Policy on the Use of College Funds for Faculty Travel

Date: December 16, 2025

1. General Guidance and Eligibility

  1. All eligible faculty (Unit 3 employees) may apply for College travel funds to attend conferences, workshops, and other professional development activities that enhance their research or teaching, or service.
    1. Faculty with active research grant(s) that include travel support are not eligible to receive College travel funds for research-related travel (e.g., conferences, collaborations, specialized training).
    2. Faculty with RS funds are expected to use those funds for research travel unless the RS funds are fully encumbered (i.e., officially designated for use within the academic year) for another research-related expense.
    3. Faculty with start-up funds that include travel support for research are expected to use those funds before requesting College travel support.
  2. Faculty may apply for College travel funds no more than once every two academic years.
  3. The maximum award is $500 per application.
  4. Faculty are encouraged to seek support from other funding sources e.g., university/CSU-wide programs, professional societies etc. before requesting College travel funds. They should provide information in the application form on any additional funding applied for or received from other sources.

2. Priorities for Travel Funding

College will prioritize funding travel that substantially advances faculty scholarship, teaching, or student engagement. Priorities include, but are not limited to, the following (not listed in ranked order):

  1. The faculty member is presenting their research at a professional meeting.
  2. The faculty member is accompanying students who are presenting at a professional meeting.
  3. The travel increases the likelihood of successful grant funding and/or publication.
  4. The faculty member has probationary (pre-tenure) status.
  5. The professional development opportunity addresses specific needs of the College or department.
  6. The opportunity supports the development of new courses, curricula, or course redesign.
  7. The opportunity provides substantial benefit to a junior faculty member's teaching.
  8. The department chair has committed financial support.

Decision regarding travel funding applications will be made by the Dean, in consultation with the Associate Deans. All travel awards are contingent upon the availability of sufficient college funds and may be limited by budgetary constraints.

Revised by CDC and Dean, CNSM on December 16, 2025.

First approved Council of Department Chairs and Dean, College Natural Sciences and Mathematics on September 11, 2018.