Resources

Graduate Enrichment

Grad Enrichment Cover Sheet

Deadline: November 1st, 2019
Sample Applications

Taft Graduate Enrichment Awards support graduate students registered in a Taft discipline, in research projects that will significantly advance their degree program. Individual or joint applications are accepted. Eligible projects include but are not limited to the following:

  • Travel to a library, archive or other source of primary research materials;
  • Purchase of software or data sets;
  • Payment for technical services such as video-taping, laboratory analysis, etc.;
  • Expenses involved in conducting interviews or distributing surveys.

Enrichment Awards do not cover conference participation, as these are supported by the Taft Graduate Fellowships and Taft Graduate Travel Awards. The maximum grant is $2,500 for any 24-month period.

criteria
Applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

  • 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 the applicant's degree program;
  • 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 requirement.


Note: Study abroad opportunities are given lower priority than activities with a dedicated research component. 


application process

Applications may be submitted up to 5 PM on regularly scheduled deadlines; this includes electronic submission through the Taft Research Center website and departmental review. In addition to populating the electronic fields, a single pdf document must be uploaded to the system and should contain the following:

  • A complete the cover sheet.
  • A narrative of no more than five pages that includes:
    • a description of the project and goal(s), distinguished from any concurrent faculty projects or goals, should they coincide;
    • its role in the applicant's degree program;
    • its current status and expected outcomes;
    • a discussion of the expenses requested and their significance to the completion of the project;
    • specific anticipated impacts on one's intellectual development.
  • A detailed budget and schedule, indicating any other funding sources involved in the project.
  • A curriculum vitae (CV) or other records summarizing the applicant's graduate career.
  • A support letter from the student's advisor, project director, or the graduate program director, uploaded to the electronic gateway by the graduate program director at the time of departmental review (which only the GPD can provide). This letter should comment on the role of the project in the student's degree program, as well as the significance of the project and the student's ability to complete it.


**NOTE: UC instituted changes to the student travel policies on 10/1/2012, which can be found by clicking on the following link: student travel policies. Students are responsible for travel policy compliance. Taft assumes no responsibility for a student's lack of compliance with travel policies, which may result in a refusal by UC Accounts Payable to reimburse travel expenses. Notably, you are required to obtain travel authorization prior to travel. The Student Travel Authorization Form  ( STAF ) can be found by following the "Forms" link under "Applying to Taft" or simply by clicking STAF  here, above, or below. Given the travel policies instituted on 10/1/2012, someone from your department should sign the required travel authorization forms, and maintain copies of these in case of emergency.

For detailed instructions on submitting your application, please click Application Instructions. For instructions on how to create a PDF, please click: How to Create a PDF. Note: the system only allows you to upload a single PDF document.


signatures & letters of support

Once the applicant has submitted their application, an email notifying the graduate program director is automatically generated by the electronic application system. The graduate program director should then enter Researcher's Gateway, upload all supporting documents, and provide departmental review. This review process is distinct from the supporting document, and serves to either forward the application to the committee or remand the application to the applicant for amplification. If a thesis committee has been constituted, the graduate student should notify his/her committee chair regarding the application, and the committee chair should then be in contact with the graduate program director regarding departmental authorization.


grant terms

Grants may cover non-local transportation (airfare or automobile, whichever is more economical) and a maximum $50 per day towards food and lodging. Project-specific expenses, such as admission fees, photocopying costs, etc. may also be requested.

You are required to obtain travel authorization prior to travel. The Student Travel Authorization Form  ( STAF ) can be found by following the "Forms" link under "Applying to Taft" or simply by clicking STAF  here, above, or below. Given the travel policies instituted on 10/1/2012, someone from your department should sign the required travel authorization forms, and maintain copies of these in case of emergency. Taft is not responsible for lack of student compliance with travel policies, which may result in a refusal by UC Accounts Payable to reimburse travel expenses.

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 Student Awards Committee.


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

  • These awards are now processed through Catalyst by the business administrators in the home department of the awardee. Students will need to work with the business administrators in award distribution, upon the submission of original receipts. ALL receipts for any expenses pre-paid by the university must be included.

  • Be sure to obtain itemized 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

  • Travel by personal vehicle is reimbursed at the university rate ($0.58 per mile). Mileage should be calculated by an internet map system, e.g. Mapquest, Bing or Google maps.

  • A Student Travel Authorization Form must be completed prior to any travel, and must be submitted with distribution request. Business personnel in the student's home department will be able to assist with the submission of receipts and any needed forms.

    • 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.