ASOR is pleased to announce that the Dorot Foundation in Providence, RI will once again provide assistance to graduate students of advanced status to help with travel expenses to the ASOR Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. this November. This program is designed to encourage and support participation in the Annual Meeting by graduate students during their final years of academic preparation. Conditions governing the application process and the distribution of the grant monies are as follows:

1.  Individuals must be students enrolled in a program of graduate or advanced professional studies and in ABD status or otherwise in the final year of candidacy for their degree program. Students must also be permanent residents of the United States or Canada. Note: Individuals who have received degrees within the last 12 months also qualify for this award.
2.  Individuals must be members of ASOR.
3.  Funds are for expenses related to travel to and housing at the ASOR Annual Meeting in Philadelphia only.
4. $1000 is the maximum grant that can be made available to any one individual.

Applicants must submit a brief application letter to "Dorot Annual Meeting Travel Grants," American Schools of Oriental Research at Boston University, 656 Beacon Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02215-2010. Application letters must include the following information:

a. An affirmation regarding participation in a graduate program with details of current status (per #1 above).
b. Proof of ASOR student membership (please give ASOR member ID number and we will check if your membership is current). NOTE: Application for student membership may accompany application letters for Dorot Grants (see Membership page for more information).
c. A statement with details regarding the nature of participation at the Meeting, e.g., presenting a paper, serving on a discussion panel, serving on a committee, attending a workshop or other session with special professional relevance, hoping to make contacts related to job prospects, etc., or otherwise indicating why it is of professional importance to attend.
d. A detailed estimate of the cost of travel and housing involved.
e. In addition, applicants must secure a letter from an academic advisor affirming their program status and indicating why attendance and participation in the Annual Meeting is important. NOTE: This letter should be secured by the applicant and submitted along with other application materials.

Completed applications will be reviewed by a committee of  three ASOR Members appointed by the ASOR President for this purpose. Applications will be accepted through September 15, 2008 and notification of grant awards will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

Successful applicants will be advanced funds based on their budget estimates.  After the Meeting, a summary of expenses with receipts is required of the grantee, as well as a brief report summarizing benefits received through participation at the Meeting.

The Dorot Foundation has a well-established tradition of providing support for students representing the next generation of scholarship in the disciplines of Near Eastern archaeology and biblical studies. ASOR is grateful to the Dorot Foundation for its continuing provision of this scholarship.