• In addition to populating all electronic fields, applicants must upload a single PDF, containing a copy of conference acceptance and proof of costs (e.g., screen shots of travel and lodging costs, and registration.
• Applications are not restricted to the same fiscal year, though yearly limits are determined by the fiscal year of the award, not the year of travel.
• This program does not fund graduate travel apart from research presentations at established academic conferences or events. This program does not fund attendance to workshops, seminars, or institutes (even where presentations may occur).
• Awards do not support conference participation in other capacities not mentioned, such as commenting, being on a discussion panel, or serving as a session chair.
• Applications must be for prospective travel, except where travel occurs in the late summer and was not known at the end of the prior academic year.
• We accept applications on a rolling basis, July 15 - June 15. Applications are not restricted to the same fiscal year, though yearly limits are determined by the fiscal year of the award.
• Conference registration fees must be separate from any additional membership/ organization fees, unless unable to disaggregate.
• Travel Authorization (TA) must be obtained prior to submitting an application for travel support. TAs may be obtained through the "Policies, Forms, & Travel Tools" on Bearcats landing: https://mailuc.sharepoint.com/sites/af-Travel/SitePages/Policies%20and%20Travel%20Tools.aspx, clicking on the "Guest Travel Authorization Form". It is also possible to file a TA request as a guest in Concur, but this requires training. To read more about TAs, please visit https://www.uc.edu/about/admin-finance/business/travel.html.
• In the case of domestic conferences, travel outside a 24-hour window of the conference start or end date is generally not permitted. Though it may be necessary to travel the day prior to the start of the conference, it is expected that return travel will occur on the same day as the end of the conference, except where such is not possible (as so demonstrated within the application).
• In the case of international travel, arrival a day prior to the conference start date and departure the day following the conference is expected
• Per diem is calculated by multiplying the number of travel days by the designated M&IE rate for the travel destination.
• If eligible for other, non-Taft Support, this amount must be listed in the application and will likely be deducted from the budget total when calculating the award. As such, you should include a complete budget when applying.
• If sharing resources with another traveler, and paying by Venmo, Cashapp, or something similar, you will need (1) original payment receipt from the individual paying, (2) screenshot of your payment confirmation, and (3) letter or email from original payee confirming they were reimbursed for your portion.

• Maximum award limitations are determined according to the fiscal year of award. 
• Award end dates are based on the applicant's stated project end date.
• Per diem is not covered under this program.
• Eligible projects include but are not limited to the following:
• Travel to a library, archive or other source of primary research materials;
• Purchase of software or data sets;
• Payment for technical services such as videotaping, laboratory analysis, etc.;
• Expenses involved in conducting interviews or distributing surveys.
• Workshops or seminars necessary to significantly advance a student's skill set, where such training is not otherwise available at UC.
• Applications of no more than 10,000 characters (approximately 1,500 words), should include 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
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae; and
• 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 to the field and their development, as well as the student's ability to complete. Students must communicate with their advisor or Director of Graduate Studies and have them submit a letter through the prompt (sent out once application is submitted) from the application system.
• Where the project overlaps with a faculty member’s, applicants should provide a statement on the distinct, separate nature of the student’s project.
• Incomplete applications or those that do not follow the application procedures may be denied, requiring submission at a later deadline.

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 award to ensuring the completion of the project; and
• The likelihood of project completion within the stated time period.

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. Applications are limited to one student per faculty, per project. 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).

• Maximum award limitations are determined according to the fiscal year of award. 
• Award end dates are based on the applicant's stated project end date.
• Proposed projects must not merely be a study abroad experience.
• Support received outside Taft, for the same project, must report such funding to the Taft Faculty Chair upon receipt of award notification.
• Projects must be completed by the time of graduation.
• Eligible projects include but are not limited to research expenses, travel to a library, archives, museum, a language immersion program, or presentation at an established, competitive academic conference. Regardless of the activity, there must be a research component within the proposed project.
• Applications of no more than 10,000 characters (approximately 1,500 words), should include the following:
• Project description; and
• Preliminary or expected results; and
• current project status, outcomes, and proposed schedule; 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.

• 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. 

Departments may carry-over their allocated award for up to one year if there is no student that meets department and Taft selection criteria for the Dissertation Fellowship, but may not provide more than two allocated awards in a given academic year. If departments do not have two students at candidacy, they may nominate a student for the Competitive Dissertation Fellowship, but will not be allowed to carry over the allocated Dissertation Fellowship.

See also departmentally-allocated Taft Dissertation Fellowships.

Grantee Responsibilities

• Starting in 2025, Dissertation Fellows will have a residential requirement, meeting each week with Center Fellows, as part of developing regular interaction with other Fellows and contributing to the multidisciplinary intellectual community at the Center. Dissertation Fellows must therefore maintain residency in close proximity to the University.
• 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. This does not include ITIE (technology) fees, insurance, or an international fee, if applicable.
• Failure to meet the necessary obligations of the award may result in award termination.

The Taft Dissertation Fellowship includes $21,000.00 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.

• Fellowships are not cost-based (unlike Graduate Enrichment); payments are made directly to the students. Accordingly, a budget should not be included.
• Applicants are encouraged to write for a general (not disciplinary) audience.
• A support letter from the student's advisor, project director, or the graduate program director is required. This letter should comment on the role of the project in the student's path to degree, as well as the significance of the project overall, and the student's ability to complete it. Currently, once the application is submitted, notice is automatically sent to the Graduate Program Director for the selected unit, requesting the letter of support. If the letter is from someone other than the Graduate Program Director, they may send the letter to taft@uc.edu.
• A narrative of no more than 10,00 characters (~1,500 words) is required, and must include the following:
  • An abstract of no more than 150 words; and
  • Project description, including theoretical framework, methods and sources; and
  • Preliminary / expected results; and
  • The significance of the project to your discipline; and
  • A detailed project timeline of major landmarks for the project during the project period.
• A single pdf upload containing the following must be uploaded by the applicant:
  • An abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae; and
  • Transcript, or other records summarizing the applicant's graduate career.