The GSRC’s Research and Creative Activity Travel Grant program (Program) was created as part of the FSU Quality Enhancement Plan to provide advanced doctoral students the opportunity to attend and present research or creative works at regional, state, national, and international conferences or performance venues.
The Program offers Attendance Grants and Presentation Grants for full-time FSU doctoral candidates seeking support with expenses associated with traveling to an approved professional conference or event related to their program of study.
Plan ahead! Grants are awarded pre-travel only, so please review your event dates, when University Libraries are offering required workshops, the funding period, and this policy to ensure your application is appropriate, timely and complete. Applications must be received by the Program (completed and accompanied by the required documentation) no less than 15 calendar days prior to your departure.
Our funding periods match those of the Congress of Graduate Students’ travel grant application cycles.
| FUNDING PERIOD | EARLIEST TIME YOU CAN APPLY |
|---|---|
| July 1-October 31 | June 1 |
| November 1-February 29 | October 1 |
| March 1-June 30 | February 1 |
Funding Amounts:
- Attendance grants: up to $500 of qualified expenses
- Presentation grants: up to $1,000 of qualified expenses
Full-time doctoral candidates are limited to one GSRC grant (either presentation or conference attendance) per academic year (July 1 Current Year-June 30 Following Year).
Qualified Expenses for the Grant
Only seek reimbursement for expenses that are consistent with the travel policy of your college and the University.
Personal travel or accommodations adjacent to the conference dates will not be eligible.
Submitting Your Grant Request:
Before you begin the application, take the following steps to collect the required information and documentation.
- Know the date (month and year) when doctoral candidacy was achieved. You must have achieved this before applying.
- Attend and complete all related requirements of at least one University Libraries Graduate Skills Workshop within this academic year. To obtain maximum benefits from the workshop, attendees must arrive on time. Attendees that arrive after 10 minutes of the workshop starting time will not be counted as present and may not utilize that workshop towards eligibility for a travel grant. Completion will be verified by submitting your end of course questionnaire immediately at the end of the workshop. Eligibility for the Program is based on adequate completion of the assignment.
- Obtain an email from your advisor verifying that the event you are attending achieves the following:
- An annual conference or similar event that exposes you to a broad range of research and professional topics; 2. Gives you access to a regional, national, or international audience and network of professionals; and 3. Relates to your program of study to support your participation in a relevant community of scholars, performers, or artists.
- Find out the name and email of the staff member in your academic department who is the travel representative. This is someone who has access to Concur and can submit an expense report on your behalf. Ask your department’s administrative/office staff if you are unsure.
- Create a pdf of the application or request you made to your department for travel funding for this trip, even if you were denied or do not yet know the outcome.
- Create a pdf of the automated documentation you received following your application to the Congress of Graduate Students (COGS) for travel funding for this trip, even if you were denied or do not yet know the outcome.
- If you are traveling internationally, create a pdf of documentation sent to you from the Student International Travel Request system verifying that you have successfully registered your trip. Registration must be completed at least six weeks in advance of your travel.
- Register for an ORCID ID (sign up here). Your ORCID ID is a 16-character digital identifier that distinguishes you from other researchers with the same or similar names and allows you to link your research to your ID, ensuring that your work is correctly attributed to you. The application only takes a few minutes and ORCID's webpage describes what you will be asked to provide.
You must complete the application and upload several documents in one interval; there is no option to save and continue later. Providing incomplete information will result in a denial of your application. You may re-apply immediately if your travel will occur in the funding window, you are able to provide complete information within the funding window, and you re-apply 15 days in advance of your planned trip.
If you have submitted an application and have not received an email with a decision of either “accepted” or “denied” within 15 days, please email the GSRC at gsrc@fsu.edu to request a confirmation email with that decision.
SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS.
Grant recipients must save all travel expense receipts and submit them to their departments within 3 business days. If receipts are not submitted within 30 calendar days following your return, the award will be canceled, and grant recipients will be responsible for the costs of travel that were intended to be covered by this grant.