Travel Award

Graduate Student Travel Award is on Suspension

As of March 13, 2020, the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, requires that all state agencies cancel non-essential travel and all international travel as part of the on-going initiatives to combat the COVID-19 virus. As a result of this, the issuance of the Graduate Student Travel Award is on suspension until further notice.

If you have any questions in regard to Graduate Student Travel Awards, please contact Gianina Espinosa, Program Coordinator at gianina.espinosa@utrgv.edu.
For any questions regarding University related travel please contact Travel Services Office at travel@utrgv.edu 665-2161, 665-2612, 882-3822

Graduate Student Travel Award

The Graduate College sponsors the Graduate Student Travel Awards to support research-related travel expenses. Eligible students will be provided with a maximum award of $500 to help defray the costs associated with presenting at a conference.

Graduate students may begin the process of applying for the Graduate Student Travel Award by completing and submitting the application and required supporting materials.

Amount:

            *$500 (first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted)

*Amount is disbursed as part of a reimbursement process.

 

Eligibility:

  • Graduate student must be enrolled in a UTRGV degree-seeking graduate program for 6 or more credit hours and must be in good academic standing (have a cumulative 3.0 GPA). If a student drops courses after being awarded and no longer meets the credit hour criteria, he/she will be ineligible for future scholarships in this category.
  • Graduate students are not eligible for the award if the event dates occur after graduation.
  • Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  • A one-time enrollment waiver will be granted to graduate students enrolled in (1) thesis/dissertation hours and (2) for less than 6 hours or (3) to students in their final semester (i.e. semester they intend to graduate).
  • Research or creative/scholarly work being presented must have been completed while a graduate student at UTRGV.
  • Graduate students are limited to one Graduate Student Travel Award per academic year (September 1st, 2019 – August 31st, 2020).
  • The conference or event must be relevant to the student’s graduate program or discipline.
Travel Awards will be considered for:
  • Research Paper or Project Presentation
  • Presenting a Work of Art or Design
  • Musical Recital
  • Poster Presentation
  • Three Minute Thesis Competition outside of UTRGV, at the state or national level

 

How to Apply:

Graduate students must submit a completed Graduate Student Travel Award application and attach the following supporting materials:

  • A copy of the abstract of the paper, project or presentation.
  • A statement (500 to 1,000 words) on the importance of the conference/event to your professional development.
  • A letter of acceptance, a formal invitation, or a program agenda or schedule as evidence of acceptance.
  • A letter of recommendation from the graduate program coordinator or graduate faculty member in your graduate program indicating how the experience will contribute to your professional development.
  • An unofficial copy of your transcript via ASSIST or copy of class schedule.

 

**Please note old Travel Award PDF forms will not be accepted/processed**

 

Travel Authorization Documents:

Step 1: Students must provide travel-related information in a timely manner to the administrative staff of their specific program or college.

Step 2: Students must complete the UTRGV Authorization for Student Travel Form (see forms below) with the Dean of Student’s office no later than 10 business days prior to your travel. The form is required for all types of travel (i.e. flights, personal vehicle, car rental, etc.) including local destinations. For more information, please contact the Dean of Student’s office at 956-665-2260, 956-882-5141 or send an email to dos@utrgv.edu.

*Do NOT submit these forms to The Graduate College. 

Step 3: After the Dean of Student’s approves the UTRGV Authorization for Student Travel Form, students must book all travel through Corporate Travel unless a cheaper rate is found elsewhere, but the Corporate Travel quote must be attached to your travel receipts for reimbursements. Please note outside quotes should be requested for the same day and be for the same itinerary.

Students should contact Corporate Travel at 1-866-366-1142 to request an airfare quote. Consider using Concur Online Travel which is one of U.T. System’s on-line booking reservation tools. An icon is located through my.utrgv.edu, iTravel.

 

What Happens Next:

  • The Graduate College will review the application and grant the award based on an internal review.
  • Students will be notified of the decision via their UTRGV email.
  • If approved, travel award payments will be transferred to their respective college office. 
  • Travel Awards are disbursed to the academic college as part of a reimbursement process. Please keep receipts for all costs incurred such as rental vehicle, gas, airfare, lodging, registration fees, and meals.

 

Direct Questions To:

Gianina Espinosa, Program Coordinator at gianina.espinosa@utrgv.edu.