Travel Awards

Graduate students who are in good standing with the program may submit requests for travel funds for professional and academic development.  Examples of eligible travel include attending and/or presenting at an academic conference, writers’ retreat, writing project, or other professional meeting; travel to a job interview; etc.  Students may submit requests twice per year, but priority will be given to those who have not been funded before, who have not been funded in the same academic year, and/or who are actively participating in the event they are attending.  Requests should be submitted by October 15 for Fall awards (announced in December) and by March 15 for the Spring awards (announced in May).  Funding requests for travel which commences after June 30 should be submitted the following academic year. 

Depending upon the number and quality of requests received, the Graduate Committee will award as many as four (4) grants of up to $250 each.  Ordinarily, two (2) grants will be awarded in December and two in May.  These monies must be used according to the CSU travel policy; generally speaking, students who are funded will still need to pay for their own travel and submit receipts for reimbursement.  For detailed information on these procedures and to obtain the necessary forms, please review the Campus Travel Manual. 

In order to be funded to travel, make sure you have done the following:

1. Submit a “Graduate Student Travel Funding Request” to the Graduate Coordinator. This should include the following information:

   1. Your name and contact information

   2. Title and description of the conference/event and of your specific presentation/participation.  If you are not actively participating, include a description of why you are attending and what benefit you expect to derive from the event.

   3. Dates and place(s) of travel and a list of actual or projected expenses: transportation, lodging, food, registration fees, etc.

   4. Any relevant documentation you think would be useful: an acceptance letter, a conference program, a letter of invitation to interview, etc.

2. If you are approved for funding by the Graduate Committee, read the CSU Travel Procedures and Allowances, complete a “Faculty Request for Authorization to Travel” form, and give it to the Graduate Program Support Assistant.

3. Keep all of your receipts while traveling, and submit them, along with a “Travel Expense Claim” form, to the Graduate Program Support Assistant.