Faculty Travel Policy

Special Program to Support Faculty Travel to Funding Agencies

Effective July 1, 2014

With the current tightening of budgets, it is more critical than ever to foster growth in our extramural support for research. An important factor in developing extramural funding is establishing and maintaining close relationships with program managers and other individuals who make the funding decisions. Much of the needed communication can and should be conducted via telephone, e-mail, fax, and even postal mail. However, a key ingredient for success in many situations is a strategically planned personal visit with these individuals. Such visits can prove to be very cost effective investments. When the opportunity is created for a visit, it is important that faculty members have the resources to act.

Any engineering faculty member actively pursuing development of research activities is eligible to receive this funding (visiting funding agencies, development of collaborative proposals with other institutions, etc.). The intent is that these funds should be requested only when a funding agency visit makes good sense and there are no other sources of funds available to finance the visit. Please do not request these funds to make visits that are part of your projects or established research programs.

It is required that you travel as economically as possible to be a good steward of university funds, which will allow the maximum number of colleagues to participate in the program as possible. A fixed amount of money is set aside each year for this program and it will be used on a first come, first served basis. When all the funds are awarded, the program will be over for that fiscal year. It is expected that the respective faculty member and department will match the travel support at a 1:1:1 match with the ERGP funds. The maximum amount of ERGP travel funds that may be used by one faculty member in each fiscal year is $500. Requests for funding must be made at least two weeks prior to travel.

If you are not familiar with making funding agency visits or are not quite sure how to get started, the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs will be glad to provide information and guidance. You are also encouraged to visit with your colleagues that are experienced in working with funding agencies for advice.