General Information
Apply now . Deadline for Winter Conferences is now November 6, 2009. System is always available for future applications.
Information about the Ray Award program
Upcoming application deadlines
Summer Quarter 2009
- Application Deadline: July 31, 2009
- Conference Dates: Autumn 2009 - August 28, 2009 - December 10, 2009
Autumn Quarter 2009
- Application Deadline: October 23, 2009
- Conference Dates: Winter 2010 - December 11, 2009– March 18, 2010
Winter Quarter 2010
- Application Deadline: January 29, 2010
- Conference Dates: Spring 2010 - March 19, 2010 - June 10, 2010
Spring Quarter 2010
- Application Deadline: April 23, 2010
- Conference Dates: Summer 2010 - June 11, 2010– August 27, 2010
Previous winners of the Ray Travel Award
Purpose
The Edward J. Ray Travel Award for Scholarship and Service (Ray Award) encourages and enables graduate students across the university to participate in professional conferences, both in their respective fields and in the broader academic community, by reimbursing or partially reimbursing the expenses incurred by graduate students during travel to conferences and meetings to present original research.
Unlike other programs that grant travel funds, the Ray Award gives substantial weight to the applicant's service to his/her department, the university, and the surrounding community. Ray Award judges also take into account the academic standing of the applicant, the applicant's professional goals, the nature of the conference being attended, and the applicant's ability to convey the focus of their research to a general audience.
Rationale
The financial aspect of travel to and presentation at such events can be prohibitive to many graduate students, and the availability of such support for students varies widely across the university. Whereas students in some departments, schools, and colleges may have several opportunities for funding, others have no sources of funding whatsoever. For this reason, the absence of such funds at the university level has been a subject of concern for CGS for several years. Inquiries on this matter to the CGS office, from both individual students and other graduate student associations within the university, have increased in recent years. Therefore, we feel that the Professional Development Fund will fill a void for many students; it will also sustain and further the professional activities of students who have exhausted other funding sources. The Professional Development Fund is intended to supplement -- not to replace -- existing funds at the program, department, school, college, or university levels.
Although the fund is primarily intended to assist with travel expenses, we recognize that there are often other costs involved with professional presentations. We have defined the fund's uses so that other legitimate costs can be included when necessary. The awards committee will be composed of graduate students and faculty members representative of the university community, as well as representatives from groups contributing to the fund. These individuals will be expected to consider the university as a whole in their decision-making processes.
The Ray Award supports and enhances the three-part mission of the University: research, teaching, and service. The Council believes that professional presentations of research are a vital part of the academic and professional development of graduate students. Not only do such activities help the individual student gain recognition in his or her field (therefore increasing employment opportunities), but they also showcase the high quality research that characterizes The Ohio State University. Further, this program will have a positive effect on undergraduate programs in which graduate students serve as Teaching Associates, because we believe that those who engage in research and professional activities in their fields can become better teachers. Finally, we believe that this program will promote service to the university and surrounding community because service activities will be considered when selecting recipients. It is our hope that this endeavor will further develop the academic and civic culture of Ohio State.