Graduate Student Travel Fund

Please read the information below carefully as the award description, criteria, restrictions, and more have changed effective the summer 2024 cycle with additional changes made to the Google Form application and scoring rubric as of the fall 2024 cycle.

Description

The Graduate Student Travel Fund (GSTF) supports travel associated with SDSU graduate students' scholarly research and creative activities (RSCA). It is funded by Associated Students and managed by the College of Graduate Studies (CGS).

Approximately $30,000 is available annually to support graduate student travel during three cycles: fall (travel dates September 1 - December 31), spring (travel dates January 1 - June 30), and summer (travel dates July 1 - August 31). The maximum award is $1,000 and must be used within each cycle's designated travel months. If awarded, the funds act as a reimbursement for travel expenses (as opposed to an advance) and it is the student's responsibility to ensure that all travel paperwork is on file with their home department and other campus partners, if necessary. 

The GSTF fall 2024 cycle closed for applications on November 3, 2024.  The application for the GSTF spring 2025 cycle will open mid-January 2025. The travel dates for this the spring cycle are January 1 - June 30, 2025. It is YOUR responsibility to complete the submission of your application before the deadline.  No additional documents will be accepted after you have submitted your application. 

Given that the College of Graduate Studies receives a set amount of funding from Associated Students for this award program, the competitive review process results in many qualified applicants not being selected for funding. Feedback will not be given to applicants after decisions are announced.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the GSTF award, you must:

• Be a degree-seeking SDSU graduate student, enrolled in units at SDSU at the time of application.
• Have been invited to present at a conference (e.g., poster paper, or oral presentation), or be traveling to gather research towards the culminating experience (e.g., thesis, dissertation, project). 
• Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
• Be in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or their program’s Graduate Professional Standards (see below).

Restrictions

If any of the below restrictions apply to you, your application will NOT be considered:

• Submit the application after the respective cycle's deadline.
• Your travel dates are outside the designated travel dates for the current application cycle (see above).
• Have been awarded the GSTF scholarship in the past year (spring 2024, summer 2024, or fall 2024 cycles).
• Are simply attending a conference.
• Are traveling as part of a group.
• Are traveling for SDSU coursework, coursework at other institutions, or training conferences.
• Are traveling to Oaxaca. 

Criteria for Review

The primary criteria used to evaluate applications are:

1. Evidence of academic merit (GPA).
2. How relevant the travel is to a student's research/scholarship in their designated major field of study.
3. Appropriateness of budget and supporting documentation.

Review Process

Applications that meet the eligibility criteria and that do not contain any of the restrictions are reviewed and scored in accordance with the GSTF rubric (see below). An advisory committee then meets with the Graduate Dean to review the top-scored applications and determine each cycle's awardees.

Important Reminders

The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the student’s home college will be consulted to ensure that potential awardees are in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.

• Award nominees: A potential awardee is subject to being deemed ineligible for an award if (a) it is determined by CSRR that the student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or (b) if the program notifies the College of Graduate Studies that the student has violated their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
• Current awardees: A current student awardee is subject to having their fellowship or scholarship rescinded if (a) it is determined by CSRR that the student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or (b) if the program notifies the College of Graduate Studies that the student has violated their program’s Graduate Professional Standards

If awarded, a student should submit a post-award report upon completion of the activity supported by the GSTF. This post-award report should summarize their accomplishments and how the activity contributed to the advancement of the research or scholarship in the student’s field of study, along with any photo(s) taken during the student's travel. If appropriate, the write-up and photos may be profiled on the College of Graduate Studies webpage.

How to Apply

The Google Form application for the GSTF Fall 2024 cycle closed on November 3, 2024, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.

Link to 2024-2025 GSTF Fall 2024 Cycle Google Form Application (closed November 3, 2024)

Pdf of 2024-2025 GSTF Fall 2024 Cycle Google Form Application (for reference only)

Pdf of 2024-2025 GSTF Fall 2024 Cycle Rubric

Award decisions for the fall 2024 cycle were announced on December 13, 2024. Funds should be dispersed into the awardees' my.SDSU student accounts by early January 2025. Please keep in mind that it can take several weeks for award funds to appear in my.SDSU.

Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.