GSA Funding

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) provides fiscal support for graduate students to conduct scholarly projects, engage in professional development, and attend professional meetings.

Student art presentation

Since 1997, the Graduate Student Association has allotted a portion of the GSA budget to help fund students’ research and professional endeavors. This includes, but is not limited to, presentations of a research paper or project at a conference, attendance at a conference and/or scholarly event, professional development and purchase supplies and equipment.

Graduate students enrolled in degree seeking programs, taking courses, and in good academic standing are eligible to apply for and receive funding. Students may not use the funding for projects, conferences, events or materials that occur after they have graduated from their program. Every fiscal year (July 1 - June 30), a student may only receive two approved funding awards that are NOT in the same funding category (research, travel, professional development).  

Research Funding

Research funding is for the purchase of supplies and equipment for research or other original scholarly work related to a graduate student’s thesis, dissertation, or terminal degree project. Research materials must be purchased AFTER the GSA funding application has been approved. This funding is not for supplementing the graduate program’s equipment, computer peripherals, or material inventory. However, equipment and supplies purchased with research funding become the property of the university after completion of research, not the personal property of the student. In addition, cash cannot be used as payment for research/survey subjects. Only gift cards and crowd-sourcing internet marketplace compensation are permitted for this purpose. When using gift cards, they must be documented on your expense voucher, including signed forms by participants upon receipt of incentive for verification and tracking. Research funding may be awarded up to $600 maximum. 

Additional Required Documents

 

Travel Funding

Prior to making any travel arrangements please refer to for more information. Please confirm with your advisor that there are no travel restrictions for your destination.

Travel funding supports presenting or attending a scholarly event (e.g., a virtual conference, seminar, lecture, exhibition or performance) related to research or other original work for a graduate program, project, thesis or dissertation. This funding may be used to pay for transportation (e.g., air, taxi, train or bus), lodging, mileage, meals, registration, parking per university guidelines. Travel funding may be awarded up to $300 maximum to attend a scholarly event or $600 maximum to present at a scholarly event. 

To keep our travel funding in compliance with the Business Travel Office, we ask you to submit your travel funding requests no later than 30 days prior to the date of travel to allow both the GSA and Business Travel Office to fully process the application. Additionally, the Business Travel Office may be able to help with an advancement of funds for meals, hotels, and airline tickets. 

For more information regarding procedures visit the Business Travel Office or contact the Business Travel Office by emailing them at or calling them at 410-704–5421.

Additional Required Documents for Presenters

Additional Required Documents for Attendees

 

Professional Development Funding

Professional development funding helps students gain access to intellectual material or technological resources that can benefit students in their professional endeavors. Materials/resources must be purchased after the GSA funding application has been approved. Types of experiences that would apply to professional development would include, but are not limited to, additional courses offered through professional associations to gain certification in a particular skill, gaining access to discipline specific technological resources, and subscriptions to websites/databases beneficial to professional development. Students must provide justification of professional benefit. Professional development funding may be awarded up to $300 maximum. 

Additional Required Documents

In an academic year, a student may only receive two approved funding awards that are NOT in the same funding category. Completing an application for GSA funding does not guarantee receipt of funding. All applications are reviewed by the GSA and funding is  granted based on the stated purpose, verification/statement of support from advisor/faculty member and availability of funds. Notification of receiving funding is required prior to using the requested money to purchase supplies.

NOTE: Funding amounts are based on available funds and are on a case-by-case basis.

Questions? Email

Frequently Asked Questions

Answer: As soon as you know of the need. For travel funding at least 30 days prior to the trip.  

Answer: Yes, no more than two types of funding will be awarded in a given financial year (July 1 – June 30).  

Answer: No, but you can purchase membership with a particular organization which can potentially allow for a less expensive registration fee. 

Answer: No, approval of funds must be completed prior to purchases. 

Answer: Yes, because rates may change for these items.

Answer: Yes, departmental or college funds can help offset the remaining balance of your expenses