Enhanced Professional Travel Pilot Program
Professional travel costs continue to rise and place pressure on research and professional development opportunities for faculty, especially for colleagues who depend on international travel or work in fields where registration fees have increased significantly. The Office of the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs (DOF/VPAA) recognizes these difficulties and affirms its commitment to faculty development even, and perhaps more so, under budgetary constraints. The Office of the DOF/VPAA will run a pilot program during the 2026-27 academic year to increase available funding for professional travel. This pilot program seeks to support faculty who face heightened challenges when it comes to professional travel. The enhanced professional travel pilot program will offer awards of up to $2,500 to faculty presenting or performing at a professional meeting.
To apply for this enhanced travel award, faculty should use the . The application should include a clear rationale for the funding request, a detailed budget, and an explanation of how the travel opportunity will support their scholarship, creative work, or pedagogy. Faculty should also provide information about their presentation or performance, such as the title or program listing. This is a competitive opportunity, and awards are contingent on funding availability. Faculty who are not selected for the enhanced award are eligible to request Travel to Read/Travel to Represent funds following the standard procedure.
Faculty who receive Travel to Read/Travel to Represent funding during the 2026-2027 academic year can apply for additional support. The combined total of funds that a faculty member can receive from both programs (Travel to Read/Travel to Represent and Enhanced Professional Travel) may not exceed $2,500. For example, a faculty member who receives $1,850 from Travel to Read/Travel to Represent funds may request up to $650 of Enhanced Professional Travel funds. Requests for reimbursement must be made no more than 60 days after returning from the trip.
All faculty are eligible to apply. Part-time faculty are eligible for proportional assistance if funds are available. Faculty members on unpaid leaves of absence are not eligible.
Please note that we are able to offer this pilot program after careful consideration of our available resources this year. Hence, the Enhanced Professional Travel Pilot Program can support travel only during the 2026-2027 academic year, and there is no guarantee that the program will continue beyond that.