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The VIU Student Travel and Conference Fund

  1. Purpose
  2. Eligibility
  3. Criteria
  4. Application Process & Details on Where to Submit Proposal
  5. Deadline(s)
  6. Frequently Asked Questions

Purpose

This VIU Student Travel and Conference Fund is intended to support student participation at conferences, workshops and colloquia.

Eligibility

  • Students must be registered in a minimum of 3 courses (full time student) during the term in which they apply for funding and be returning to VIU as full time students during the term following the conference, or,
  • Students in their final year of full-time study toward a degree, diploma or certificate from VIU may apply for conferences to be held within the 12 months following their graduation, or,
  • Students who graduated no more than 6 months prior to their application and were full time students the term prior to their graduation may apply. The conference must be held within 12 months after graduation.
  • The work presented at the conference must have been completed while at VIU or must have been supervised by a VIU faculty member
  • A VIU faculty member must authorize the student’s attendance and/or presentation at the conference.
  • Only one grant will be awarded per academic year per student.
  • Travel & Conference funds cannot be used where attendance to a conferences, workshops or colloquia is required as a prerequisite to receive course credits.

Criteria

  • Students who will be active participants (e.g. presenter, panelist, discussant or presenting a poster in a conference, workshop or colloquia) will be given preference;
  • Applicants must demonstrate that the conference they are attending is related to the student’s area of study;
  • Funds are allocated according to the geographic region where the conference is being held:
    • Vancouver island/Lower Mainland = Max $400
    • The rest of BC, Alberta, Washington and Oregon = Max $500
    • Other Canadian, Eastern and South-Western USA destinations = Max $700
    • International outside of Canada and USA = Max $800

  • *Amounts listed above do not necessarily reflect the actual amount awarded. Depending on the number of applications received and availability of funds amounts awarded could differ from the maximum amount listed.

Application Process

Calls for proposals will be sent out 2 or 3 times per year.  The proposal should be one page maximum including the budget.

The proposal should include:

  • Your full name, address, e-mail, phone # and student #;
  • Title of project/talk/poster/study;
  • A short abstract of presentation (less than 250 words);
  • Copy of the conference call for proposals;
  • A description of participation (presenter of a talk, poster, panel, etc.);
  • A budget for travel and attendance;
  • A short description (less than one page) outlining the benefits to the student and to VIU from attending the conference. Career plans, conference focus, opportunities for networking will all be of interest to the selection committee;
  • Approval by a VIU faculty member in the area of study; and
  • Signature of a sponsoring faculty member.

Submit your full proposal to Kathryn Jepson at the Research Office, building 305 room 446 no later than 4:00 p.m. See deadlines outlined below.

Deadline(s)

For the Student Travel and Conference Fund, applicants must submit applications according to the timeframe indicated below:

Deadline: October 30, 2009
For conferences taking place between September 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010

Deadline: February 10, 2010 *Competition Suspended Pending Further Funding.
For conferences taking place between March 1, 2010 and August 31, 2010

 

 

FAQ

Q1. Are there any standardized forms to complete for this application?
A1. There is currently no standardized form. Please make you own by copying the questions/titles listed in the application process

Q2. If more than one (1) person is doing the same presentation, does each person separately qualify for a grant?
A2. Regarding the possibility of more than one (1) presenter, the STAR Committee will have to assess based on availability of funding and merit how many people any one (1) project can afford to send.

Q3. We noticed that the proposal guideline – in terms of length – is listed at a maximum of one (1) page: is this page limit guideline flexible?
A3. Given spaces for signature blocks and other space consuming entries, it is likely that your proposal may exceed one (1) page; however, applicants should aim to keep their proposals within the suggested page limits for readability and succinctness.

 

For additional information, please contact:
Kathryn Jepson, Committee Support,
Kathryn.Jepson@viu.ca,250.753.3245 ext. 2704.

or any member of the STAR Committee.