Graduate Student Travel Match Initiative

The Student Travel Matching initiative provides financial support for graduate students to present their research at academic conferences and professional meetings. The program offers up to $800 in matching funds per student, with priority given to Doctoral students. The initiative is available to all students enrolled in a graduate degree seeking program.

Eligibility: 

To be eligible, the student must be featured in the event program for one of the following:  

• Research paper or project presentation  

• Art or design exhibit  

• Musical recital  

• Poster presentation  

The initiative offers matching funds of up to $800, which must be paired with an equal contribution from the student’s faculty, department, or college.

For example, if a student’s faculty, department, or college provides $1,000 in travel funding, the student will receive an additional $800 through this initiative. The student will then have a total of $1,800 to defray the travel expenses of attending the conference or event.

Restrictions: 

• Each student may receive the STM once per program of study. Additional travel requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis for exceptional situations.
• All degree seeking graduate students are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to Doctoral students.  
• This initiative is separate from the Graduate College’s $500 Graduate Student Travel Award (GSTA).  
  • The Graduate College’s GSTA award cannot be the matching funding. Only funding provided by the faculty, department, or college to a student’s travel will be considered. 

How to Apply

Only Graduate Program Coordinator, Committee Chair, Committee Member, Academic Associate Dean, Committee Co-Chair, Faculty, Department Chair, Administrative Assistant, or Program Associate may submit application on behalf of the student.

Complete Student Travel Match Form

What Happens Next: 

• The Graduate College will review the application and approve the match if the criteria for conference or event participation are met and proof of Faculty, Department, or College support is provided.

• Students will be notified of the decision via their UTRGV email.

• Upon the student’s return, the administrative staff within the Academic College must submit a NonPO Payment Request form through iShop, using the designated cost center provided in the award notification email. Please note that Accounts Payable may require additional documentation, such as approval from the Scholarships Office and travel confirmation from the Dean of Students. Additional information regarding the Non-PO form can be found here:UTRGV Accounts Payable FAQs. 

• Once the form has been processed by Accounts Payable, the funds will be disbursed to the student.

Direct Questions To: 

Justin Ramirez, Financial Manager - justin.m.ramirez01@utrgv.edu 

Eddie Martinez. Program Specialist - edelmiro.martinez01@utrgv.edu