Policy on Graduate Student Conference Funding Requests

Political Science graduate students are eligible for up to $500 in funding for one conference per academic year, or more in exceptional circumstances. In the event that a graduate student is funded for more than one conference per academic year, the total amount of funding will not exceed $700 per academic year. Funding requests will be evaluated on a competitive basis. While each graduate student presenting their research at an approved academic conference will receive a minimum of $200 per academic year, increases above this subsidy will be competitive. Priority will be given to students who have not previously received conference funding from the Political Science Department in the academic year in which they are applying for a conference travel subsidy. Progress toward completion of the degree, good standing in the graduate program, the merit of the proposal, the reputation of the conference, and other relevant factors will be considered in making funding decisions.

In order to be considered for departmental funding, graduate students are required to apply for either a Graduate Student Support Grant from the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences or a Graduate Student Travel Grant from the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Graduate students must attach the application form for either the Graduate Student Support Grant or the Graduate Student Travel Grant along with their application for departmental funding. In cases where it is not possible for the student to submit the additional grant application with the departmental application, any funds that are approved will not be released until that documentation is submitted. In addition, graduate students must submit an electronic copy of their curriculum vitae. Ordinarily, students funded for travel will be expected to present their paper in a departmental "brown bag" forum in advance of the conference as a condition of funding. Graduate students are also encouraged to seek out funding sources from the associations hosting the conferences.

Graduate students who desire to request funds can do so by filling out a workbook funds request form. This form must be accompanied by an electronic letter of support from the major professor on the student's advisory committee. This form, along with the letter of support from the major professor on the student's advisory committee, will be submitted electronically to the Graduate Advisor, along with an electronic copy of the student's curriculum vitae. The Graduate Committee will then review requests for conference funding and make recommendations to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for allocating funds generated for the department by workbook sales, including those related to graduate student conference travel.

Funding decisions will be made by the Executive Committee three times in the calendar year. Due dates for the requests for conference funding to be given to the Graduate Advisor will be October 15, January 15, and July 15. Except for extraordinary circumstances, students must submit applications for funding by the due date preceding the intended travel dates. Graduate students can generally expect to be notified of the status of their conference funding within four weeks of the due dates for funding requests.