IAC Traveling Scholar Program

Involving universities of the Atlantic Coast Conference

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Program Description

The Inter-Institutional Academic Collaborative Traveling Scholar Program enables doctoral-level students at participating Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) universities to take advantage of distinctive educational opportunities such as specialized courses, unique library collections, unusual laboratories, etc. at any other participating ACC university without change in registration or increase in tuition. Visits may be as short as two weeks or as long as two semesters (or three quarters). Any regularly admitted graduate student in good standing in a doctoral degree program is eligible to apply.

A limited number of relocation stipends of up to $1,000 per individual are available upon application. It is not necessary, however, to win a relocation stipend in order to participate in the program.

UNC-Chapel Hill Participation

UNC-Chapel Hill, in partnership with Wake Forest University, is offering scholars an opportunity to participate in a five-day joint graduate seminar in Behavioral Pharmacology during the Spring 2005 semester. Doctoral students will receive a stipend allowing them to travel to both Chapel Hill and Winston-Salem to use academic facilities at both universities.

Students interested in this opportunity should contact the UNC-Chapel Hill Liaison Officer, Dr. Linda Dykstra (ldykstra@unc.edu). Please read the application process below.

Application Process

  1. Potential applicants should discuss their interests with their disciplinary advisers. The advisers will assess the likely value of the Traveling Scholar experience, ascertain that a comparable opportunity is not available on the student's home campus, and clear the eligibility of the student with their home-university liaison officer.
  2. If the responses to these inquiries are satisfactory, the applicant and her/his faculty adviser work together to identify and contact an appropriate faculty member at the proposed ACC host university. If the host faculty member agrees that the student is qualified to take advantage of the visit and that space and facilities are available, the student and adviser initiate and sign a formal application to the IAC Traveling Scholars Program. (Application forms are available from Liaison Officers at each collaborating university – please contact UNC-Chapel Hill Liaison Officer Dr. Linda Dykstra (ldykstra@unc.edu) for an application). After the department chairperson certifies that the student is in good standing in a doctoral degree program, the Liaison Officer at the home institution considers the application. If approved, the application is then sent to the Liaison Officer at the host university.
  3. In accordance with special security requirements, international students from most universities will need to be cleared for participation in the program by the International Student Office at their "home" university.
  4. At this time (or a later stage at least one month prior to beginning the Traveling Scholars Program) the student has the option of applying for a Traveling Scholar Stipend. These stipends are intended to offset the extraordinary costs of temporarily relocating one's residence (e.g., transportation and lodging), and therefore are available only to students who must relocate. Stipends awarded will vary between $250-$1,000 depending upon the level of extraordinary expense that is involved. The application should be signed and submitted to the home institution liaison officer. If approved by the liaison officer, the stipend application should be forwarded to the IAC Coordinator at Box 7328, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27106 or faxed to 336-758-5012 (attention IAC coordinator).
  5. The IAC Liaison Officer at the host university confirms that the program is available for Traveling Scholars, obtains the necessary approvals, signs the application, and returns a copy to the Liaison Officer at the home university. The home university Liaison Officer informs the student of the acceptance.
  6. The student then makes arrangements to register and pay for the equivalent number of credits at the home university and to receive a receipt for presentation to the host university. Beyond the Traveling Scholar Stipend (if applicable), financial aid, if any, is normally provided by the home university. All other expenses not explicitly detailed within this agreement are the responsibility of the Traveling Scholar (food, lodging, transportation, etc.).
  7. Having verified that the Traveling Scholar has properly registered and paid fees at the home university, the host Liaison Officer arranges for registration at the host campus. Registration at the host university provides the Traveling Scholar access to the same services and benefits available to regular graduate students on that campus. Fees may be assessed for some of the benefit or services. Any additional fees will be the responsibility of the Traveling Scholar.
  8. This pilot program is for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 academic years. Continuation will be evaluated in Spring 2005.
  9. Because of different funding arrangements, at some universities this program may not apply to summer term enrollment.
  10. If, following consultation with his or her adviser, the Traveling Scholar drops one or more courses, the home university’s policies on refunds will apply; adjustments for semester-quarter time differences will be made at the discretion of the home university.
  11. At the end of each term the Registrar of the host university forwards appropriate transcripts or grad reports to the IAC Liaison Officer, who in turn forwards them to the home university Liaison Officer for transmittal to the Registrar for recording in the student’s transcript. Traveling Scholars should check with the home university to discuss the transfer of credits.
  12. Students participating in the Traveling Scholar Program shall abide by the rules and regulations of the home and host institutions while participating in the exchange. This is to include, but is not limited to, the academic honor and the student conduct codes. Failure to do so or flagrant abuse of accepted standards of personal behavior may result in expulsion from the exchange without financial reimbursement.

IAC Traveling Scholar application


Students interested in this opportunity should contact the UNC-Chapel Hill Liaison Officer, Dr. Linda Dykstra (ldykstra@unc.edu).