Graduate Student Government travel award program  

The Graduate Student Government has been successful in establishing a travel award program that has assisted many students with expenses involved with conferences.

Travel award eligibility

Variables that we consider when awarding the funds are:

  • the value of the presentation to the student and Northern Arizona University
  • whether the conference is international, national, or regional
  • whether or not the student applied for other funding
  • quality of the application, including typos and missing information
  • whether the costs are reasonable and well-explained

Historically, we have not funded applications which:

  • contained missing information
  • used the wrong application form
  • had extremely high costs that were not justified

Travel awards in the past have ranged from $75 to $250, depending on available funds and the number of applicants.

Applying for Travel Awards

We also encourage you to apply to the Vice President of Research for travel funding.

Please submit all questions concerning the Travel Award to GSGTravel@nau.edu, or contact your Graduate Student Government representative.

Travel Award Requirements

As part of our goal to represent the interests of Northern Arizona University graduate students, the Graduate Student Government is pleased to be able to distribute funding for graduate student travel.

 

The travel award is available to:
• degree‐seeking graduate students only
• students in good academic standing both at time of application and commencement of travel

Graduate students receive only one travel award per academic year (defined as July 1 through June 30). Students who are traveling together to the same event may submit a group application. Awards received through the group application count towards the one travel award per academic year. All students who are part of the group application must have the same role at the conference (i.e., presenting or attending)

The Graduate student Government Travel Award Committee has changed the process for application submission including deadlines. Complete applications are reviewed no later than the 15th of each month, for travel after the 1st of the following month. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to provide lead time for planning and taking advantage of early bird registration fees and savings on airline tickets/hotel accommodations. Please read the instructions carefully before filling out the application form. All applications must be submitted electronically to GSGTravel@nau.edu.

Application Process

Please review the GSG Travel Award Instructions and complete the GSG Travel Award Application Form.

Complete applications are reviewed no later than the 15th of each month, for travel after the 1st of the following month. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to provide lead time for planning and taking advantage of early bird registration fees and savings on airline tickets/hotel accommodations.

Applications must have all appropriate signatures and be completely filled out (quality of information will be taken into consideration; avoid typos). 

If you have difficulty getting a signature, your faculty/department sponsor may submit an email directly to GSGTravel@nau.edu indicating their support of your travel.

Sending In Your Completed Application

Application materials for the travel award must be submitted electronically to GSGTravel@nau.edu in a single PDF file titled:

LastNameofStudentFirstNameofStudent_NameofAcademicDepartment_MonthYearofTravel
For group applications, list name of the group designee in the title.

Applications will be reviewed by a Graduate Student Government-appointed committee, consisting of representatives from at least three colleges, plus the GSG Travel Award Committee and a Graduate College representative. Do not include original receipts with your application: please send copies only.

Funding Decisions

Funding will be based on the demonstration of value to:
• the student’s professional development
• the program in which the student is enrolled
• Northern Arizona University
We expect applicants to seek additional funding and to keep costs as reasonable as possible. Applications from students who travel together or share costs will be looked at more favorably.

Eligible Costs

Funding may only be used to cover the following costs:
• transportation to and from the conference or research site
• lodging (but not food)
• conference/competition registration fees

Reimbursement

We distribute awards on a reimbursement basis (e.g., after you have traveled and submitted acceptable receipts).

You will need to work with your department travel specialist to receive your reimbursement. Please contact them prior to your travel to complete paperwork that might be necessary prior to your travel in order to receive your travel reimbursement award. You will submit your receipts to your department travel representative for allowable expenses.



For more information, please contact our representatives at GSGTravel@nau.edu.
** Please allow 2-3 business days for a thoughtful response to your question or concern. **