Service & Support

TRAVEL AWARDS (Download Application) (Winners List)

This Graduate Professional Council (GPC) award is designed to assist MU students in the graduate and professional schools who are traveling for academic reasons to represent the University of Missouri campus 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 presenting such 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, and the maximum award for “All But Dissertation” (ABD) Ph.D. students is $350. The majority of the scholarships are generally less than that due to the large number of applicants each semester. The amount will be awarded based on the quality of the application relative to the other applications. The following criteria 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

Instructions

1. Completed GPC Travel Award application form (must use most current form; typed or printed clearly)
2. One letter of recommendation (from major advisor/faculty member in your dept. familiar with your academic history)
3. Accepted abstract of the presentation (typically 1 pg or less)
4. Curriculum vitae or resume
5. Statement of intent (max. two pages; see below for directions)

The statement of intent should be titled thusly and is not a replica of the abstract. Write the statement for a lay audience, not experts in your field. Be thorough but concise. Your statement of intent must:
a.Discuss in non-technical language the content of your presentation;
b. Explain the significance of your research/work to your field and its future research; and
c. Summarize potential implications beyond your field.

You must submit your completed application package in person to be date-stamped by the staff at the Reception Desk at the Center for Student Involvement, 2500 MU Student Center, by the applicable date listed below. Do NOT include your travel receipts with the application! LATE AND INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

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Review process: The GPC finance committee will review the 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 (weighed most heavily), the quality and vigor of the letter of recommendation (weighed on an intermediate level), and the applicant’s resume/c.v. (weighed least heavily).

Once the finance committee has reviewed the applications, their decisions will be considered and approved by the GPC General Assembly. After award winners are notified by GPC via e-mail, each award winner must promptly submit all requested documentation, including a copy of the award letter and original receipts for travel costs, to GPC via the MU Student Center Reception Desk staff. The award letters will detail what winners need to do. Note: If you do not have your travel gas receipts, automobile transportation will be funded on a mileage basis at the SOAC rate of $.29/mile (subject to change based on rate fluctuation).

Again, do NOT submit any receipts until requested, but keep in mind that proper documentation and submitted in a timely manner will be required to receive an award.

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 opporutunity to present on the MU campus through the Research and Creative Arts 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.