International Conference Travel

This travel award program supports faculty presenting their work at academic conferences outside the United States and its territories.

Faculty are eligible for up to $3,500 over any two-year period. Awards cover transportation to and from the airport, airfare, lodging, conference registration fee, and M&IE per diem.

Applications for International Conference Travel are accepted on a rolling basis from July 15–June 15.


Eligibility

Applications are limited to faculty who are tenured or tenure-track with primary appointments in either a Taft member unit or the College of Arts & Sciences with a terminal degree in a Taft member field. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, faculty in other colleges, and non-tenure track faculty (part-time, educator, research, visiting, and adjunct) are ineligible for this program. 

Applications are also limited to prospective travel. Applications are not accepted June 16–July 14 to allow staff to close out the fiscal year. Please plan accordingly. Awards may cover transportation (including travel to and from the airport), lodging, registration, and M&IE per diem for faculty presenting their own research or creative works at established academic conferences outside the United States and its territories.

We fund travel for the presentation of original work—including but not limited to posters, papers, readings, and performances—at peer-reviewed (e.g., refereed research and juried creative work) regional, national, or international conferences. This program does not support independent, invited, or self-organized readings, performances, or presentations; roundtable or panel discussions; providing commentary on others' work; serving as a session chair or organizer; conference, workshop, seminar, or institute attendance only, even if part of an established academic conference. Where an application or acceptance lists such participation, it is incumbent on the applicant to explain how the proposed travel fits the program.

Awardees remain eligible for other awards.

Expanded Eligibility (2026–28)


As part of a two-year pilot program, we are expanding eligibility for all non-fellowship and non-professorship faculty award programs to include the following:

  • Educator, Research, and Practice Faculty with full-time appointments in a Taft unit;
  • Visiting Faculty with full-time appointments in a Taft unit;
  • Postdoctoral Fellows with full-time appointments in a Taft unit; 
  • Postdoctoral Fellows with full-time appointments in a College of Arts & Sciences Center or Institute who have terminal degrees in a Taft unit field. 

Application Procedures

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, July 15–June 15, and must be received through the online portal. Applicants may not bypass any component of the system. In addition to populating all electronic fields, applicants must upload a single PDF, containing a copy of conference acceptance and proof of costs, e.g., screen shots of travel and lodging costs, and registration. 

  • Awards cover transportation by an economical carrier including transportation to and from the airport of departure (by livery vehicle or Economy parking if traveling by personal vehicle, whichever is less) and destination, or by personal vehicle where mileage reimbursement is less, including parking in the destination city, as well as lodging, conference registration fee, and M&IE per diem. 
  • Conference registration fees must be separate from any additional membership/organization fees, unless unable to disaggregate.
  • Where conferences start early or occur at a great distance, arrival the day prior is expected. It is expected that conference attendees will depart on the same day the conference concludes, unless such is not reasonable.
  • Applicants must obtain a Travel Authorization (TA) prior to applying to Taft. 

Reimbursement Procedures

  • Personal travel days must be removed from award/reimbursement costs.
  • Travel by personal vehicle is reimbursed at the rate set by the university.
  • The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized, nor may line items be claimed that were not authorized.
  • Per university policy, receipts and travel reimbursement request must be submitted via Concur within 30 calendar days of the conclusion of the trip. Reimbursement for travel will not occur after 30 days except where funding is received only after travel has occurred.

Award Terms

Travel authorization request must be submitted via Concur prior to travel. Failure to obtain travel authorization prior to travel may result in the revocation of award. Where deviations from the approved application occur, the awardee must notify the Taft Faculty Chair in writing and receive written approval for the changes. 

Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received for the proposed project, both inside and outside the university, is required. The award must not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when a deficit in the project budget is anticipated. For example, travel award may supplement funds from non-Taft sources in cases where the necessary and reasonable costs exceed the established Taft limits.

All funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the award and all expenditures must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. University Rule 3361:10-17-03(D).

Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft awards should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center.