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International Site Visit Grants

As of May 2024

This site visit granting process is currently under revision.  Please contact Maureen Deisinger at mdeising@vt.edu for more information. 

The Global Education Office (GEO) will provide funding for one faculty or academic adviser to join a GEO representative on a site visit to a current or prospective partner university. One grant award is available each semester.

The purpose of this grant is to provide funding to one faculty or academic adviser interested in strengthening partnership activities with a current or new Virginia Tech exchange partner (see full list of partners here) through collaborations aimed at increasing student participation in the partnership. The proposed site visit should be strategically framed within a college or department’s established plan for internationalization.

Funding is available to include faculty who hold the rank of tenure track, A/P, collegiate, or long-term lecturers. Professional academic advisers are also eligible as long as the adviser is involved in curricular evaluation and development and/or transfer credit recommendations within the academic department.

Program Overview

The grant is for a short-term site visit of two to four days. The site visit will consist of meetings with academic counterparts, meetings with university representatives and the international office, and student meetings or information sessions. An attempt could be made to arrange the visit to coincide with the partner university’s study abroad fair. This could include the expectation of the grantee participating in tabling or student meetings on behalf of Virginia Tech.

Funding

Funding will include the following:

  • Economy class airfare
  • Accommodation (2-4 nights)
  • Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) Per Diem
  • International emergency medical and security assistance insurance

The grantee is responsible for completing a travel Pre-Approval, purchasing airfare, and making hotel accommodations. GEO will reimburse the relevant department/college for the above listed expenses. Any additional expenses are the responsibility of the department/college, as agreed to with the grantee.

One grant award is available each semester. A committee will review the proposals and make funding decisions.

Eligibility

Applications from all curricular and academic specializations in which the partner university offers coursework and majors in the VT faculty members related area are eligible.

Generally speaking, the selection committee will give preference to applicants from VT departments or schools that:

  1. Are underrepresented in percentage of students who study abroad.
  2. Represent large departments or programs that will increase the likelihood of an increase in student mobility numbers overall.
  3. Represent people who have not had the opportunity to personally or professionally experience international travel.

Requirements

Those receiving grants are expected to fulfill the following requirements:

  • Complete the site visit that is approved for funding.
  • Submit all reporting requirements upon completion of the site visit. (See guidelines below)
  • Participate in departmental or campus-wide activities designed to share the results of the site visit.

Proposal

Cover Sheet: The proposal cover sheet should include the following information:

  • Name, college, department, and contact information
  • Partner university
  • Date of proposed travel (month, year)

Narrative: The narrative (1-2 pages) should include the following information:

  • Statement of objectives as they relate to the partner university and the needs within the department, college, or university
  • Description of specific activities and how results will be shared with appropriate university audiences
  • Statement of anticipated impact/benefits on student mobility and importance to the unit
  • Additional material may be attached as appendices if it is essential to explaining the proposal

Proposal Deadline

Proposals are due by 5:00PM on November 1 for spring or summer travel, and 5:00PM on April 1 for fall or winter travel. Submit proposals to Maureen Deisinger, mdeising@vt.edu.

Post-Travel Reporting Requirements

After the mobility, participants are required to submit a final report of 2-4 pages with the following information:

  • Summary of project objectives
  • Description of activities and final agenda
  • Evaluation of outcomes and impact
  • Description of subsequent plans