Graduate students are encouraged to participate in outside activities that will support their educational experience. The department has a modest amount of funds available to support graduate students’ participation in activities related to professional development such as (1) presenting at academic conferences and (2) joining a professional organization if it is a prerequisite to submitting proposals, applying for grants, participating in workshops, etc.
To apply for funds, graduate students must complete and submit theProfessional Development Request for Graduate Students Form.
Graduate Student Travel Support
Students can apply if you have presented a paper at a conference or are planning to do so during Summer and Fall 2025: July 1–December, 31, 2025.
If you decide to apply for the travel grant, please attach the following materials as one combined PDF to the Google Form above. Deadline: Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.
- Current CV
- Document that includes the following information:
– Name of your advisor(s) – your advisor will be contacted by the selection committee for his/her endorsement
– Conference name and dates
– Title and abstract of your paper
– Brief statement about why this conference presentation is important to you at this time
– Itemized estimate of costs (airfare, lodging, conference fee, etc.)
– Note on other sources of funding secured or applied for (if applicable)
The amount that the department can offer is limited. If you are eligible, it is always a good idea to submit a funding application to the Graduate School’s Conference Presentation Funds.
Professional Organization Membership Fees
These funds will be distributed among our graduate students to support activities related to professional development. If joining a professional organization is a prerequisite to submitting proposals, applying for grants, participating in workshops, etc., consideration will be given to funding these memberships.