Sept. 16, 2025 - Sept. 15, 2026

The College of Humanities and Sciences recognizes that travel and other professional development opportunities are needed. However, given the uncertainty caused by the changing federal policies, the funds available for such activities are currently limited. To ensure that the funds we do have are used effectively, all faculty professional development requests will be processed by the dean’s office in consultation with your department chairs and/or school directors. 

Therefore, the College of Humanities and Sciences has a dedicated pool of funds for professional development: please use this form to request those funds for travel associated with your professional development (research and/or other activities in line with your promotion pathway). If attending a conference, you must be presenting at a conference to be eligible for travel funds. Eligible travel expenses that can be covered by this fund include:

• Registration fees, if applicable.
• Transportation
• Parking 
• Hotel 
• Registration fees
• Transportation
• Parking 
• Hotel 

Please note:

• Food cost and/or per diem are not eligible expenses. 
• Travel that supports your promotion pathway is eligible if it is advancing your training and/or research project (i.e. travel to an archive or to conduct an interview). Those traveling to a conference must be a presenter at that conference.
• The presentation does not have to be accepted at the time of submission for the professional development request, but it will need to be provided before the pre-approval for the travel is processed. 
• At this time, approximate dates can be used if dates for the travel are not yet determined.

Other professional development requests should be emailed directly to Associate Dean Angela Reynolds (areynolds2@vcu.edu).

Please submit requests for travel between September 16, 2025, and September 15, 2026. Faculty must submit this form by 5:00 pm on September 1, 2025. You must complete this form for each professional development proposal (e.g., each professional conference). 

Those with access to dedicated funds (i.e., start-ups, PI indirects, retention funds, endowment/6-ledger funds, and/or external grants) will need to use these funds before receiving funds from the CHS professional development fund.

Applications received after the priority deadline may be reviewed on a rolling basis, contingent on available funding.

If you have any questions, please email Associate Dean Angela Reynolds (areynolds2@vcu.edu).