Faculty Domestic Conference Travel Grant

Domestic Conference Travel grants are available for faculty presenting their own research or creative works, including posters, at established academic conferences. This grant does not support conference participation in other capacities (such as commentator, member of a discussion panel, or session chair). Faculty are eligible for up to $1,200 in domestic conference travel support each fiscal year (ending June 30). Grants may cover non-local transportation by the most economical carrier (air, train, or personal car), conference registration fees, and hotel, for travel within the United States and its territories. Awards do not include local travel, i.e. travel to and from the airport or around the conference city.

If you do not hear from Taft within a week of the deadline's closing, please send a status inquiry to Taft by email. 

Faculty may present at more than one conference during the academic year and are encouraged to combine travel to multiple conferences in close geographical proximity, when possible.

Weekly deadlines for this program begin in the middle of July and end the second week of June. Funding for travel in the next fiscal year is only available within three months of the close of the current fiscal year, i.e. mid-March. The application process includes electronic submission through the Taft Research Center Web site and a departmental review.  Do note the system only allows applicants to upload a single PDF document prior to departmental approval.

In addition to populating the electronic fields, a single pdf document must be uploaded to the system and must contain a completed cover sheet with a copy of conference acceptance or invitation, and cost comparisons demonstrating fiscal responsibility for lodging and travel.  

You should enter the lodging costs in the electronic field titled "Per Diem".

In the case of limited funds, higher priority will be given to junior faculty in tenure-track positions. A lower priority to applications from previous recipients of Taft grants and Emeriti faculty that have remained active within the University community.

**NOTE: Support letters are not required for this award category, only supervisor approval through the electronic system (as prompted by the system).

Award announcements are sent by email, from a central source, listed as web.centralATuc.edu. 

terms of the grant

• All grant funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the grant and all expenditures of grant funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. (University Rule 3361:10-17-03(D); http://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/trustees/docs/rules_10/10-17-03.pdf).
• 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.
• Approval for overnight and International travel must be submitted and approved prior to travel, via Concur. 
• See the Reimbursement Procedures for additional information.

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, conference registration fees, and lodging costs. The registration fee is for the conference and should be separated from any additional membership/ organization fees. Taft will only reimburse the actual conference registration fee and not any membership/organization fees.
• As you will be required to present receipts to obtain payment, please be sure to obtain itemized receipts and proof of payment. 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.
• Travel should not occur outside a 24-hour window prior to or following the conference. Travel outside this period needs to be authorized by the Taft Faculty Chair, prior to travel. If travel outside this period is approved, receipts should be submitted with a copy of travel costs for this period.
• Approval for overnight and International travel must be submitted and approved prior to travel, via Concur. 
• Per university policies, Grant recipients must submit receipts and travel reimbursement through Concur, within 30 calendar days of the conclusion of the trip. Reimbursement for travel will not occur after 30 days except where funding is received only after travel has occurred.
• 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.
• Travel by personal vehicle is reimbursed at the university rate ($0.585 per mile). Distance calculations should utilize a common system, e.g. Google maps.
• The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized, nor can line items be claimed that were not authorized.