President's Research in Diversity Travel Award Program
At the University of Illinois, diversity includes fostering learning
environments where all students can achieve their full potential. Diversity
is more than diverse ideas-it includes representation of individuals from
all backgrounds and perspectives in terms of race, ethnicity, disability,
gender, gender identity, sexuality, socioeconomics, nationality, and
spirituality.
Award Description
The Vice President for Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the
President's Research in Diversity Travel Award. This competitive award
provides a certificate and funding, not to exceed $600, for students to
travel to a professional conference. Awards will be presented to up to ten
(10) University of Illinois students in each biannual awards cycle. These
conference travel awards are intended to support student candidates who will
be presenting papers, posters, or creative work at conferences related to
issues of diversity or identity, such as those involving race, gender,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and national origin. Award monies
are limited to use for reimbursement of meeting registration, travel and
lodging expenses that are directly related to the conference. Award funds
will be transferred to the department/college, which will then be
responsible for travel expense processing.
Eligibility Requirements
Following are the requirements for consideration of an application:
I. The student must be enrolled at the University and in good academic
standing when conference travel occurs.
II. Urbana and Chicago graduate/professional students are eligible for
this award; Springfield graduate/professional and undergraduate students are
eligible.
III. The student must comply with all University travel policies and
procedures as well as applicable state regulations.
(http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/cms/one.aspx?portalId=909965)
IV. The department/college from which the student is enrolled or a unit
sponsoring the student (such as the Graduate College) must endorse and
approve the student's participation in the conference and provide some
financial support ($200 minimum) for the student's participation in the
conference.
Deadline for Competition
Applications for the Fall 2012 President's Research in Diversity Travel
Award must be submitted no later than September 16, 2012. Conference travel
must take place between October 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013.
Application Procedure
The online application form may be accessed here:
https://www-s.usp.uillinois.edu/diversity/application.aspx
Please note that while the applicant may open and review the application
form beforehand, the information must be completed and submitted in one
sitting - the application cannot be saved partially completed. As part of
the application form submission, the applicant will be asked to include the
following items:
I. An abstract (approximately 600-word maximum) describing the work to
be presented and how it relates to issues of diversity and identity, such as
those involving race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and
national origin (to be typed or copied into the application form).
II. A brief (approximately 600-word maximum) description of the travel
plans and potential impact of the conference travel on the student,
department, or field of study (to be typed or copied into the application
form).
III. Evidence (i.e. proposal acceptance letter from conference planning
committee) that they will be presenting papers, posters, or creative work at
the conference (to be uploaded, e.g. a Word document or scanned PDF
document).
IV. Applicants must provide a department head or advisor's name and
email address. This person will receive a message asking for confirmation
that the department/college or sponsoring unit is willing to provide a
minimum of $200 financial support toward the student's participation in the
conference. Their confirmation will complete the application, and should be
received no later than the application deadlines listed above.
Notification of Award Recipients
Applications will be reviewed by faculty and administrators from each campus
and University Administration.
Students selected for the President's Research in Diversity Travel Award and
their sponsoring departments will be notified of Fall Travel Awards the
first week of October, 2012.