Travel award program

The Graduate Student Association offers limited financial support to graduate students attending professional conferences. There are several grant award periods per academic year (see below), and a student may only apply to and receive an award during one of these grant award periods per year. The GSA provides limited support for graduate student travel to professional conferences. Grants of up to $500 for domestic travel and $750 for international travel are provided to help students present papers and posters, participate in panel discussions, and attend conferences, lectures, and seminars that contribute to the enhancement of their programs of study. GSA Travel Grants may only be applied to travel expenses, not to conference registration or organizational membership fees.

Please note that you can submit your abstract or other registration information for our travel award application even if you have yet to be formally accepted to attend or present at the conference. You will need the registration confirmation/receipt when filling out the Spend Authorization (Step 2).

The GSA Travel Award Application is now open for travel beginning August 1, 2023, or later. Applications will be reviewed every Monday.

All travel must be completed by May 31, 2024, and all expense reports must be submitted by June 15, 2024, to claim travel funding. There are no exceptions.

Eligibility

Graduate Students must be currently enrolled in eligible* graduate programs at the time of application submission and during travel dates. Eligible graduate programs are those whose registration fees include fees to the GSA.

Not eligible: Graduate Students enrolled in the following programs are ineligible for the GSA Travel Award. Medical School, Justice Management, and Judicial Studies and online programs. Undergraduate students are also ineligible to apply for the GSA Travel Award; undergraduate students should visit the Undergraduate Research Office for more information.

Allowable expenses

In-person conferences: Students may apply for only one grant per academic year if traveling for an in-person conference (August through June deadlines). A travel award can only be used for travel and cannot be used to cover conference/registration fees if the conference is in person. Expenses that are paid with reward points are not allowable reimbursable expenses per the University Administrative Manual Policy 1420.

Application deadlines

Applications will be considered during the separate travel periods, as outlined below.

Please note: Applicants who apply by the deadline listed below that corresponds to their dates of travel will be given first priority. Late applications will be considered depending on available funding.

  • August 1 deadline: travel September 16 - November 15
  • October 1 deadline: travel November 16 - January 15
  • December 1 deadline: travel January 16 - March 15
  • February 1 deadline: travel March 16 - May 31
  • July 1 deadline: travel August 1 -September 15. (Application will open June 1, 2024)

Award timeline

Please allow up to 10 days from the date your application is submitted for a response.

How to apply for a travel award

Applications will be accepted no later than 5 pm on the day of the deadline. If the deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, applications will be accepted until the following Monday at 9 am. Incomplete applications will not be considered under any circumstances. Award recipients will be notified by email shortly after the application deadline. Recipients must complete steps 2 and 3 outlined below, in order to receive reimbursement. Failure to properly submit these forms within the designated timelines will result in forfeiture of the award.

Frequently asked questions