Program deadlines are rolling from mid-July to mid-June. Applications are not restricted to the same fiscal year, though yearly limits are measured by the fiscal year of the award, not the year of travel. To apply, click the "Apply for Graduate Student Travel Support" link above, and complete all required fields, including conference acceptance and expense receipts (e.g., transportation, lodging, conference registration fee, and/or M&IE per diem claimed). 

Applications will be assessed based upon the following criteria:

• The quality or promise of quality of the applicant's work as a scholar or creative writer and teacher; and
• The significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to the applicant's degree program; and
• The conceptualization, organization, and description of the proposed project; and
• The current state of the research, the proposed research schedule, and the timeliness of the grant to ensuring the completion of the project; and
• The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project.

Applications must include the following:

• A narrative statement (1,500 word maximum) indicating the following:

• Project description; and
• Current project status and proposed schedule; and
• Preliminary or expected results; and
• The role of the project in the applicant’s advancement to degree and unique impact on intellectual development not otherwise attainable; and
• A brief budget outline with explanation and proof of costs, indicating any other funding sources involved in the project; and
• Where the project overlaps with a faculty member’s, a statement on the distinct, separate nature of the student’s project.
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae.

• A support letter from the student's advisor, project director, or the graduate program director. This letter should comment on the role of the project in the student's degree program, as well as the significance of the project and the student's ability to complete.

All Taft-affiliate undergraduates are eligible, though preference will be given to majors or those of senior standing. This includes those pursuing a major, minor, or certificate from a Taft department.

Taft faculty apply for this award. Each faculty applicant will mentor a designated student on a specific research project; this information should be included in the proposal. Applications should be sent as an email attachment to Taft@ucmail.uc.edu.

Faculty mentors and student mentees are asked to complete an agreement regarding the start date, approximate number of research/writing hours per week, and number of mentor/mentee meetings during the period of the award, as appropriate to the applicant’s home department expectations. These numbers can be flexible but should be agreed upon.

This award will provide $1,000 to the faculty mentor, and up to $3,000 will be given to the selected student mentee. Undergraduate student mentees are expected to work 30-40 hours per week for about 10 weeks during the summer. The start date and the specific number of hours per week are flexible but must be agreed upon by both student and faculty member. The student mentee must complete the research project to the satisfaction of the faculty mentor.

Taft faculty apply for this award. Each faculty applicant will mentor a designated student on a specific research project; this information should be included in the proposal. The application should include:

• An outline of the proposed research project, the student researcher's name and degree program, and the faculty member's proposed mentoring role in the project.
• Preference will be given to majors, those previously enrolled in a course with the faculty mentor, and those near the end of their degree.
• The proposed student researcher must complete a brief statement outlining their research project goals, purpose, and timeline, and their qualifications (500 words). The faculty applicant must include this statement in the application, along with a copy of the student’s transcript(s).

Applications must include the following:

• A narrative statement (1,500 word maximum) indicating the following:

• Project description and proposed schedule; and
• Preliminary or expected results; and
• Description of how the proposed project will advance the student's understanding of his or her major field, beyond any course credit that might be earned through the project; and
• Detailed budget and justification for budget items; and
• A complete transcript or grade report; and
• A statement of other available sources of funding from UC for the particular project. Those who receive support outside Taft must report such funding to the Taft Faculty Chair upon receipt of award notification;

• A support letter from the student's advisor, project director. This letter should comment on the role of the project in the student's degree program, and how the project will enrich the student's understanding of his or her major.

Applications are evaluated on the potential value of the enrichment experience and the applicant’s academic record.

Proposed projects must not merely be a study abroad experience.

Undergraduate Enrichment Award Applicants traveling outside the United States, for projects associated with an academic credit bearing experience (i.e., getting a grade), are required to apply for funds from UC International. Those who receive support outside Taft must report such funding to the Taft Faculty Chair upon receipt of award notification.

• Research abstract (125 words)
• Project description (5 pages)
• Applicant's grade record - something that shows your grades for the courses you have taken while at UC.
• A letter of support from the applicant’s dissertation advisor detailing the following:
  • Progress in the dissertation process by the time of the application; and
  • The applicant's rank among advanced graduate students and the department's applicants, as well as engagement in extra-curricular activities such as organizing events, taking part in committees, volunteering for departmental activities, etc.; and
  • The applicant’s productivity, in terms of academic publications, during his or her years as a UC student (please reference any in-review publications as well as creative writing produced during the same period); and
  • Whether or not all course work and qualifying exams have been completed, and the applicant has advanced to candidacy; and
  • Expected completion date of doctoral studies; and
  • Whether or not the applicant was previously a dissertation fellow.

The primary prerequisite for serious consideration of all candidates is proof of significant progress toward the degree in the calendar year prior to the submission of the application. For students who are in the second year of dissertation work, this progress is usually established by the letter of recommendation from the student's advisor. Letters should summarize what has been accomplished and what remains to be accomplished before the dissertation is considered completed. For students who are about to begin a dissertation, significant progress toward the degree is established by completion of preliminary examination and by letters of recommendation. In exceptional circumstances, awards may be made contingent on satisfactory completion of Ph.D. examinations by the end of the second (spring) semester. 

Candidates who have had or currently have a Taft Dissertation award will not be eligible for another dissertation award unless there are no other qualified candidates within the department, assessed by a two-thirds majority vote of the faculty. In the exceptionally rare case that a candidate is being awarded a Dissertation Fellowship for the second time, the Department must explain this exceptional circumstance and the reasons for it on its report.

Departments should be advised that students who will attain 174 (140 with MA in-hand prior to attending UC) graduate hours during the fellowship year, are not eligible for Graduate Assistant Scholarship (GAS) awards. This fellowship does not require that students receive a GAS award. 

See also departmentally-allocated Taft Dissertation Fellowships.

Grantee Responsibilities

• Taft Fellows may not engage in any form of paid employment, including teaching, during the period of their fellowship.
• The Taft Dissertation Fellowship is classified as a University Graduate Assistantship, offered through the home department, which covers an entire academic year, including the summer. This does not include ITIE (technology) fees, insurance, or an international fee, if applicable.
• Taft Dissertation Fellows may be required to attend several meetings throughout the year, and make one Taft-approved public presentation of their work in the spring semester, or following fall. 
• Fellows must maintain residency in close proximity to the university, in order to satisfy the above requirements.
• Failure to meet the necessary obligations of the award may result in the termination of this award.

The Taft Dissertation Fellowship includes $20,000.00 in pay and is categorized as a University Graduate Assistantship, which covers the period from the first day of Fall Semester through the last day of spring semester. Fellowship payments are distributed through student accounts at the beginning of each semester, processed as a refund at the beginning of the 4th week of classes, assuming no outstanding debts.

Monies processed as fellowship payments are not reported to the IRS. As such, you will not receive any tax form (ie.1099-M) from the university. However, fellowship monies are taxable and recipients of such payments should self-report this as income to the IRS and plan to pay the appropriate taxes.

Applications must include the following:

• A narrative statement (1,500 word maximum);
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae, transcript, or other records summarizing the applicant's graduate career;
• A support letter from the student's advisor, project director, or the graduate program director. This letter should comment on the role of the project in the student's degree program, as well as the significance of the project and the student's ability to complete it.