USC Linguistics Program Guidlines

for Student Conference Travel Applications

Timing:

If you are planning on presenting a paper at a conference and would like assistance from the program, you should apply for as soon as you submit an abstract to the conference for consideration.  This is because University regulations require that Travel Authorizations be approved before travel is initiated.  Thus, if you have submitted a proposal or abstract to a conference but have not yet heard back, you should still apply.  If you get funding that you don't use, we can always award it to someone else.  But if you don't apply for funding and then need it, the Linguistics Program won't be able to help you.

Your application for support should be sent directly to the Graduate Director in an e-mail message.  These applications will be distributed to the Program's core faculty, and for this reason should be included as message text (rather than as a Word/Wordperfect attachment) if at all possible.  If your abstract contains special figures or graphics, then you may have to submit it as an attachment (but this should be a last resort).

Your application for support should consist of the following:

1.  The title of your presentation and the name of the conference, your name and your current degree program.
 
2.  An abstract of your presentation (which can be the abstract that you submitted to the conference), not to exceed 500 words.

3.  A paragraph of 100-150 words stating the importance of this particular conference, and why it is important for you to participate.

4.  A short budget, including approximate airfare, accomodations, meals, and registration costs (n.b. airfares should be lowest available fare, using a Saturday night stayover and a 21-day advance purchase; meals are reimbursed on a $32 per diem basis; lodging reimbursement is capped at $35/day).

Applications that do not conform to the guidelines (especially as regards word limits) will not be considered.

Sample Budget:

(Note: Of this amount, the student would be reimbursed by the Linguistics Program a maximum of $363, 50% of the subtotal, plus lodging costs.)

Additional Sources of Travel Funding: College of Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Travel Awards (GSTA) ) and Graduate School Travel Grant Funding)