Guest Speakers & Field Trips

Guest Speakers, Facilitators, and Field Trips

Guest Speakers and Educational Facilitators

Inviting people to speak to your class is a valuable activity that can support student learning. Funding for guest speakers will be provided based on the criteria associated with the level of preparation for the talk, the size of the included audience (e.g., a single class or open to the UMSI community or public), and the speaker's background and industry.

In all cases, guest speakers will be provided with a UMSI gift, a parking pass, and information on where to park.

Speaking types and rates:

1. Individuals from the for-profit industry who attend a class to share their company, career path, or work experiences are not compensated for their time. 

2. Individuals from the public or non-profit sector who attend a class to share their organization, career path, or work experience will receive a speaking fee of $150.

3. People who come to a class to teach supplemental course content that requires the creation of new educational content and/or materials will be paid an hourly fee for their preparation time and speaking time, between $50 to $75 per hour.

Faculty can request speaker fees (see b and c) up to five times per class per semester.

Faculty with access to RESIN or gift funds have the discretion to pay guest speakers, subject to the normal restrictions of such funds.

University of Michigan employees are not permitted to receive an honorarium for speaking engagements through RESIN or gift funds.

Speakers who provide educational content as part of their business (as professional facilitators) should provide a contract and invoice and be paid through U-M Procurement. Contact the ELO for assistance on this process, if needed.

Honorarium and Travel: UMSI may pay an honorarium or speaker fee, as well as travel expenses, if the individual is giving a public talk available to all members of the school. Travel will not be paid for individuals who only speak to a class of students. All travel must adhere to university guidelines. Faculty can use a RESIN or Gift fund to pay for travel otherwise.

Submit requests for course guest speakers at https://forms.gle/RMs15h8MytVWXBso7

Immersive Experiences, Field Trips, and Regular Course Transportation

Costs for immersive experiences in which students travel into the field may be covered by School funds. 

Faculty are encouraged to first look at visiting organizations that are within walking distance of campus.  

Expenses must be reasonable; airfare will not be paid for course trips for the entire class. (See Student-Incurred Project Expenses for individual and team trip funding.)

Ground transportation requests should be limited to $3000 per event. This would include the cost of bus, van, or car rental and parking, as well as snacks if permitted.

For courses that have regular travel as part of the experience, the faculty member should have a pre-discussion with the ADAA or ELO Director to ensure that such a component is suitable for a course supplement request. Funding to support a regular travel experience to a location will need to be justified by an enhanced learning experience aligned with the course objectives.

Individual student transportation costs will not be reimbursed in situations where students cannot travel with the larger group.

Faculty may consult with the Engaged Learning Office on suggestions for visits, transportation options, etc.

Note that peak travel times require advance planning; early in the semester and around spring break are times when buses, cars, etc, are difficult to obtain or costs are at a premium.

For trips greater than three hours, snack costs may be supplemented.

Submit requests for immersive experiences such as company visit, field trips, or regular course travel expenses at https://forms.gle/RMs15h8MytVWXBso7

Contact Information

• ELO email: umsi.engagement@umich.edu

• Director: Kelly Kowatch (kkowatch@umich.edu)

• ELO staff and lecturer listing

Updated July 7, 2025 - K.Kowatch