Faculty have several options for going abroad for official UNCG business. Some options easily fit into our existing funding models at UNCG, such as giving presentations at international conferences. Others require more exploration. Feel free to contact the International Programs Center (IPC) for more information about any plans you may have, especially if the international travel involves students, or you would like advice on how to procure funding, or you would like to learn more about any general travel guidelines or restrictions.

Arranging a faculty exchange can be quite involved; we can help navigate the process and provide tips for organizing the exchange. For more information regarding faculty/staff participation in Fulbright programs, please visit IPC and consult: www.cies.org.

Faculty should be aware of general travel policies at UNCG so that they can get their reimbursements in a timely manner.

There are two categories of International and Global Engagement funding opportunities (also listed in this printable document):

  1. Kohler Awards: supporting Research, Teaching, Student Programs, Special Projects, and International Linkages (funded through IPC).
  2. International Travel Fund: supporting faculty to attend professional conferences outside of North America (funded through IPC).

In addition, the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Office (URSCO) sponsors awards to help faculty and students take on scholarly projects that have an international component. See their website for more information.

The IPC Discretionary Funds Committee meets four times per year, and proposals must be submitted by the deadline that is a minimum of six weeks before the proposed activity. Please note: PCard payments cannot be reimbursed using Kohler funding. Deadlines for the 2023 - 2024 Academic year are as follows:

FALL -  SEPTEMBER 15th & OCTOBER 15th, 2023

SPRING -  JANUARY 15th & MARCH 15TH 2024

HOW TO APPLY

There are two ways to submit a proposal for Kohler funding: CLICK HERE to submit an apply using our new, online application process. This new process will allow you to provide your contact information, brief summary of your project, upload up to two supporting documents and route your application to your supervisor for approval. Or you can download, complete and submit a paper application by CLICKING HERE (Must Download first to edit Word doc) Once the application has been completed and the applicant's supervisor has signed, it can be emailed to IPC@uncg.edu. Please include "Kohler Application" in the subject line.

Research with Additional Internal or External Funding

Faculty submitting an application to the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) for a New Faculty Grant, a Summer Research Grant, a Regular Faculty Research Grant, or a Research Assignment may be eligible for a Kohler grant if their project contains an international component. Faculty who receive support for an international project from an external source (a fellowship, grant or award) may also apply for supplemental Kohler Funds. The maximum award is $1000.

Special Projects

This award is to support international projects such as distinguished lectureships, faculty community dialogues, guest speaker series, country- or area specific seminars, business outreach programs, etc. In particular, IPC welcomes projects which promote better community relations or which serve as leverage for gaining additional extramural financial support of UNCG international activities. Recent examples of Kohler supported Special Projects include a symposium on contemporary Poland; a colloquium featuring an address by the Finnish Ambassador to the United States; and a Latin American Arts Festival. There is no set dollar limit for the budget request.

Student Programs

Kohler support is available for new international programs conducted on campus by and/or for UNCG students. Applications may be made by student groups, faculty members on behalf of students, or a mixture of both. Student programs that have received funding in the past include international days, UNCG Model United Nations Club, language circles, and International House Programs. This program is offered in addition to the Kohler Fund’s continuing support of travel grants for students going on UNCG’s Study Abroad programs. Strong preference will be given to projects that have matching support from Student Government or other funding agencies. As proposals in this category may range from the modest to the ambitious, there is no set dollar limit for the budget request.

Internationalizing the Curriculum

Faculty members (individually or in groups) are invited to apply for Kohler Fund support for projects to introduce new international content into existing courses. Graduate courses will be given preference since undergraduate courses are supported by QEP funding.
The Provost’s Office has created a fund to enable UNCG faculty to attend international conferences, present their work to an international audience and to interact with colleagues from other countries. These professional conferences must be outside of North America. Successful applications may be awarded up to $600 per trip. Because of limited funding and high demand:
  • Faculty members may receive only one ITF grant per academic year.
  • They are ineligible to receive a grant more than two years in a row.
  • Grants are restricted to full-time faculty members.
  • Only completed applications that are submitted before travel will be considered.
  • A joint presentation is only eligible for one ITF award.
Please note: U.S., Canada and Mexico funding to enable UNCG faculty to attend conferences within North America may be obtained from the Office of Research and Economic Development: phone 4-4623 or visit: https://sponsoredprograms.uncg.edu/funding-opportunities/ for guidelines and application information.

ITF Funding Priorities

In order of priority, support will be given to those applicants who:
  • Deliver a major, invited paper or presentation in the applicant’s field of Research or Creative Activity
  • Present a paper as part of a panel presentation
  • Organize and chair a panel discussion
  • Serve as a discussant on a panel
Additionally, funding may be available to those attending a conference as an elected officer or board member of an international organization or presenting in a poster session or round table discussion.

How to Apply

The application process is fairly straightforward. The application consists of three things: the cover page with signatures (most schools/colleges have a proxy for the dean), complete budget (including any cost sharing or personal funds) and official confirmation of invitation to the conference (typically an email). Once you have those materials collected, scan and email them to Dr. Maria Anastasiou at m_anastasio@uncg.edu. The IPC Discretionary Funds Committee processes and awards these on a rolling basis until the funding for the year is expended. Complete instructions for applying for the International Travel Fund are found here. Please note: PCard payments cannot be reimbursed using ITF funding.