Overview
This faculty travel grant is supported by the VCEA and is intended to foster travel opportunities to support research and a scholarly culture that aligns with the VCEA mission, values, and commitments. The grant is competitive among all faculty within the schools and departments of VCEA (Pullman, Tri-Cities and Vancouver), wherein two (2) awards will be provided at $3,000 each. Awards must be used between the award date and 06/30/2026. Additional awards will be made in future years as funds are available.
Purpose
The purpose of this grant program is to provide travel funds for VCEA faculty members to present their research or scholarly work at conferences or pursue professional development opportunities.
Eligibility
Full-time career track faculty, tenure-track faculty, in the schools and departments of VCEA.
Schedule
- 09/12/2025 RFP released
- 09/24/2025 Submissions due by 5:00 p.m. in PDF format to Fernanda Amaral
- 09/25/2025 Jury review begins
- 10/15/2025 Public notification of awardees
- 10/15/2025 Travel funding availability begins
- 06/30/2026 Travel funding availability ends
- 07/15/2026 Final report of outcomes and impact due to Dean Pande via Fernanda Amaral
The final deliverables for this grant program are:
- a final report outlining the preliminary outcomes and benefits of the travel.
- a presentation to the VCEA Leadership Team in the October 2026 meeting.
Criteria
- Personnel: Proposals should include one faculty who will benefit from this travel. However, the funds can be used to include student participation, at either the undergraduate or graduate levels, at a conference or workshop the faculty member already plans to attend.
- Alignment: Demonstrate how the proposal aligns with the mission, values and commitments of VCEA or your respective department or school.
- Impact: Demonstrate how the travel experience or professional development will positively impact networking, growth in teaching or research, or provide enhancements in knowledge base or skills needed for success.
- Quality: Travel proposals of the upmost rigor and quality are expected.
Proposal Specifics
- Title Page (1 page) including: Title of proposal
- Faculty proposers’ name and title
- Date
- Abstract (500 word maximum)
- Identify the purpose, scope, and location (venue, conference, workshop, etc.) of the proposed travel including anticipated dates.
- Demonstrate how the proposed travel will positively impact your research, professional development, your students, or your school or department.
- Budget allocation (1 page) identifying how the budget will be spent in the following categories as appropriate: Travel, Lodging, Registration, Per Diem, misc., other?
NOTE #1: Due to the nature of the funds available, grant funds may not be used for paying faculty salaries or wages of any kind.
NOTE #2: Grant funds must be spent by 06/30/2026. Remaining balances after this date will be re-allocated to the next round of VCEA Travel Grants.
NOTE #3: No match is required for this travel grant.
Jury / Review Guidelines
- The jury will be made up of a body of faculty peer external reviewers within the WSU system.
- There will be two (2) awards made in this round for $3,000 each.
- Criteria for judging will include and be weighed equally:
- Broader Impacts – i.e., the potential for greater scholarship impact, professional development impact, or external funding opportunities of the proposed travel.
- Significance of the Proposal – i.e., the impact of overall significance of the project + alignment with the mission, values and commitments of VCEA or your respective department or school.
- Value to Faculty – i.e., the value and opportunity for faculty growth and development as an outcome of the proposed travel.
- Feasibility – i.e., the feasibility of accomplishing the proposed travel within the proposed budget and timeline/schedule.
Questions?
Contact: Partha Pande, Dean, pande@wsu.edu
Partha Pratim Pande, FIEEE
Dean and Professor
Boeing Centennial Chair in Computer Engineering
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Office: 509-335-5593
Email: pande@wsu.edu