Travel Awards

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN 12/1/09-2/28/10

COMPETITION FOR TRAVEL AFTER 3/1/10 WILL OPEN 12/15/10

We are pleased to congratulate the winners from our summer round! Thank you to everyone who showed interest in this program and applied.

Thank you for your interest in the Graduate Student Council Graduate Student Travel Awards. These awards are intended to provide funding for Texas A&M University-College Station graduate students to attend academic and/or professional conferences as a means of enhancing graduate education. The maximum possible award is $500. Higher priority is given to those whose level of participation is greater. Each student is eligible to receive no more than $500 in travel award money per academic year

Please carefully read all instructions before beginning the application. Applications filled out incorrectly may be deemed ineligible. All applications must be the unique, original work of the applicant. In addition, hard copy material requested must be submitted in a sealed envelope.

Please address any questions via email to gsccommittees@gmail.com, Subject: Travel Awards.

Award Descriptions

GSC Graduate Student Travel Award levels are indicated below based on your participation in the conference/creative exhibition. Only TYPE I conference participation is eligible for the maximum award of $500. TYPE II participation is limited to a maximum award of $300. Participation at TYPE III is limited to $100. If you are unsure, contact us at gsccommittees@gmail.com.

TYPE I: You are participating as a commentator, panel chair, or presenting one of the following: paper, poster, workshop, recital, case competition display, work of art, or design.
TYPE II: (a) You are the co-author/co-creator of a paper, poster, display, recital, work of art, or design, but are not presenting; (b) you are attending a professional committee meeting as an officer (proof of membership on committee is required).
TYPE III: (a) You are attending but not presenting research; (b) you are attending a career fair.

Eligibility Requirements

1. The applicant must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at Texas A&M University-College Station during the semester in which s/he attends the conference. TAMU-Galveston students are not eligible, since their own GSC disburses similar awards.
2. Applicants must be available to participate, upon request, in Student Research Week (March 22-26, 2010 for travel dates up to May 31, 2010 and March 21-25, 2011 for travel dates after May 31, 2010).
3. The applicant must be in good standing within his/her department.
4. The department must have a representative on the Graduate Student Council and must not be on probation.

A complete list of eligible departments will be available below by the deadline notification dates:

Application Instructions

This application is for a conference or other event related to your academic or professional career between August 31, 2009 and August 31, 2010.

Fill out the application online at:

http://gsc.tamu.edu/award_application

and submit hard copy materials to:

Graduate Student Council
Attn: Travel Award Committee
133 John J. Koldus Building
1236 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-1236

Applications received online without accompanying physical materials will not be considered. We recommend submitting your application a few days before the application deadline and hand delivering the application to our office, Koldus 133 or sending it through campus mail, 1236 TAMU. Please slide the application under the door if no one is present. GSC is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. Late applications will not be considered.

It is the Graduate Student Council’s policy that no student should receive more than $500 in awards during one fiscal year (September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2010) and that no student should receive more than $500 for any single travel period. While this policy limits the amount of aid each student can receive, it allows GSC to help fund a greater number of students.

GSC must receive all applications by the following deadlines:

In order to be compensated for travel during any one-travel period, an application must be submitted before 5:00 pm on the date listed for that period (see above). Students traveling over an interval of time that falls within two travel periods must apply for the travel period of the Travel Begin Date -- that is, the earlier of the two.

Required Materials

GSC Travel Award Applications must include the following materials:

1. Online application form (all applicants)

• Personal information (all applicants)
• Essay (all applicants)
• Conference brochure (all applicants)
• Abstract (Type I, Type IIa)

2. Additional physical materials (all applicants)

• Abstract acceptance (Type I, Type IIa)
• Membership (Type IIb)
• Transcript (all applicants)
• Signature sheet (all applicants)

Description of Materials:

I. Essay: In 500 words or less, please tell us your motivation for attending this conference, as well as the benefits you expect to receive from your attendance. Please indicate your level of participation in this event (i.e. presenting your original work, chairing a session/workshop, etc.). The merit of the application hinges strongly on the quality of this essay. Click here for some examples from previous winners. Also visit the University Writing Center website for more information on writing a winning essay.
II. Transcript: Please attach an unofficial transcript (a print out from the web is acceptable) including grades for the preceding semester.

Budget Guidelines and Ineligible Expenses

GSC travel awards can only be disbursed for direct costs. NO REIMBURSEMENTS CAN BE MADE. Awardees will have items such as flights, conference registration, hotel arrangements, and per diem paid for directly by the GSC.

1. If the conference fee includes meals, your per diem must be reduced by 1/3 for each meal provided per day. Budget must not include tips.
2. If sharing a room, the applicant must include only his/her portion.
3. The award may NOT be used to cover individual membership dues for professional organizations or societies.

Ineligible Budget Expenses:

1. Awards may not be used for resources that are otherwise provided for free by the university’s various services (e.g., books available through the library or software available through the IT Store).
2. Awards may not be used to finance typing, Xeroxing, or binding of theses or dissertations.
3. Awards may not be used to cover individual membership dues for professional organizations or societies.
4. Awards may not be used to finance travel for personal use. Approved travel is not considered travel for personal use.

Collecting Awards

The Graduate Student Council Awards Committee will make recommendations to award funds. The committee’s recommendations are not finalized until ratified by the Graduate Student Council Executive Committee. The Awards Committee will issue a notification letter outlining details for claiming your award.

Notification deadlines for 2009-2010 award periods are: