UCF Travel Award for Recognition of Faculty Excellence (TARFE)

Program Overview

This award supports the objective in our strategic plan to “Double the number of national and international recognitions of faculty and student excellence by 2021, and quadruple recognition by 2035”. The award supports travel for faculty who are being recognized for a distinguished achievement or having a significant honor bestowed upon them, in addition to supporting travel for faculty presenting their research or creative work. 

The University Travel Awards for Recognition of Faculty Excellence is managed by the University Travel Awards Committee, a joint committee of the Faculty Senate. For details regarding the committee, see facultysenate.ucf.edu. 

The goal of TARFE is to support activities that allow faculty to achieve international prominence in graduate study and research while increasing the national and international recognition of UCF. Being selected to receive this award and being recognized for excellence in your field brings credit to the department while positioning UCF in national and international scholarly arenas, therefore increasing UCF’s reach and visibility. Full-time regular faculty (not visiting) may apply for TARFE to receive $1000 in advance for upcoming travel and accommodation expenses to be paid with Education & General (E&G) funds. Award decisions will be determined by the  Faculty Senate University Travel Awards committee based on the application information submitted.

Eligibility and Criteria

Please review the eligibility requirements prior to applying.

• Must be full-time regular faculty member 

• One award per faculty member per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)

Travel MUST be for the purpose of: 

• Presenting the faculty’s research or creative work; or 

• Being recognized for a distinguished professional achievement in research, teaching or service 
• In the event of “Team” recognition only one faculty member may receive this award. This decision is left to the Department Chair/Director or Division/Unit Head.

Application Cycles and Deadlines

• Fall 2025 Travel
  • For proposed travel from October 2025 – December 2025
    • For Fall 2025 only, also accepting retroactive applications for travel that occurred or will occur between July 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025
    • Retroactive awards can only cover expenses from E&G accounts
  • Applications Open: August 26, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: September 19, 2025
  • Committee Decisions: End of September

• Spring 2026 Travel
  • For proposed travel from January 2026 – June 2026
  • Applications Open: October 6, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: November 14, 2025
  • Committee Decisions: Beginning of December

• Fall 2026 Travel
  • For proposed travel from July 2026 – December 2026
  • Applications Open – December 8, 2025
  • Submission Deadline – April 17, 2026

Should the $1,000 award exceed the cost of the proposed trip, the remaining amount of the award may be used to cover other travel expenditures. TARFE funds should be spent within the fiscal year for which the proposed travel takes place.

Application Procedures and Contents

To apply, complete the application form linked here:
FALL 2025 TARFE AWARD APPLICATION FORM

Application Process:
The faculty applicant will complete the form.
After applicant submission, the form is routed to the applicant’s Chair, Director, Dean, or Unit-Head for additional information.
(be sure to include an accurate email address for your unit-head when completing the form.)
After unit-head approval, the form is routed to the committee for consideration.

Summary of Application Form Contents:

• Applicant Section:
  • Applicant Information (Name, Position, Unit, Contact Information, etc.)
  • Travel Information (Travel Dates, Location, Purpose, Other Available Funds, etc.)
  • Organization Information (Host Organization, Awarding Body, Level of Recognition, Selectivity, Link to Organization’s Website, Attach Verification of Research/Creative Activity Submission or Invitation, etc.)
• Chair, Director, Dean, or Unit-Head Section:
  • Confirmation of Benefit to UCF and Level of Prestige
  • Confirmation of Described Activities

Notification of Awards

Notifications will be sent via email to faculty and supporting signatory on the application.
TARFE funds will be provided by Journal ID to the appropriate E&G account that will support the travel and will not exceed $1000.