Dean Rusk Grant Application Components
When applying for a Dean Rusk Travel Grant, you'll be required to submit a project proposal, a budget, and supporting materials.
Supporting materials may vary based on which category of experience you're pursuing (research, exploratory and reflective learning, service or study).
Project Proposal
The proposal is divided into four sections, with slightly different prompts for each category.
Justification
Explain your project and its importance to a field of research and/or your academic and personal trajectory. Clarify why this is something you need to travel abroad to carry out.
Preparation
Discuss the experiences and/or coursework, including method and language training, that have prepared you for this project. Note any resources, documentation or permissions you need and how you will obtain it. Discuss your considerations for personal and social responsibility while engaging in this project.
Implementation
Offer a detailed picture of how you will use your time on the grant. What are your desired outcomes? How will you obtain them? Is your project feasible in this timeframe?
Dissemination
Offer your plans for presenting your experience, including sharing it on campus and/or the broader community, in an accessible way. How will personal reflection be highlighted during your project, and how will you connect your experience back to Davidson?
In addition to these components, the International Education Committee (IEC) looks for these experiences where applicable:
- Language Preparation: Language training is an integral part of a successful global experience because it ensures communication with a wider audience and it facilitates cultural competency. If you want to travel to a country where you do not speak the language, consider signing up for a language class or SILP prior to submitting your application. Preference will be given to applicants who have relevant language skills.
- Methodology: Methodology is the set of practices scholars use to approach research. Methods vary by discipline (for example, lab scientists have a difference research method than anthropologists). Students who propose research abroad should explain what field method they will use for data collection, such as, but not limited to, laboratory experiments, ethnography, oral history, etc. Preference will be given to students who have had coursework or other experiences in the relevant method for their proposal.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application: Required if working with human subjects.
These components are in the application:
- Faculty Recommender Letter: Required if conducting research.
- Language Proficiency Recommendation: For proposals that rely heavily on non-English language communication, we strongly recommend a language proficiency recommendation or comparable evidence of foreign-language fluency.
- Volunteer or Intern Letter of Acceptance: Service projects must include documentation confirming the student has been granted permission to volunteer or intern at the given site.
Budget and Budget Justification
The budget is a simple table or list of all the costs related to your project. It shows:
- What you will spend money on (airfare, lodging, meals, and ground transportation)
- How much each item costs
- Your total request
Think of it as the numbers-only snapshot of your travel plan.
Your itemized budget should be honest, thorough, and well researched. All currency should be converted to U.S. Dollars. Students are responsible for any costs that fall outside the grant’s allowable expense categories.
The budget justification is a short explanation that tells reviewers:
- Why each cost is needed
- How you calculated the amount
- How the expense supports your project goals
It turns your numbers into a clear story of responsible planning.
Covered Expenses
Dean Rusk Grants only cover the following categories of expenses:
- Airfare
Airline miles may not be used to purchase flight tickets for traveling. - Lodging
- Ground transportation
- Meals
- Other pre-approved project or program-related expenses
- Visa Fees
Students are responsible for securing any necessary visas. The Dean Rusk Grant will cover the visa fee, however, it will not covered expedited processing fees. Be sure to apply for your visa in a timely fashion.
Non-Covered Expenses
If it doesn't fall under the expense categories covered by the grant, you cannot claim it as an expense. Here are some examples of what should not be included in your Projected Budget:
- Leisure activities
- Mobile international plans
- Vaccines
- Car rentals
- Program fees (except for study programs)
- Incidental personal expenses (medications, doctor visits, clothing, gear, supplies, laundry, textbooks, etc.)
- Electronics (SIM cards, outlet converters, cameras, etc.)
- Passport
If you need financial assistance, you can submit an application to the Porter Passport Fund, managed by the Office of Education Abroad & Away, to cover this cost.
Dean Rusk Grants do not cover insurance, however there is a Complimentary Insurance Emergency Health Insurance through EIIA.