The Department of American Indian Studies (AIS) offers travel grants of up to $1,000 to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students to defray the cost of traveling to present their research at the Southeast Native Studies Conference hosted by AIS at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). Travel awards funds may be used for registration, travel expenses, per diem, and lodging (3 days, 2 nights).
About Southeast Native Studies Conference
The 20th annual Southeast Native Studies Conference (SNSC) will be held at UNC Pembroke March 20-21, 2025. The Conference provides a forum for discussion of the cultures, histories, and contemporary experiences of Native Americans in the Southeast United States. It serves as a critical venue for scholars, students, community members, and all persons interested in American Indian/Native American Studies in the region. Held annually since 2005, the SNSC is the only national conference dedicated solely to the unique histories and cultures of Southeastern Native Americans. For more information about the conference, visit www.uncp.edu/ais/snsc.
Travel Grant Eligibility
Any currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate student who is in good academic standing at an institution of higher education and whose research relates to historical and contemporary Native peoples of the Southeast United States is eligible to apply. Each student presenter can receive a maximum of $1,000. Applicants must provide proof of university enrollment.
Application Process
Students must submit a proposal to present at the Southeast Native Studies Conference and an application for the travel grant. The deadline to submit the presentation proposal and the travel grant application is December 1, 2024. Applicants must include 1) proof of current enrollment (e.g., a letter from advisor or registrar, transcript, current course schedule) and 2) a letter of support. Proof of enrollment should include the student's name, the school name, and a recent date. Students may need to combine multiple documents to confirm their enrollment status.
- Apply Here: www.uncp.edu/ais/snsc
Letter of Support
A letter of support from the faculty research advisor who mentored the research project the student will present, a faculty advisor, or department head endorsing the application, and the significance of the presentation is required. The student must submit the letter of support with the application.
This letter should include: a brief statement confirming details of the faculty member’s mentorship and supervision of the student’s research; a brief statement about the student and their work; a short assessment of the potential significance of the student’s conference participation; and whether this research is supported by a grant (if so, include the funder’s name and amount of support).
Selection
Proposals to present and grant applications will be evaluated by UNC Pembroke American Indian Studies faculty. The AIS chair will notify applicants of the faculty’s decision concerning their application by December 15, 2025.
Award Acceptance
Upon notification of an award, the grant recipient must reply to the AIS chair’s email notifying the applicant of the decision by December 20, 2024 to accept the award.
Direct-bill and Disbursement
Direct-bill means AIS will pay for expenses directly (e.g., travel, lodging, per diem, and conference fees) up to $1,000. Additional costs must be covered by the grant recipient. No direct payment will be made to grant recipients for travel and lodging. The per diem will be disbursed after the conclusion of the conference.
Additional Information
Contact Dr. Mary Ann Jacobs, Chair of American Indian Studies, at mary.jacobs@uncp.edu or 910.521.6266 or visit www.uncp.edu/ais/snsc.