Provost & Academic Vice President

Provost Travel Awards

Unit A:

The Provost Award for Faculty Travel has been established to provide financial assistance to Unit A (tenure/tenure track) faculty who will be presenting scholarly/professional activities at professional conferences or meetings and to encourage continued publication of active research and support invited performances in the creative arts.

Unit B:

The Provost Award for Associate Faculty and Academic Support Professional (ASP) Travel has been established to provide financial assistance to Unit B faculty and ASPs who will be presenting scholarly/professional activities at professional conferences or meetings and to encourage continued publication of active research and support invited performances in the creative arts. The Unit B Awards can also be used to support faculty or ASP for professional development and/or training. Thus, unlike the Unit A awards, the Unit B Awards can be used to provide financial assistance to Associate Faculty and ASPs who are attending or participating in a workshop or training, but are not presenting their scholarly or creative work. 

Applications for the Provost Travel Awards will be submitted online.  Please review the policies listed on this page in full before submitting an application. 

Policies

An advisory committee consisting of representatives from the four Colleges, Libraries, and Quad Cities evaluates and makes recommendations with regard to the applications for travel fund support. The Associate Provost for Budget, Personnel, and Research shall chair this committee. The committee will meet continuously while funds exist.

All policies and procedures must be strictly adhered to. If you have questions after reviewing these policies or at any time during the application process, please contact the Office of the Provost at (309) 298-1066 or Provost@wiu.edu.

  • At the request of the Faculty Senate and Provost's Office, extra consideration for Unit A Travel Awards will be given to full-time Unit A faculty working towards tenure.
  • Applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the actual presentation date.
  • The maximum for Unit A Travel Awards is $600.
  • The maximum for Unit B Travel Awards is $300.
  • Individuals may receive one travel award per fiscal year. Application may be submitted at any time during the year, but approval of requests is contingent on available funds.
  • Unit A Awards are to support travel for the presentation of accepted papers, invited performances, or equivalent professional activity. Note: accepted papers do not need to be published.
  • Unit B Awards can also be used to support faculty or ASP development and training. Unlike the Unit A awards, these Unit B Awards can be used to provide financial assistance to Associate Faculty and ASPs who are attending or participating in a workshop or training but are not presenting their own work.
  • If you are unable to attend your conference or require less funding than originally awarded, please let the Provost’s office know immediately so that the leftover funds can be made available for redistribution.
  • Please check with your department and/or dean for additional funding resources.

Eligibility

All policies and procedures must be strictly adhered to. If you have questions after reviewing these policies or at any time during the application process, please contact the Office of the Provost at (309) 298-1066 or Provost@wiu.edu.

  • Full-time Unit A Faculty (for Unit A Travel Awards), even if on sabbatical leave.
  • Full-time Unit B or ASPs.
  • Individuals may receive one travel award per fiscal year.

Not Eligible

  • Departments or Schools Chairs/Directors
  • Temporary Faculty
  • Employee on unpaid leave of absence or compulsory leave at the time of travel
  • Faculty receiving an honorarium for their presentation or performance

Unit A Travel Awards NOT funded

  • Non-presenting participants
  • Attending board meetings for which you are an officer
  • Presenting as part of a panel that requires little preliminary preparation. Simply stated, the presentation you are using as the basis of the application must be equivalent to preparing for a full, scholarly presentation.
  • Costs associated with printing, registration fees, per diem (meals)

Application Procedures

  1. Applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the actual presentation date to allow adequate time for the committee to review the application. 
  2. Click “Submit” at the bottom of this page to be taken to the form.
  3. Applicants will be required to provide.
    • A narrative describing how the paper, performance, or workshop/training relates to the applicant’s professional duties at the University.
    • A breakdown of the cost to include: Conference Registration, Travel Costs, Hotel, Days in Attendance, and other costs (such as taxis and parking).
    • A breakdown of other funding sources for this travel (e.g., department/school or college funds, matching funds, or honorariums).
    • The amount being requested (up to but not exceeding $600 for Unit A and $300 for Unit B).
    • An Abstract, Session Description, or Workshop Description.
  4. Applicant must provide valid email address for their Chair/Director and Dean.  After Submission, the applicant will receive a copy of the form responses. The applicant’s Chair/Director and Dean will be contacted for their approval.
  5. Once approved by all parties, including members of the advisory board, the applicant will be informed of the amount of their award.
  6. Immediately after the conference/workshop, faculty members are to submit documentation of their attendance (electronic documents are preferred). The documentation must be submitted to the Provost’s Office no later than two weeks after the presentation date. (Note: after this time, the award can be forfeited and reallocated). Documentation should include the following (where appropriate):
    • The conference program’s cover
    • The pages of the program’s schedule that show your presentation time
    • Copy of the paper being presented or of the creative performance or equivalent. A submitted paper does not need to lead to publication, but it is strongly encouraged. A “working draft” will suffice.
    • A completed and signed travel voucher (to be completed after travel by the department).
  7. Travel award funds will be transferred to the faculty’s department/school account, and the department/school will be responsible for processing travel expenses.