The University Enrichment Committee (UEC) invites proposals for travel funding for full-time students whose independent work has been accepted for presentation at regional or national conferences. The maximum limit on each individual award is $500.  Student co-presenters must apply individually for conference support funding, up to a maximum of $500 for each individual co-presenter. The total amount available for all co-presenters will not exceed $1,000 for the entire group, regardless of the number of co-presenters. Students may receive no more than one UEC conference travel award per academic year.

Deadlines

Conference travel scheduled for the current academic year is eligible for consideration. Applications will be considered throughout the year on a rolling basis, as long as they are submitted by April 15.

Application

Application for these funds should be made at least two weeks prior to the date of travel to the University Enrichment Committee using the online form. The online application form requires the following information:

  1. Conference details (name, location, and dates).
  2. Costs related to transportation, lodging, and registration.
  3. An abstract of the paper or work to be presented.
  4. Verification of acceptance for presentation at the conference.

Responsibilities of Award Recipients

Travel outside of the United States. If conference attendance involves travel outside of the United States, contact the Director of International Programs at 253.879.2515 to make an appointment to attend a pre-departure orientation that must be completed prior to travel. The University of Puget Sound does not support travel to countries with high safety and health risks. For further details, please review the Travel Abroad Policy for High-Risk Areas.

A completed Release, Waiver, and Indemnification Agreement must be submitted to enrichment@pugetsound.edu by any student planning to travel outside the United States to attend a conference. This agreement must be completed and submitted prior to travel.

Budget revisions. Once an award is made, any deviation in expenditures from the approved budget must receive the approval of the University Enrichment Committee. Please send such requests to enrichment@pugetsound.edu.

Tax Implications of Awards. Awards may be considered taxable fellowships by the IRS. Awards will not be reported to the IRS on either Form 1099 or Form W-2. However, awards may be included as gross income for federal income tax purposes. Students should seek advice from a tax professional that is specific to their own tax status and filing form.  For more information, visit the Office of Finance website.

Reporting. In order to obtain reimbursement for conference travel costs, students must do the following, within two weeks of their return from the conference:

  1. Provide evidence (to enrichment@pugetsound.edu) of their participation at the conference, such as a copy of the final conference program that lists the student's name, presentation title, session, and date.
  2. Email a copy of the paper, poster, PowerPoint presentation, or other work presented at the conference to enrichment@pugetsound.edu.
  3. Email scanned PDFs of all your receipts to enrichment@pugetsound.edu. Receipts must be in your name and must have the date and amount paid clearly displayed. In your email, clearly state the name and dates of the conference, along with the total combined dollar amount of all receipts attached to your email. 

Apply here