Graduate Travel Awards

The Graduate Travel Award provides funding for UCF master's, specialist, and doctoral students to deliver a research paper or comparable creative activity at a professional meeting. Students must be the primary author and presenter. Students who receive travel awards from SGA may also be eligible for College of Graduate Studies awards.

Graduate Travel Award Application

Requirements

The following criteria must be met for a Graduate Travel Award Application to be considered:

• Only enrolled graduate students (master's, specialist, doctoral) in good academic standing are eligible. The Graduate Travel Award Program is primarily intended for full-time graduate students, but part-time students may also apply.
• Only one application per student may be funded for a 12-month period (fiscal year July 1-June 30).
• The trip must be for the documented purpose of delivering a research presentation or comparable creative activity at a professional meeting, with preference being given to those presenting at national and international meetings. Students must be the primary student author and presenter.
• For a presentation co-authored by two or more students, funding will be provided to only one student author.
• Applications must be completely filled out and submitted by the semester deadline for consideration. The following items must be submitted with the application:
  • Abstract (60-75 words) describing the presentation
  • Acceptance (e-mail or letter) or copy of the program with the student's presentation highlighted

Expense Report for Graduate Travel Award

Students who are awarded the Graduate Travel Award are required to complete the Expense Report for Graduate Travel Award after their travel has been completed. This form is to be submitted 5 days after the completion of travel and verifies the student’s conference attendance and travel receipts equal to or greater than the amount of the Travel Award provided by the College of Graduate Studies.

The completed Expense Report for Graduate Travel Award, proof of conference attendance, and receipts should be submitted to:

Application Deadlines

Students are encouraged to apply early in the travel period. Travel applications are processed about every three weeks.

Travel Period 1 - Travel completed in July 2009-December 2009: Applications due on or before October 1.

Travel Period 2 - Travel completed in January 2010-June 2010: Applications due on or before February 1.

Best Practices for Graduate Travel

Receiving the Gradate Travel Award is a great opportunity for students who plan to deliver a research paper or comparable creative activity at a professional conference. Here are best practices when completing graduate travel:

• Submit your application for the Graduate Travel Award early. Remember, awards are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Ensure that your primary e-mail address in myUCF is up-to-date as this is how the College of Graduate Studies will communicate with you on the status of your travel award.
• When completing your online application, be sure to have your abstract and conference acceptance handy.
• Be sure to keep a copy of your conference attendance (conference agenda or conference registration confirmation) and all receipts associated with your travel.
• Remember to submit a completed Expense Report for Graduate Travel Award, confirmation of conference attendance, and receipts related to your travel 5 business days after the completion of your travel.
• Before completing the Expense Report for Graduate Travel Award, be sure to read through the instructions for completing this form.
• Have a safe trip!

Student Government Association Funding

The Student Government Association also funds individual and group travel requests. Students need to be financially trained with the Activity and Service Fee (A&SF) Business Office in order to use the funds available from an SGA Bill or Allocation. Fill out the Statement of Understanding and submit this to A&SF as soon as possible. A&SF Business Office staff will enroll you in the online course within two business days after receiving the form.

To apply for SGA funding, fill out the Conference Registration and Travel (CRT) Individual Allocation form and submit it to the SGA Office located in the Student Union, room 214. The front page of the CRT Individual Allocation form includes information about the process of requesting money from SGA for a CRT Allocation.

See http://www.ucfsga.com or email the SGA Graduate Relations Specialist (sga_grad@mail.ucf.edu) for more information.