Undergraduate Professional Presentation Travel Grants (UPPT Grants)
This program provides partial support for current undergraduate students to present at professional conferences/meetings. The term "presentation" covers events such as podium (oral) or poster presentations as well as events such as juried art exhibits. The eligibility requirements below apply to this program.
Note: Due to limited funding, this program is available for currently registered undergraduate students only.
Eligibility Requirements
- A student must be the first author on the accepted abstract/presentation/artist statement and give a presentation/performance at a professional meeting, conference, or exhibit.
- The meeting/conference must include a peer-review process. Invited presentations or volunteer presentations are not covered under the UPPT grant program.
- The nature of the project should include an intense focus and be larger in scope than a semester-long project associated with a class.
- The student must currently be enrolled as an undergraduate at CLU. The presentation must take place between August 1, 2011, and May 17, 2012, to be considered for funding.
Application Process
The presenting student must fill out the online form which can be accessed by clicking here. Along with the form, students must provide the following via email to the OUR (our@callutheran.edu):
1. Verification of abstract acceptance. This is not the actual abstract, but rather the communication from the conference that the abstract was accepted. If you received a confirmation letter, please scan the letter and send it to us electronically. The communication should clearly denote the applicant as first author.
2. A support letter from your primary faculty mentor. This letter (which can be send in an email) needs to give information about the project and the conference.
- Project information: In particular, it should answer the following questions - how was the project initiated? When did it begin and end? What coursework (if any) was associated with the project?
- Conference informaiton: Comments should provide details about the conference itself – how large is it? Who typically presents at this conference (e.g. undergraduates, graduates, particular sub-disciplines)? This information is helpful for the OUR when discussing OUR grants program inside and outside the university.
3. An electronic copy of your poster presentation, if your presentation was of this format. If the presentation was given in a different format, please send us any files (e.g. PowerPoint file, pictures of your presentations, interesting figures or images related to your project).
The OUR prints posters that have been presented off-campus and hangs them in the office in Swenson 107. They are also used as examples to other students as what intense research looks like in a variety of disciplines.Notification of Support
The Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR) strives to review applications and notify faculty mentors within two weeks of receipt of a completed travel grant application (for fall) or within two weeks of the application deadline (for spring).
Funding Limits
- Due to the high demand for funding and limited funds, only partial support for travel is available.
- It is expected that the student and faculty mentor will first seek support from other sources (e.g., department fund [if available], student organizations/clubs, and external funding) before submitting for UPPT funds.
- The office will not pay for specialty items within the registration (e.g., extra items such as field trips, tutorials, and special banquets).
- Only one travel grant per student and per project will be awarded. If you are planning to present at more than one venue, think carefully about which presentation you will seek funding for and which presentation you can fund yourself.
- For the 2011-2012 academic year, the following funding limits have been established:
- For abstract/artist statement with a single student author (with one or more faculty authors listed on the abstract), the maximum student award is $500.
- For abstract/artist statements with multiple student authors (with one or more faculty authors listed on the abstract), the maximum travel award is $750. The additional funds (above $500) will be available only if additional students on the abstract are attending the conference and they are currently enrolled at CLU.
- For students attending international meetings, the $500 maximum student award may be increased to reflect the higher travel costs. Such increases will be determined on a case-by-case basis and depend on the availability of funds in this program.
Register as early as possible to avoid costly registration fees and to be able to maximize how much your funding can cover.
Reimbursement
Travel advances are not available. The completion of the online application and support materials are required before any reimbursement will be processed. Submission of itemized receipts within two weeks of the presentation are required. Upon completion of the trip, receipts are processed through the OUR. Reimbursements will be made for early student registration and travel costs.
Students receiving a UPPT Grant are required to participate in the Festival of Scholars which takes place from April 23 - April 28, 2012. Failure to participate may jeopardize future funding for both the student and the faculty mentor.
Please contact the office with any questions regarding the grant policies or process.
