Kaplan Student Support Request

Students can apply for Kaplan funding to supplement their learning. For questions please contact the Dean's Office, tucofac AT_TOWSON.

Guidelines

Guiding Principles

Support Student Experiences that connect to our college’s strategic plan; especially those experiences that focus on workshops, intensives, and conferences: provide interaction with guest speakers/artists; engage community service; promote diversity and inclusion; and foster collaborative and interdisciplinary activities
Raise the scholarly and creative profile of the college
Strengthen the infrastructure of the college

Eligibility

Students who are currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program in the College of Fine Arts and Communication
– OR –
An active member of a recognized student group in the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC Major or Minor only)

Use of Funds

Funds must be used to support research or creative activity within the COFAC guidelines and within the strategic plans and priorities of the organization, department, and/or college.
Use of funds may be for, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- attending and/or participating in a virtual conference, intensive, or workshop
- presenting scholarly or creative work
- inviting guest speaker/artist (under the auspices of a student organization)
- educational resources needed to complete coursework
- engaging community service
- promoting diversity and inclusion
- fostering interdisciplinary collaborations
- conference or workshop participation, or educational excursions

Amount

Individual Conference/Intensive Workshop/Competition ($300 maximum per student, per academic year)
Guest Speaker/Artist for a Student Organization ($600 maximum per academic year)
Educational Resources for completing coursework ($300 maximum per student, per academic year)
Community Service/Diversity & Inclusion Interdisciplinary Collaborations ($300 maximum per semester, maximum $600 per academic year)

Applying

Students applying for travel funds may apply for funding 30–120 days prior to the departure date. Requests received outside of this time frame will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students must:

Complete a Kaplan Student Funding Request DocuSign form (please be sure to confirm the name and email address of your Department Chair before opening this document – you will need this information)
Submit the Kaplan Student Support Request by simply clicking submit at the end of the online application.

Students will be notified via email if their request has been approved for funding by the COFAC Dean.
If receiving additional funding from your department, please work with your department Budget Administrator and the TU Business Travel Office to complete the necessary forms for that funding separately from the Kaplan Student Support Request (they require two different processes).

Approved Requests

Students will be notified via email of required documentation and next steps to receive their approved COFAC funding.

Students who receive travel funds must also provide, within 10 days of return from the trip, the following:

A brief narrative (250-500 words) sharing how your event related to the Kaplan Fund’s guiding principles, impacted your creative activity/research, and enhanced your understanding of and commitment to your field of study.
A .jpeg file of the activity (e.g.- a high resolution headshot, event image, guest speaker, virtual presentation screenshot, or candid photo of your using the item purchased for educational needs such as a dance floor, microphone, art supplies, etc.)

Application

Student Name/Requestor

TU ID

Mailing Address

TU Email Address

Phone Number

Expected Graduation Date

Department

Are you applying on behalf of a student organization?

YesNo

If you are applying on behalf of a student organization, what is the name of the organization and who is the advisor?

TYPE OF REQUEST: Please indicate the type of request by checking one of the boxes below. Include the amount you are requesting. You can expand on the description of the request/budget below.

Individual Virtual Conference/Intensive/Workshop/CompetitionVirtual Guest Speaker/Artist for Student OrganizationEducational Resources for Completing CourseworkCommunity Service/Diversity & Inclusion/Interdisciplinary Collaborations

BUDGET: Please indicate the amount you will be requesting (max amount per request $300/semester; maximum $600/academic year for student travel expenses or $600 per academic year for Guest Speaker/Artist for Student Organization).

DESCRIPTION: Please see guidelines for Kaplan principles, eligibility, and use of funds.

Completion Requirement & Agreement

Once you have received funding and completed your activity, please write a brief narrative (250-500 words) sharing how your experiences relate to your creative activity/research or enhanced your understanding of and commitment to your field of study.

You will also need to submit a .jpeg file of up to three images. Please send a high-resolution headshot, event image, guest speaker, virtual presentation screenshot, or candid photo of you using the item purchased for educational needs, i.e., dance floor, microphone, art supplies.

Please email the narrative and .jpeg file to the Marketing & Public Relations Manager, Laura Malkus (lmalkus@towson.edu), in the Dean’s Office within 2 weeks of your completed activity.

Your narrative (a portion or whole text) and images may be shared with the trustees of Dr. Kaplan’s estate and/or utilized in TU or COFAC publications. Impact stories like yours will inspire the Kaplan trustees and others to continue to make philanthropic investments in COFAC, and encourage your peers to pursue enriching experiences. Your signature below indicates your consent for your narrative and/or images to be shared.

By submitting this application, I acknowledge that I have read and understood the above completion requirements and consent to the use of my narrative and images within communications to the Kaplan trustees.