Travel Awards

The GSA Travel Award to help our students attend conferences or professional development opportunities.
Application due dates: Monday January 5, 2009 at 4:00 pm and Friday May 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm. See below for more details.

The GSA Travel Fund was established in 1993 as a result of a GSA fee increase that took effect Winter Quarter of 1993. The GSA has continued to grant awards on a semi-annual basis since that time. The awards are granted to students attending either professional meetings or any professional development meetings that deal with topics affecting the graduate students' future goals (e.g. leadership, community service). Presentation of original scholarly work at the meeting is not required, but does increase your chances for funding (see selection guidelines below).

Both the GSA and the Graduate Studies Travel Award are awarded twice per year, and in both cases the award cycles cover January-December and July-June. Graduate studies travel awards are typically due in March and October respectively, while GSA travel award applications are typically due in January and June. Other key difference between the awards are as follows: First, the Graduate Studies award applications are reviewed by your program chair and only a limited number of applications for awards are forwarded to Graduate Studies from each program. Second, a Graduate Studies Travel Award can only be received once in a career, whereas a GSA Travel Award may be received multiple times. Awards are weighed toward applicants that have not received a GSA Travel Award in the last 6-12 months. In addition, a GSA Travel Award cannot be awarded concurrently with a Graduate Studies Travel Award.

The GSA Travel Award Committee awards grants. The committee is comprised of graduate students and chaired by the GSA Treasurer. If you are interested in being on this committee, and learning what it takes to write a dynamite travel award application, please contact the GSA Treasurer.

Want to talk about the GSA awards? Share your comments on our Talk page!

GSA members at the time of the application deadline are eligible. You are automatically a GSA member if you are a regularly enrolled graduate student (e.g., not on filing fee, PELP), enrolled in the Graduate School of Management, or enrolled in the Teaching Credential program. If there are questions about your eligibility please contact the Office Coordinator at 752-6108 or gsa@ucdavis.edu.
Awards

Awards range from $50-$500 and are based on the relative ranking of applicants based on established selection guidelines (see below). The number of awards will be based on the number of applicants and the merits of their applications. A minimum of 12 awards will be given in each period.

Awards are distributed as reimbursements. Reimbursement is contingent upon submission of original receipts and a completed Travel Expense Voucher.

GSA Travel Awards are granted twice per year. Please turn in two copies of you application to the GSA office (South Silo). As the applicant, you are responsible for completing the application as outlined and turning in a completed application on time; late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Fall Application Deadline (fiscal year: July 1 to June 30)

Monday January 5, 2009 at 4:00 pm (covers travel occurring from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009; must be a GSA fee paying member for Fall quarter '08)

Spring Application Deadline (calendar year: January 1 to December 31)

Friday May 29, 2009 at 4:00 pm (covers travel occurring from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009; must be a GSA fee paying member for Spring quarter '09)

1. Completed Application - this must be typed and follow specified format: GSA Travel Award Application.doc
   

2. Abstract of paper or poster as submitted for the meeting; both the technical and non-technical abstracts must be included. Also include a notice of acceptance or copy of meeting brochure. If not presenting a paper/poster, submit a copy of material to be presented at the meeting.
   

3. A one page essay of why attending this meeting is important to you. (i.e., career placement, research exchange, specific relevance of this meeting, lack of opportunities to travel due to funding, etc.). As you write your essay, please keep in mind that your audience (the committee deciding whether to grant your award) may not be familiar with the meeting you plan to attend; if it is the most important meeting in your field, it would behoove you to mention that fact. This essay is your chance to argue on your own behalf. Be mindful that your application will be competing against many others which assert that the groundbreaking work that is part of the dissertation or thesis will be presented at the field's most prestigious conference in a context which will increase opportunities for networking with the field's most influential people. Your essay should somehow stand out from all of these others.
   

4. UC Davis graduate transcripts spreadsheet. If awarded, you will be asked to submit an official UC Davis transcript.
   

5. A page or two on which you list:
   

• leadership and community service activities. Please list a maximum of three (the most significant) of each. Detail nature of leadership or community service as necessary,
  

• publications and awards. Please list a maximum of five (the most significant),
  

6. One letter of recommendation from peer, professor or administrator. Like the essays, the most effective letters of recommendation go beyond the already very high average set by the bulk of applicants. Letters must be turned in with with application by the due date. If extenuating circumstances exist, contact the GSA treasurer to make arrangements, however the letter must be received by the due date.
   

7. Return completed applications to the GSA office, 253 South Silo.

Congratulations to January 2009 Travel Award Recipients:
Award recipients — you must turn in your receipts within 21 days of travel completion.