IDEA Institute Travel Grant

The IDEA Institute Travel Grants provides financial support to students to participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-focused engineering/engineering education conferences, meetings, or workshops. Supported events include, but not limited to, the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition and Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity (CoNECD), and Understanding Interventions. The goal of this funding is to promote and improve DEI within the Grainger College of Engineering by providing students with the opportunity to present research and learn strategies for the implementation of best practices towards broadening participation in engineering. Students also gain communication and networking experience and enhanced professional academic and career opportunities.

IDEA Institute Travel Grants may be requested up to $1000 to cover conference expenses such as registration, travel, lodging, ground transportation, and per diem. Awardees will be expected to share reflections of conference participation at an upcoming IDEA meeting. Applicants may only receive one travel grant per academic year. Preferences will be given to applicants actively involved in the IDEA Institute (e.g. GIANT team member or participant in IDEA activities) and first-time applicants.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the IDEA Institute Travel Grant, applicants must:

Be a member of Grainger College of Engineering
Present or co-present research at an upcoming conference, workshop, or meeting.
Be a member of the IDEA Institute. If not currently a member, please join!
Receive permission from their faculty mentor to travel and present research
Complete the application form including:

Proof of abstract acceptance to conference, meeting, or workshop
Event information with location and dates
Statement of financial need and benefit from attending/participating in event
Estimated budget (airfare, lodging, registration, ground transportation, per diem based on Illinois policy)

Application Cycles
Spring 2024

March 18: Application portal opens
May 3: Application deadline
May 17: Awards announced

Fall 2024

October 15: Application portal opens
November 15: Application deadline
December 2: Awards announced

Select Conferences
Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity (CoNECD)

2025 Conference: February 8 – 11, 2025; San Antonio, TX
Call for Abstracts open now through Friday, May 31, 2024

American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition (ASEE)

2024 Annual Conference: The Future of Engineering Education, June 23 – 26, 2024, Portland, OR
Registration open now to attend only! Abstract deadline has passed

Frontiers in Education 2024: Embracing the Challenges and Transforming Engineering and Computing Education in a Technology-Enhanced World, October 13 – 16, 2024, Washington, DC

Understanding Interventions: Future dates TBD