Travel Awards
Download the application: Travel Application
Awards are competitive! Read all of the information below to ensure you understand how to submit a complete application packet.
GPC gives out over $30,000 in travel awards each year to MU graduate and professional students. The award is designed to assist MU graduate and professional students who are traveling for academic reasons to represent the University of Missouri by presenting research papers, posters or creative works at conferences or symposia. The award is NOT a research grant and cannot be used as such, but is rather a reimbursement for travel associated with academic work.
Any MU graduate or professional student is eligible to apply for a GPC Travel Scholarship, but GPC will award only one travel award per student per academic year.
Awards will not exceed $400. The majority of the scholarships are generally less than that due to the large number of applicants each semester. The amount awarded is based on the quality of the application relative to the other applications. The following criteria (in no particular order) are used for selection:
- Overall quality of the application package materials
- Preference to first-time GPC funding recipients
- Preference to applicants presenting at international and national conferences
- Amount of unmet need and attempts to find multiple sources of funding support
Application Process
Complete the GPC Travel Award application form (must use most current form; typed or printed clearly). All of the following must accompany the application form:
- One letter of recommendation (from major advisor/faculty member in your department familiar with your academic history)
- Statement of intent
The letter of recommendation should be titled “Letter of Recommendation” and must:
- Discuss the importance of the conference to the candidate; and
- Discuss the quality of the student.
For Veterinary Students the reference letter must:
- Discuss the importance of the conference and Wet Lab to the candidate; and
- Discuss the quality of the student.
The statement of intent should be titled “Statement of Intent”. Write the statement for a lay audience, not experts in your field. Be thorough but concise. Your statement of intent must:
- Discuss in non-technical language the content of your presentation;
Veterinary students should describe in non-technical language the content of the Wet Lab and the procedures you will be performing. **The remaining criteria are the same for graduate and professional students. - Discuss the importance of the conference to you personally;
- Discuss the importance of the conference to you professionally; and
- Discuss specifically why you are attending the conference.
You must submit your completed application package in person by 5pm on the due date to the GPC travel awards inbox. The inbox is located just outside the door to GPC’s office in the MU Student Center – Center for Student Involvement. The receptionist at the information desk upon entering the Center for Student Involvement can help direct you.
Do NOT include your travel receipts with the application! Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Example Statements of Intent
Three example statements of intent are attached below. These examples are actual statements submitted by students for travel awards. (Permission to post these examples was obtained by GPC, but names have been removed for privacy.) All of these students received full funding for their award; the finance committee thought these statements fulfilled all requirements – properly justifying the motivation for presenting at their respective conferences.
Travel Awards – Statement of Intent – Example 1
Travel Awards – Statement of Intent – Example 2
Travel Awards – Statement of Intent – Example 3
Schedule and Due Dates
The travel dates in this table correspond to the last day of your travels. For most travel dates over the entire year, summer included, you can apply either before or after you attend a conference. This gives you the flexibility to apply for funding in advance, to be sure you will have enough to cover expenditures, or afterwards as a reimbursement. Some relevant examples are listed below the table and diagram to address some questions.
| Travel Ending Between | Application Due by 5:00pm on | Awards Announced |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2012 – Feb 1, 2013 | Oct 12, 2012 | Nov 9, 2012 |
| Oct 13, 2012 – Apr 19, 2013 | Feb 8, 2013 | Mar 8, 2013 |
| Feb 9, 2013 – Oct 4, 2013 | Apr 26, 2013 | May 10, 2013 |
Example 1: Trip ends on Oct 30, 2012. You have the option of submitting an application by Oct 12, 2012 or by Feb 8, 2013. If you are denied funding for the Oct 12, 2012 due date, then you are allowed to apply again for the same trip (or a different trip) by the Feb 8, 2013 due date. If you are denied funding for the Feb 8, 2013 due date, then GPC will not fund your trip, regardless of whether or not you submitted an application on Oct 12, 2012.
Example 2: Trip begins on Feb 2, 2013 and ends on Feb 8, 2013. You can only apply for the Feb 8, 2013 due date. Unfortunately, you cannot apply for the Oct 12, 2012 or Apr 26, 2013 due dates for reasons relating to balancing the travel budget before every application due date.
Review process
The GPC finance committee will review applications. Several factors are weighed in reviewing the application – objective factors include the scope of the conference, whether the applicant is a first-time participant (first time participants are given preference), whether the applicant has tried for other sources of funding (also preferred), and the ratio of amount needed to total costs. Subjective factors are limited to consideration of the applicant’s statement of intent and the quality and vigor of the letter of recommendation.
After the finance committee has reviewed applications, award winners will be notified by GPC via e-mail. Applicants who are denied funding will receive a notice, but GPC is not required to give a reason for denial of funding. Award winners must promptly submit all requested documentation, including a copy of the award letter and original receipts for travel costs, to the location and person(s) described in the award letter. For applications awarded before travel has concluded, receipts will be due within 30 days of your return. For applications awarded for travel that has already concluded, receipts are due within 30 days of award notification. Again, do NOT submit any receipts until requested, but keep in mind that proper documentation submitted in a timely manner will be required to receive an award.
Automobile transportation will be funded on a mileage basis, with the per-mile rate set to half of the university rate. This currently amounts to a reimbursable amount of $0.2625/mile through the end of 2011. This rate is subject to change based on the university’s fluctuations.
GPC strongly encourages schools and departments to help fund their students’ conference travel. GPC does NOT reimburse schools or departments for money they spend, through their budgets or faculty grants, for students to attend conferences. Travel awards will be dispensed only as direct reimbursements to award winners for expenses they must pay themselves. Award letters will provide further details.
You can also present locally. GPC gives students an opportunity to present on the MU campus through the Research and Creative Activities Forum. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the RCAF which is scheduled for early March each year. Gain presentation experience and feedback from judges, and cash prizes are awarded to the top presenters in each division. See RCAF or contact gpc@missouri.edu for more information.