External Expert Seminar Funding

The College of Graduate Studies (CGS) will award up to $1,000 per academic year to support department seminars, workshops, and conferences that bring external experts (individuals not officially affiliated with UCF) to engage with graduate students and faculty.

Funding decisions are subject to application worthiness and the availability of funds for the current fiscal year ending June 20, 2027.

Applications open early in the fall 2026 semester.

Eligibility and Funding Requirements

• Applications must come from the academic unit (department or school) that houses the graduate program whose students and faculty will participate
• Interdisciplinary doctoral programs representing multiple units are also eligible
• CGS support may not exceed 50% of the total event budget, and CGS funds may not be used for food expenses for attendees
• External experts or facilitators may not hold an official UCF appointment
• A brief biography must be provided for each external expert to confirm eligibility

Proposal Requirements

Short proposals (1–2 pages) must be submitted to the application survey by the submission deadline and include:

• Event contact, department, and proposed event date
• A description of the seminar, workshop, or conference, including the graduate program(s) that will benefit
• A detailed explanation of how the requested funds will be used
• A preliminary budget outlining the full cost of the event and identifying all funding sources
• A preliminary agenda or schedule
• A brief biography of each external expert

Additional Criteria

Documentation Requirements:

• Clear documentation of cost-share commitments
• Adherence to UCF expense guidelines
• Any media created to promote the event must acknowledge CGS support (unit identifier will be provided)

Impact on Graduate Education:

• Demonstrated benefits for graduate students (e.g., research skill development, professional growth, networking opportunities)
• Alignment with graduate program learning outcomes or strategic goals
• Broader impact across multiple graduate programs or interdisciplinary relevance
• Potential for sustained value
• Events must be accessible to all graduate students in the participating program(s)
• Priority may be given to units that have not received funding within the past two years

Post-Event Reporting:

• Award recipients must submit a short post-event report within 30 days of the event summarizing attendance, outcomes, and final use of CGS funds
• Please include any materials used to promote the event
• Awardees must use a specific Activity Code (provided in the award confirmation email) when submitting their expense report and attach the award confirmation email as a PDF