Each year the School of Information Sciences (SIS) is able to provide funding for student attendance at professional conferences.  Students' expenses are partially underwritten by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC).  No student will receive funding to cover all expenses, and it is unlikely that any one person will receive funding for more than one conference. Therefore, please consider your applications carefully, and prioritize your requests.

Because more students want to attend the meetings than SIS can afford to send, selection criteria have been developed. These include the following:

For consideration the students must:

1. Submit an application by the 1st of each month for conferences scheduled anytime during the year.
2. Hold membership in the association which is holding the conference or have a paper accepted for presentation. (Attendee must show evidence of the paper being accepted.)
3. Ask your advisor to send an e-mail to Theresa Benedek at tbenedek@sis.pitt.edu, endorsing your application for funding.
   

Priority is given to students who meet one or more of the following:

• Are invited to participate in a conference (e.g. present a paper, serve as a speaker, moderator, panelist, etc.);
• Hold committee assignments within the association;
• Are nearing the completion of degree requirements, but will not have graduated at the time of the conference;
• Have maintained a high scholastic average;
• Are active members of student, local, regional, or national professional organizations (e.g. SISGO, Doctoral Guild, Minority Concerns Council, or the student chapters of ALA, ASIS, and SLA).

Students are encouraged to submit requests in groups which share expenses, such as lodging and travel.  The Committee will try to match students attending the same conference as a means of reducing expenses and stretching existing funds.

Students who wish to be considered for financial awards from SIS must submit an application to Theresa Benedek in Room 516 LIS Building by the date specified on the application.

Several responsibilities accompany the privilege of attending the meetings with financial support.

EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT -- The University has very stringent policies about reimbursement for travel expenses; the procedures will be explained prior to the conference.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS -- If SIS should have a booth at the conference you attend, attendees are expected to assist SIS faculty or staff for a minimum of two hours per day throughout the conference. Duties vary, but may include setting up or staffing the SIS booth, assisting at social events, running errands, contacting alumni, dismantling the display, etc.

Other possible sources of funding: GPSA Travel Grant Application, Pitt's University Center for International Studies