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Purpose

Presenting and publishing papers and exhibits or performances of creative work represent tangible evidence of research, scholarly or creative activities. Therefore, the FRTF is designed to provide financial assistance for bargaining unit faculty to travel to meetings of professional organizations for the express purposes of:

• Reporting the results of original or applied research.
• Exhibiting or performing creative works.

Examples of creative activities funded include:

• MASQUES for piano and brass quintet performed at a public concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
• Solo recital, Five Sonorous Inventions, National Association of Music Teachers, National Convention, Dallas, TX.

Examples of travel that are not funded:

• Chairing a meeting or panel without presenting.
• Attendance at meetings as a board member without presenting.
• Serving as a moderator.
• Serving as a commentator.

Eligibility

• Individuals eligible for travel support are restricted to all those holding board-appointed faculty rank (i.e. members of the bargaining unit) at the time the paper or the creative activity is presented.
• With no lodging restrictions in terms of number of nights. There are also no limits on meals, but applicants must follow federal guidelines (which are 3 meals per day and the allowable per diem).
• Virtual conference registration fees are allowable as long all eligibility (part I.) items are met. 

Reimbursement conditions

1. The department chair must certify that the professional organization or forum at which the work is presented is of high caliber.
2. Reimbursement will be for the following actual, allowable expenses—up to the annual maximum amount approved by the Research Policies Council (RPC) each September for the current fiscal year.
   • Transportation costs, economy class airfare, and related ground transportation.
   • Meals.
   • Lodging.
   • Conference or exhibition registration fees
   •  Operating in the role of mentor for a student presenter, as verified by the department chair or director
   • If a traditional in-person conference changes format to a teleconferencing conference due to COVID-19 concerns, the registration cost and required fees are eligible for FRTF reimbursement. FRTF will not cover transportation, lodging or per diem for a teleconference.
3. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the end of travel. For trips that span the end of the fiscal year, the start date of the conference will determine what reimbursement cycle it falls into. For instance, a conference that starts on 6/29/2027 would be reimbursed in fiscal year 26-27. A conference that starts on 7/2/2028 the trip would fall into fiscal year 28-29.
4. Reimbursement will not be made to Funds 24 through 29. If expenditures are made from grant accounts, they are not reimbursable.
5. All expenditures made through the FRTF must conform to the University’s travel policy. All pre-approvals must be attached.

Applications for travel reimbursement from the FRTF must be submitted via  and include the following:

1. Completed and signed copy of the travel authorization form.
2. Completed, signed and approved copy of the travel expense voucher.
3. A copy of the conference or exhibition program cover page (showing conference dates) and a copy of the session page showing the name of the faculty member with the title of either the paper or the creative activity presented. If the faculty member is listed as chair of a panel, evidence that a presentation was made must be provided.

Questions about eligibility or documentation for a trip should be referred to ovpr-internalfunding@wmich.edu prior to the planned travel.

Operation of the fund

The FRTF coordinator ovpr-internalfunding@wmich.edu in the Office of Research and Innovation will administer the research travel fund. The program coordinator will be responsible for the day‐to‐day operation of the fund, in consultation with the faculty liaison. The faculty liaison, who must be a member of the bargaining unit and a member of the Research Policies Council, will be responsible for consulting regularly with the fund coordinator and making recommendations regarding FRTF policies and procedures to Research Policies Council.