The University of Guelph has received a $1-million donation from an anonymous donor to establish a new conference travel fund for graduate students.  

The Braithwaite Conference Travel Grant will empower thesis-based masters and doctoral students to share their research and connect with other researchers in their field. 

The fund honours Bill Braithwaite, a beloved business professor at U of G from 1959 to 2009. Braithwaite’s profound influence on students continued up until his passing in 2019 and his legacy remains as a favourite professor. 

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift that embodies Bill Braithwaite’s lifelong dedication to student success,” said Dr. Charlotte Yates, U of G president and vice-chancellor. “This new fund will provide grad students with unparalleled opportunities to showcase their research and cultivate their leadership.”  

Advancing student experience, promoting internationalization

Dr. Ben Bradshaw, assistant vice-president (graduate studies) commented on the impact of the gift, saying, “Bill Braithwaite was well known for helping students to realize their potential. This new award named in his honour seeks to extend Dr. Braithwaite’s legacy by enabling opportunities for academic and professional advancement that graduate students at U of G might otherwise never realize. We are excited to support and witness transformation for a significant number of graduate students in the coming years.” 

In alignment with the University’s new Strategic Plan, this philanthropic gesture advances the student experience and deepens our global impact, while honouring a beloved faculty member’s lifelong commitment to U of G students.  

U of G is committed to ensuring students have the opportunity to experience different cultures and communities to enhance their learning experiences. Several travel grants are available to both undergraduate and graduate students travelling for curriculum-embedded opportunities to offset associated costs, such as airfare, vaccinations and travel insurance. 

Students are urged to apply promptly for this new award through the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Application instructions are available on the Student Financial Services page. Applications are reviewed continuously but must be received a minimum of eight weeks before the conference travel date. Students actively contributing to conferences will be given selection preference.