1. Full-time faculty are eligible to receive funding to either attend or participate in professional conferences. Faculty on Sabbatical or Educational Leave are eligible to receive funds while on leave. Funds may be requested for conferences, conventions, or workshops. There is no geographic limit on the requests that may be considered. NOTE: Funding cannot be granted under this program for purely informal travel, graduate work, course tuition for university credit, membership fees, research, or equipment expenses.
2. Faculty who desire funding MUST formally apply prior to the conference by submitting the current electronic CONFERENCE FUNDING APPLICATION located on the portal page for the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research. No funding will be provided unless this form has been approved.
3. Academic Program Administrators (including School Deans, Associate Deans, Department Chairs, Program Directors, and Program Coordinators) do not receive funding through this source. Professional development funds for these academic administrators are allocated in the department and School budgets.
NOTE: If a faculty member is attending a conference at the request of an academic administrator to further an administrative initiative, funding should come through the department or School budget, not through this source.
4. Funding: The funding limits shown below have been set. Please contact the Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research to confirm that they have not changed.
– Up to $1,000 for attendance at a professional conference/workshop/convention.
– Up to $1,500 for participating* in a professional conference.
* Participating in a conference means the applicant is presenting a paper, giving a poster presentation, or participating in a panel discussion.
5. There is no limit to the number of events an applicant can attend; however, the total amount that may be allocated to a full-time faculty member cannot exceed the maximum for the year of $1,000 (or $1,500 for giving a presentation). The fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
6. Expenses that can be reimbursed are: registration fees, travel expenses, hotel accommodations, meals, personal auto, and other specified expenses.
7. For expenses to be reimbursed, the applicant MUST provide ALL receipts. These include sales receipts, checks, and credit card receipts. Where applicable, receipts must be itemized. The Business Office has the final judgment on the acceptability of all receipts. It is the responsibility of the applicant to collect and submit all receipts.
8. If the applicant鈥檚 personal automobile is used, a record of the mileage must be kept and noted on the reimbursement form. Applicants must able to state their departure and destination locations. Mileage is distance to place minus normal commuting miles to work. The reimbursement rate is subject to change (check with the Business Office).
9. To receive the funds awarded, the completed “Request for Reimbursement Form” (with all receipts attached) should be submitted to the OSPR no later than three weeks after the end date of the conference. However, in no event should reimbursement materials be submitted after July 15 to comply with the fiscal year budget close-out deadline.
10. Applications from faculty who will be eligible to apply for promotion within one year receive priority consideration if submitted by the deadline published by the OSPR. After the deadline, all applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
11. A faculty member who has been awarded funding and is unable to use the approved funds, should immediately notify the Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research.
Instructions for applicants and the CONFERENCE FUNDING APPLICATION are posted on the portal page for the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research.
Approved 2/21/2024