The Graduate Student Professional Travel Award (GSPTA) provides support to a Master’s or Ph.D. student presenting a scholarly paper or poster at a national or international major professional meeting. The award application and selection process take place at the department and school/college level. The Graduate School will provide up to $500 toward each award. Matching support is required from the student’s department or school/college. An applicant is eligible if:

• the student is in a Master’s or Ph.D. program;
• the student is the main presenter of a paper or poster;
• the student receives no more than one award per fiscal year.

Travel awards, arrangements, and forms are approved and processed within each department and/or school/college. The Graduate School will reimburse the college or school dean's office for travel awards made to eligible students.

A school or college dean's office requests reimbursement by submitting a memo indicating the account into which they would like the funds transferred and listing the award recipients. This memo should be sent after the travel has occurred. Please attach copies of the authorized TAER forms to the memo and send them to the attention of Carole Barduca at the Graduate School. Reimbursement requests should be submitted periodically, rather than in one batch at the end of the fiscal year, but no later than September 30 of the award year.

Please contact Carole Barduca at 577-8051 if you have any questions regarding the GSPTA process.