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[secretweapon]

What is reasonable to expect in terms or travel and accommodation reimbursement for academic conferences and seminars?  These were my impressions for the humanities and social sciences:

a).  Big or medium-sized conference with an open CFP: no reimbursement for travel and accommodation, but speakers generally don't have to pay conference registration fees.  Maybe some small grants will be made available for a few graduate students.  The exception is the keynote speaker, whose travel and accommodation will be covered, and who may receive a small honorarium. 

b).  Tiny conference where all the speakers have been handpicked and personally invited: all reasonable travel and accommodation costs will be covered, and a nice meal will probably be thrown in.

c).  Seminar or invited talk in a department: all reasonable travel and accommodation costs will be covered.  If you're a super big name, you may receive an honorarium. 

I'm curious to know what others think is standard and reasonable.  I ask because I'm a speaker at a conference in category b, and I've just learned that my costs will not be covered.  I don't have access to any other travel or conference funds, so this is a big bummer.

[prof_tournesol]

In my (Humanities) field presenters are expected to cover all costs and pay conference registration fees at large and medium sized conferences with open CFPs. For invitation only conferences it is fairly evenly split - half would cover the costs for presenters (the *good* half) and half not. For a seminar or invited talk I would expect costs to be covered plus an honorarium.

[larryc]

In history we are expected to pay everything ourselves (or through our institutions) in cases A and B. In the case of C it is as you say.

[secretweapon]

Really?  Darn. 

[pink_]

Yes, Ito echo Larryc, I've never been to a conference (MLA field) where attendees haven't been expected to pay their own way (or to get funds from their institution) for A & B.

[bibliothecula]

In my (Humanities) field presenters are expected to cover all costs and pay conference registration fees at large and medium sized conferences with open CFPs. For invitation only conferences it is fairly evenly split - half would cover the costs for presenters (the *good* half) and half not. For a seminar or invited talk I would expect costs to be covered plus an honorarium.

Ditto here; I'm also in the humanities.

[jwormold]

Humanities, non-MLA field:
My experience has been what Secretweapon laid out. I'm not that cool, so I think the most I have ever received as an honorarium was $300.

As an aside, my current institution pays speakers-- for lectures, symposia and conferences-- $1,000, plus all travel expenses. There's usually a fancy meal thrown in, but a per diem covers other meals. Unfortunately, this institution is not as nice to its own employees.

[svenc]

In a social science here.  In (A), attendees, including speakers, pay for everything.  Our big conferences couldn't function if the speakers were given a free ride!

(B) and (C) are usually as you suggest, unless there are unavoidable resource constraints, in which case this is usually noted apologetically up front.

[michiexile]

Finishing PhD student in pure mathematics currently traveling around the US and visiting various departments. I'm getting reimbursed for basically all my travel and lodgings from all the conferences and departments I'm visiting, and also given honoraria from all the departments I give talks at.

I'm actually slightly surprised at the density of honoraria. I knew about getting reimbursed up front - in some cases, my decision to participate was conditional on that - but the honoraria weren't as expected.

[afacultymember]

One more from the social sciences:

We pay just about everything in each of these scenarios. And really don't expect otherwise.

Of course, at some conferences my colleagues don't attend it they aren't presenting something, so you can see the problem of covering the costs for speakers ...