Grad students are able to request the use of Department funds for research and conference travel on an on-going basis. Continue reading for more information and the procedure for requesting the use of funds.
All American Studies graduate 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
https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/gapsa/home/grants/scholarly-travel-grants
http://www.cogs.umn.edu/awards.html
http://global.umn.edu/funding/grad.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.
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:
• 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
• For students traveling internationally: Proof of University-issued international insurance OR approved waiver http://global.umn.edu/travel/approval/index.html AND TRAVEL APPROVAL, IF NECESSARY http://global.umn.edu/travel/approval/index.html
• DO NOT submit receipts with your request. Approved requests will include instruction for submitting reimbursement form with receipts.
Please note, we prefer, as proof of acceptance to present at conference, 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:
• 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
• For students traveling internationally: Proof of University-issued international insurance OR approved waiver http://global.umn.edu/travel/approval/index.html AND TRAVEL APPROVAL, IF NECESSARY http://global.umn.edu/travel/approval/index.html .
• DO NOT submit receipts with your request. Approved requests will include instruction for submitting reimbursement form with receipts.
