Supplemental Research Presentation Funds

The SRPF program, formerly known as the Research Presentation Fund (RPF), is intended to offset the cost of conference travel in the current fiscal year for HFA faculty to present research or participate in a panel discussion. Eligibility guidelines and priority considerations are explained below.   

HFA faculty are limited to one award per fiscal year. The conference must take place before the end of the current fiscal year (6/30/25). Awards are given on a competitive basis and while funds last. The maximum award amounts for the fiscal year are: 

$100 for virtual presentations 

$300 for domestic destinations  

$400 for Mexico and Canada destinations 

$500 for international destinations (other than Mexico and Canada) 

The MSP RSF and Flex Grant programs are potential sources of additional travel funding. 

After travel is completed, and the expense reimbursement has been processed by the department business manager, the award recipient’s retention account will receive the funding.  

Awards are valid to present at the conference named in the application. Awards may not be repurposed. If the conference trip is cancelled for any reason and the recipient wishes to attend another conference, a new application must be submitted.   

Eligibility and priority consideration 
  • All full-time tenure-track faculty and non-tenure track faculty on continuous appointments are eligible.  
  • Faculty must also apply in the current academic year for MSP RSF and Flex Grant funding. SRPF recipients are not required to use these funding sources for travel.
  • Priority consideration will be given to faculty who have no other source of available funding.  The applicant’s department business manager will be asked to provide information about available funding sources. 
  • Pre-tenure and mid-career tenure-track faculty will receive priority consideration. 
Application deadlines
  • October 1, 2024, for conferences scheduled 9/1/24-2/28/25 
  • March 1, 2025, for conference scheduled 3/1/25-6/30/25    
Application procedure 

To apply, please complete the application form for the fall 2024 or spring 2025 deadline.  The form for the spring deadline will be announced in the fall. Faculty will be asked to provide the name and location of the conference, presentation date, and their title.  

  • Applications must be submitted prior to travel. However, if a faculty member presents at a conference in early fall of 2024, they may apply after the event by the October 1st deadline.   
  • Faculty shall be notified of a funding decision within the three weeks following the deadline. 
Award management

The department business manager, in collaboration with the award recipient, submits a summit report to the HFA Business Office for reimbursement of expenses made on the faculty member’s retention account.  NOTE: The HFA Business Office cannot reimburse the account if the faculty member fails to satisfy the requirement of applying in the current academic year for MSP RSF and Flex Grant funding.

For more information, please contact: Amy Fleig, afleig [at] umass [dot] edu (afleig[at]umass[dot]edu) or Pari Riahi, priahi [at] umass [dot] edu (priahi[at]umass[dot]edu)