The Tag Along Program supports college faculty who are working on international activities and are willing to bring other college faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and cooperative extension personnel with them to research sites or teaching or extension locations overseas. The fund covers travel expenses of the individual(s) traveling with the faculty, the "Tag Alonger." The funds do not support the travel expenses of the faculty applying for the program.
The Tag Along Fund program was established in 2004, following the 2005-2008 strategic planning recommendations of the International Programs Advisory Council (IPAC). This program replaces the Global Travel Fund Program of 2001-2003.
The Tag Along Fund program supports college faculty who are working in international activities and are willing to bring other college faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, staff and cooperative extension personnel with them to research sites, teaching ,or extension locations overseas. The program is intended to introduce first-time travelers to international experiences; seasoned travelers may apply as a tag-alonger, but a strong preference will be given to those with little or no international experience. The fund covers travel expenses of the individual(s) traveling with the faculty, the "Tag Alonger." The funds do not support the travel expenses of the faculty applying to the program.
Applications are reviewed thrice yearly according to the following schedule:
- June 1: For travel between July 1 and October 31
- October 1: For travel between November 1 and February 28
- February 1: For travel between March 1 and June 30
Award recipients will be notified within one week of application deadline. Funds must be claimed within 30 days of award notification. Applications received after these deadlines will only be considered if funding from the previous period has not been fully spent.
Awards are made on merit of the proposal reviewed by selected IPAC members, up to $1,500 per award, contingent on the availability of funds. Please note that awards made for travel in July, funds may not be dispersed until after travel has been completed due to lack of availability during the fiscal year changeover.
Download the application form (MS Word document)
Application Eligibility
- College faculty members must be the principal applicants for the Tag Along Fund.
- The Tag Alonger must be an employee or student in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences or be working directly with a faculty member within the college. (First preference will go to applicants within the college.)
- Application must show evidence of 100% matching funds from unit and/or college sources.
- Applicant must demonstrate that existing international activities are taking place or have a strong base for potential development.
- The Tag Alonger must be a first-time recipient of this program and must be identified in the application cover sheet.
- Tag Along Funds will not be awarded to support the principal investigator's travel expenses.
Each of the above criteria must be met in order for an application to be considered. Tag Along Funds are not typically awarded to support basic conference and meeting attendance or for groups of students.
Application Guidelines
The application description is limited to a maximum of three pages; cover sheet and CVs of applicant and Tag Alonger are submitted as attachments. Each application must include the following components:
- One-page (maximum) summary demonstrating the faculty international activities, the purpose of the request for Tag Along funding, and the impact on the college's mission.
- One-page (maximum) essay by the Tag Alonger demonstrating the potential impact of the international travel experience, in terms of career options, professional development, study, or research opportunities.
- One-page budget of estimated travel expenses to be covered by the Tag Along Fund. This budget must include 100% matching funds from unit and/or college sources.
- A one-page CV for each faculty and Tag Alonger and letters of support are considered attachments.
One copy of the application should be mailed to the Office of International Programs, ATTN: Tag Along Fund, 106 Ag Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. Application can also be e-mailed to the director of the Office of International Programs and cover sheet with signatures faxed to 814-865-3055.
Review Process and Criteria
Tag Along Fund applications are reviewed by selected members of the International Programs Advisory Council and evaluated on the following criteria:
- Meets all eligibility requirements outlined above.
- Contributes to the college's efforts to internationalize its research, teaching, and extension programs by making opportunities available to a larger pool of individuals in academic units in the college and throughout the cooperative extension system.
- Demonstrates the potential impact for the individual Tag Alonger in terms of career options, professional development, and study or research opportunities.
Impact Reporting
The Tag Alonger, with input from the faculty, must submit a 1-2 page impact statement to the Office of International Programs, including a final report of expenditures, within 30 days of completion of travel.
For more information, contact the Office of International Programs at 814-863-0249 or e-mail us.
