20-21 Conference Presentation Awards* (Spring 2021)

The Graduate College provides awards of up to $350 for students to participate in virtual conferences to present papers, posters, or creative work. Awards will not cover participation unless the student is making a presentation. Award amounts are based on the registration fees required for participation in the conference. No other fees (such as membership fees) are allowable. 

Illinois CS may submit the maximum number of applications (five).

See Grad College Award Call: http://www.grad.illinois.edu/general/travelaward

*Note: The Graduate College has revamped its Conference Travel Award program in light of travel restrictions related to Covid-19. The new and temporary program is called the “Conference Presentation Award” program. Whereas the previous “Conference Travel Awards” covered travel to in-person conferences, “Conference Presentation Awards” will cover registration fees for virtual conferences. Once pandemic-related travel restrictions are lifted, the program will return to its previous iteration and will support actual travel to in-person conferences.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be registered and in good academic standing during both the term the application is submitted AND the term during which the conference takes place (exceptions to this are made for summer).
• Applicants may receive only one Conference Presentation Award per academic year.
• Students in non-degree, online, cost-recovery, and self-supporting programs are ineligible. Students in traditional on-campus degree programs whose courses are being temporarily held online because of the pandemic are eligible.
• Awards are supported by Students for Equal Access to Learning (SEAL) fees, which are part of the Student Initiated Fees. Therefore, applicants must have paid the Student Initiated Fees in the semester during which they apply. For details on fees, see the Office of the Registrar's website. Students who are not assessed the fees, e.g., students registered in Credit Range III or IV (less than 6 hours), may become eligible by paying the fee at a cashier's window in 100 Henry Administration Building.
• For spring term awards, the conference must take place anytime from the beginning of the spring term to the end of the following fall term.

Application Procedure

• Students may not submit applications directly to the Graduate College. All applications must first be submitted to the department.
• Materials must be submitted via the online web form, complete details below.

Submission Details (Due by Thursday, February 25, at 11:59 PM)

Checklist of Required Materials for CS Department Review. Incomplete application packets will NOT be considered.

Required Materials:

1. Graduate College Conference Participation Award Application Cover Sheet – download this file to include as the first page in your application.
2. Short Letter/statement from adviser endorsing and approving your participation in the conference and explaining why it is important that you attend the conference.  The letter should be specific about whether or not they will supply funds to support your travel (and, if so, how much). If they prefer to send this separately, it should be emailed to Michelle Wellens at mwellens@illinois.edu.
3. Proof that you will present at the conference. For example, a notice that your paper has been accepted to the conference.  In addition, please indicate specific information regarding the number of papers submitted for the conference review and those accepted for presentation (i.e., the acceptance rate).  This information will assist the department review committee in the selection of nominees to be forwarded to the Graduate College.  This may require you to make inquiries to whomever contacted you about the acceptance of your paper at the conference.
4. Your up-to-date CV.  Be sure to include as complete bibliographic information as possible about the paper or poster which will be presented at the conference.  In addition, please be sure to include your expected graduation date.

How to SUBMIT:

• Remember to supply all information requested for the internal application review (items 1-4 above).
• Submit via this online web form: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/125541132

Questions may be directed to Michelle Wellens.