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Information for Current English Graduate Students

Graduate Student Travel Funding

An increase in the English Department's operating budget and a new UNC system policy, both effective since fiscal year 2007-08, allow us to designate funds for travel to conferences for graduate students in any of the four degree programs (MA, MEd, MFA and PhD). While the total amount available and/or the individual award amounts are contingent on budgetary constraints, we hope to be able to continue funding student travel for some time to come.

Graduate students are eligible for these awards if attending conferences to present papers, to lead workshops, or to give readings. Individuals are limited to one award per year, for which you may apply either in the fall semester (for summer and fall travel) or the spring semester.

The number and/or amount of the awards may change from year to year, and if this site does not reflect current information, you may wish to check with the Graduate Program Assistant, Ms. Alyson Frazier.

Basic Guidelines for Award

• Amount of award: $150
• Number of awards may be divided evenly between fall and spring semester
• Leftover funds may be available for summer conferences or may be carried over to the following year (left to the Graduate Studies Committee's discretion)
• Students may apply each semester, but may receive only one award per year (unless funds exceed number of eligible applications)

Application and Selection

1. You may download the award application form below:

Travel Award Form

2. Fill out the form, including your role in the conference and the title of your session/paper/workshop, and return it to the Graduate Program Assistant, Ms. Alyson Frazier, along with the materials listed below. There are two deadlines: September 15 for travel between May 16 and December 31, and February 1 for travel between January 1 and May 15. (You may file a request later, but we cannot guarantee that it will be considered, since all funds may be committed by the time we receive a late request.)

3. A Selection Committee, including members of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) and the MFA Program Committee, will rank the requests, with the primary criteria being your seniority in your degree program. In addition, since the travel awards are limited in number, the previous years’ recipients lists will be reviewed along with the new applications to make sure that as many graduate students as possible will receive an award. This means that if you are turned down in one semester, you should apply in the next when you have another conference paper, workshop, or reading. Ordinarily awards will be made by October 1 for the first period, and February 15 for the second.

Rules for Applying & Eligibility

• The graduate student must be currently enrolled in the English Ph.D., M.F.A., M.A. or M.Ed. program
• At the conference, the graduate student must be presenting individually or as part of a panel or roundtable, leading a workshop, or giving a reading of original work.

Graduate student's application must include:

• The completed Travel Award Application Form, with your role and title of presentation
• A copy of the conference acceptance letter
• An abstract of the student's individual paper, workshop, or reading or other appropriate documents (such as panel or roundtable presentation abstracts)

Procedures for Dispersing Awards

• Dispersal of awards will run from January to December
• Deadline for applications for Spring semester will be 1 February.
• Deadline for applications for Fall semester will be 15 September.
• Each semester following the deadline, the English GSC will check applications for eligibility
• If there are more eligible applications than funds available, the English GSC faculty will vote on which applications will receive awards
• Award recipients will be notified by 1 October (for Fall travel) and 15 February (for Spring travel).
• Funds will be dispersed once student gives documentation of conference attendance (photocopies of convention program and receipts will suffice)

Reimbursement

If your travel request is selected for an award, you must submit receipts for travel and/or lodging, plus documentation of the professional nature of the travel, to receive reimbursement. While you need only submit enough in receipts to cover the award, it is wise to keep all your travel receipts until the process is complete.

1. For travel to conferences as a program participant a copy of the program (or program pages) with the conference title and session listed, verification of your conference role, and expense receipts are required.

2. Submit your receipts and other documentation to Reception as soon as possible after your trip is complete. Please note that if you have GSA funding as well, the reimbursement process must start in the English department before going through GSA.

Other Funding Sources

Department awards are separate from the travel awards made by EGSA, which are independently determined by that body. You are encouraged to apply both to EGSA and to GSA, which also provides some travel funding. For EGSA application and selection procedures, contact their Executive Committee.

For more information, contact:
Ms. Alyson Everhart
3137 MHRA
(336) 334-5311

Page updated: 08-Oct-2009

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