UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 25, Page 5
March 26, 1992
For campus community;  Conference Grant-in-Aid program now available

     University of Delaware conference centers provide the ideal
environment for a "meeting of minds," in terms of facilities, location and
staff support, and the new Conference Grant-in-Aid program is designed to
encourage their use by faculty and academic departments, according to
Richard B. Fischer, associate provost and director of the Division of
Continuing Education.
     "We are ideally located geographically and have excellent meeting
facilities at three diverse locations in Newark, Wilmington and Lewes,
which make the University of Delaware a natural center for educational
events where faculty, professionals and students can meet and share
research, ideas and scholarship," he said.
     Open to all University departments, the year-old grant program has
approximately $10,000 per year, available for eligible applicants. The
funding is generated from self-supporting revenue sources.
     The grants can be used to pay for such items as on-site conference
expenses, marketing, honorariums and travel expenses for speakers.
     Applications for grants are accepted throughout the year or as long as
funds are available. Proposals are reviewed by a faculty committee, chaired
by Fischer. If approved, a conference planning specialist is assigned to
assist with budget planning for the event.
     Any net proceeds generated from supported conference activity must be
returned to the Conference Grant-in-Aid fund.
     "The development of regional, national and international academic
conferences, sponsored by departments within the University, is an
excellent way to showcase the University and its faculty, and to bring to
campus the best minds in the country.
     "We are fortunate to have three ideal locations-Clayton Hall in
Newark; the Wilmington Campus, which includes Goodstay and Wilcastle and
the newly opened Arsht Hall; and the Virden Retreat Center in Lewes on
Delaware's shore.
     We can accommodate both large and small groups, with catering services
from coffee breaks to banquets. Each center also features a full-range of
audiovisual equipment, and registration, secretarial and mailing services
are available," Fischer said.
     "As a land-grant research university, part of our mission is to bring
together outstanding scholars in an academic setting to support conferences
that enrich teaching and research at the University. The grant program is
designed to encourage departments to develop and implement new academic
conferences with University support," Fischer said.
     For further information or applications, call Greg Johnson, acting
associate director of conferences and centers,at 831-2886.
     -Sue Swyers Moncure