Undergraduate Travel Awards

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 20:37:31 -0500

Students, departments, and the university benefit when undergraduate researchers present their work at discipline-specific conferences or appropriate artistic venues. Applications are accepted on a rolling deadline.

Funding:
It is anticipated that this funding will supply matching funds to support the participation of students at regional or national conferences. Students may apply for conference presentation travel funds up to $750 in matching funds or up to $500 in unmatched travel funds.

This program does not fund membership fees or the cost of participating in events related to the conference such as banquets or other special events.

Transportation, hotel, and meal costs are eligible for funding.

Eligibility:

Students must be degree-seeking undergraduates in good standing.

Priority will be given to work done in the context of a credit-bearing course or a non-credit-bearing arrangement, at UMBC.

The student’s work must have been accepted for presentation at the conference or arts event. General attendance, without presentation, is not supported through this fund. Students must submit a letter of acceptance from the conference host, along with their Travel Award application materials, confirming that their presentation has been accepted.

Funding is for presentation of results, not for collaboration, training, or professional development.

Applicants must have formally explored other sources of funding including support from

The grant (if any) under which the research was conducted

The student’s department (or department in which research was conducted, if different)

Related councils of majors

The conference itself (including registration discounts available for students who volunteer during the conference)

Requests must be submitted in advance of the travel. Note: The approval process takes about a week and the process requires another four weeks to release funds from the university once your request is approved. Therefore, requests must be made at least 5 weeks in advance of the travel date. Retrospective requests will not be accepted.

Students are expected to share the benefits gained from the conference with the UMBC community. In general, this will minimally include presenting the research at URCAD and through appropriate department venues and/or submission to the UMBC Review.

Approved travelers must submit a short report to the Office of Undergraduate Education within two weeks of the conference explaining the value of the event to the student and to UMBC and confirming campus dissemination plans.

Support form must be submitted by a UMBC faculty mentor.

Assessment of Proposals:

Proposals will be evaluated based on anticipated benefit to the applicant and UMBC, demonstrated need, and efforts to obtain matching funds from other sources.

A key element is the student’s post-conference/event dissemination plans at UMBC.

Preference is given to sophomores and juniors who will have more time at UMBC to share the positive results of their experiences.

Preference is also given to first-time presenters, that is, those who have not previously presented at a national or regional conference or arts event and have not been funded before by this program.

The conference/ arts event participation is to be an educational experience. As such, while not required, co-attendance with a mentor is a positive factor in judging the benefit to the student.