Grad students are able to request the use of Department funds for research and conference travel on an on-going basis.
Procedure for Requesting the use of American Studies Department Funds for Research and Conference Travel
Dear Graduate Students,
All American Studies students are provided up to $1500 in department
Research and Conference Travel funding over the course of your
graduate career. Requests are limited to $500 per instance. Because
the funds are limited, you are encouraged to apply for outside sources
and to rely on this department funding only when you are unable to
secure outside funding. Good sources include conference organizations
and "best paper" competitions. The following is a list of several
University web sites with information about additional funding
opportunities:
http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/Financing/other.html
http://www.gapsa.umn.edu/grants/travel.htm
http://www.cogs.umn.edu/awards.html
http://www.international.umn.edu/funding/gradstudents.php
http://www.grad.umn.edu/gradwriting/funding.html
You may request funding as soon as the criteria for each allocation
are met. The typical response time in which you will receive a reply
indicating whether or not your request has been approved is two weeks.
Note: Funds are distributed after the travel takes place in the form
of a reimbursement for specific expenses incurred.
Please review the specific processes below and contact Melanie
Steinman if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Tracey Deutsch
Director of Graduate Studies
Requesting Funds for Conference Travel
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American Studies grad students in active status may request funding to
travel to scholarly conferences to present a research paper. We will
not provide funds for presenting the same paper at more than one
conference.
Criteria for conference travel funding:
• You are in good standing
• You have been accepted to present research at a conference
• Your total claim from the research and conference travel funds has
not exceeded $1500
To request conference travel funds, email Melanie Steinman,
stein196@umn.edu, with the following information:
• Student ID# and name of adviser(s)
• Proof of acceptance to present at conference
• Paper title and conference name, date, and location (if not
indicated on proof of acceptance)
• Amount requested (not to exceed $500) with detailed budget proposal
Please note, we prefer, as proof of acceptance, a PDF of the
conference program page showing the session in which you will
participating. However, a forwarded email from the conference
organizers or hard copy acceptance letter will also suffice.
Requesting Funds for Research Travel
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American Studies grad students in active status may request funds to
cover expenses related to dissertation research. Covered expenses
include travel costs and reproduction of essential documents and
images.
Criteria for research funding:
• You are in good standing
• You have successfully completed the preliminary portfolio exam
• Proposed research is clearly connected to dissertation
• Proposal clearly establishes a justification for research (e.g.
travel to an archive to investigate materials not otherwise available)
• Proposal sets out a sound research design
• Your total claim from the research and conference travel funds has
not exceeded $1500
To request research travel funds, email Melanie Steinman,
stein196@umn.edu, with the following information:
• Student ID# and name of adviser(s)
• One page description of your project, including title
• Up to a one page research proposal clearly describing in detail the
research you will undertake (be as specific as possible about the use
of archives, libraries, interviews, etc)
• Amount requested (not to exceed $500) with detailed budget proposal
