML 0369.

Criteria for Selection

• The quality or promise of quality of the applicant's work as a scholar or creative writer and teacher.
• The significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to thought and knowledge in the field of the project.
• The conception, definition, organization, and description of the proposed project.
• The current state of the research, the schedule to do the research, and the timeliness of the grant to ensuring the completion of the project.
• The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project.
• The manner in which the application fulfills the stated program guidelines.
• Evidence of productivity from any Taft grants in the past five years.

Priorities

• Among the various types of grants, the committee assigns highest priority to applications for a specific research project.
• The committee assigns a lower priority to applications who have not sought non-Taft funding for their projects or travel expenses.
• The committee assigns a lower priority to applications from previous recipients of Taft grants.
• The committee assigns a higher priority to applications from junior faculty in tenure-track positions.
• Emeriti may apply, but will be given 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 Taft 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:

• Grants cover airline ticket or personal mileage and ground transportation to and from hotel and per diem expenses.
• The $150 per diem includes accommodation, meals, and other research-related local transportation.
• All amounts should be in US dollars, and the exchange rate used should be indicated.
• 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 an 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.
• Federal perdiem rates (M&IE) for meals may be claimed without receipts.
• 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.
• All expenses are to be in US dollars and the exchange rate is to be indicated.
• Taft grants cannot reimburse expenses for alcohol.
• 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 A113 should then be sent to Taft.