Faculty
Policies, Procedures & Forms
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Support of Creative and Research Excellence by Graduate Students
SCT is fortunate to have many graduate [and undergraduate] students doing exemplary creative and research work. Like their mentors and teachers, these young colleagues typically engage in creative and research endeavors because of the artistic, scholarly and educational benefits they believe will result– rather than for any monetary motive.
Nevertheless, travel to conferences, displays and screenings to present the fruits of these labors invariably costs money. All too often, faculty and students end up paying such travel costs out of their own pockets. The intention of this policy is to help our most economically vulnerable artists and researchers– our graduate students– to defray at least some of these costs. It is not the intention of this policy to replace department-level efforts to support graduate student travel and such efforts are encouraged.
Graduate students can qualify for partial reimbursement of travel expenses under the following conditions.
1. SCT will support student scholarly work by partially reimbursing travel, food, housing and/or registration costs associated with creative and research presentations whenever budget limitations permit. These funds are intended to support creative and research endeavors that contribute to SCT’s identity and reputation for such accomplishment so the contribution such presentations, performances or showings make to an individual’s professional career will not be considered in allocating funds.
2. Students in terminal programs [PhD. and MFA] will be eligible for a maximum of up to $500 in any one school year. This is a maximum rather than a guaranteed figure and is intended for those who present, show or perform at the largest and most prestigious venues [student divisions included] as determined by each department’s faculty. Presentations at lesser known conferences, showing or performances will typically qualify for reduced levels of support.
3. Students in non-terminal master’s programs [MS, MJ, MA] will be eligible for a maximum of up to $250 in any one school year. This is a maximum rather than a guaranteed figure and is intended for only those who present, show or perform at the largest and most prestigious venues as determined by each department’s faculty. Presentations at lesser known conferences, showings or performances will typically qualify for reduced levels of support.
4. Each request for reimbursement must be accompanied by a letter from an advisor/mentor attesting
a. To the level of the conference, showing or performance.
b. That the student will also be sharing the fruits of their research internally to SCT in some way, such as through STARRS, the MFA Colloquium or classroom presentation.
c. That the advisor/mentor and student have discussed the possibility of future publication, showings or performances and that travel to the proposed conference or showing may enhance such a possibility now or in the future.
d. To any existing support from other funding sources. Other funding support is not a requirement under this policy but applications that include partial funding from a department or other source will be viewed favorably.
5. For creative and research products that are rigorously judged as among the top student efforts at a national or international conference or showing, up to $250 in additional reimbursement may be applied for. Examples of such accomplishments are rare but could include a “Top Three” award at NCA, AEJMC, ICA, USITT, or UFVA, acceptance at an uncommonly prestigious film festival such as Cannes, being cast in a major regional theater or film production, an ensemble invitation to a national or international acting festival, or comparable achievement in some other creative or research area.
6. This policy is intended to support the work of graduate students but some creative or academic accomplishments by undergraduate students will qualify for reimbursement at the same level as master’s students when the criteria enumerated in number four above have been met and when funds are available.
7. All university policies [http://www.temple.edu/controller/travel/index.htm], INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT AIRLINE FLIGHTS BE BOOKED ONLY THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY’S AUTHORIZED TRAVEL AGENCY, must be followed. Reimbursement will be from School funds but will be initiated through standard university procedures beginning with the department office.
3/8/04