Travel Funding Application Deadline

The English department will support the travel of graduate students to academic conferences that occur between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. The department offers funding of up to $800 to graduate students in the PhD program for travel to professional conferences. MA and MFA students are eligible for up to $350 for travel to professional conferences. You may use this amount to defray registration fees and, outside the Washington metro area, for the costs for travel, lodging, and food.

To receive departmental travel support, you must be delivering a paper at a regional, national, or international conference.  MA and MFA students are eligible for the travel allowance one time during their master’s work; PhD students are eligible for the travel allowance two times during their PhD work. Please note that only one departmentally supported trip is permitted to a graduate-student conference. The Graduate School, through the Goldhaber Award, will also support travel one time during graduate work for students delivering papers at conferences. The English department will match the amount awarded by the Goldhaber, separate from regular departmental funding . The Goldhaber gives preference to those in the final stages of graduate work.  More information and an application for the Goldhaber are available on the web pages of the English Graduate Program and the Graduate School.

Please complete the attached form and return it to the Main English Office for approval by October 4, 2010.  On the basis of that information, we will set aside funding for your planned trips.  You will receive confirmation of your request soon after October 4. If we do not receive the Travel Request Form by the deadline, we cannot promise that money will be available. Hence, even if your plans are tentative, please submit a travel request now as we may be unable to entertain late requests. The form asks for proof of the acceptance of your paper. If your plans are tentative at this time, please provide such evidence when you are notified of the acceptance of your paper.

Finally, BEFORE you leave on your trips, please see Nate Underland in the Business Office (English_business@umd.edu) to complete a Travel Processing Form.  The form authorizes campus-sponsored travel and submitting it in advance is required by UMD for out-of-state travel.  After your trip, please submit your ORIGINAL receipts to Nate in a timely manner and he will process your claim.