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The Graduate School is committed to advancing academic excellence in graduate and postdoctoral education and training. We have several departments that can assist you with questions regarding professional development activities, administrative processes, and graduate student success initiatives.
Office Hours: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Friday
Campus Location: MS 4.01.52
Phone:210-458-4331
Fax: 210-458-4332
Questions regarding admissions and recruiting.
Graduate School Professional Development Awards
Graduate School Professional Development (GSPD) Awards provide supplemental support for students to attend major professional meetings at which they make a presentation (paper, poster, other appropriate form of presentation) based on their research or scholarly work. The Graduate School provides these awards in order to assist academic units to more fully fund student travel for the purpose of presenting research unique to UTSA.
Award Amount
Funds are awarded to students who have been selected to present their research or scholarly work at a professional meeting, conference, or symposium. The Graduate School will award funds up to a maximum amount of $750. All applications are thoroughly reviewed by committee at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and scored on a rubric to determine the fund amount.
Eligibility
Graduate students who apply for this award must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 course credit hours during the semester when the funds will be used (at least 1-3 doctoral dissertation hours) or enrolled in a minimum of 3 course credit hours during any summer semester. Graduate students who apply for a GSPD award must be in good academic standing and must be making good academic progress during the semester in which they are awarded and during the semester when the funds are used. Note that no more than three student authors on one project or presentation can be eligible to receive a Graduate School Award. Students may only receive one GSPD award per academic school year.
The following types of presentations will be considered for funding:
- Research Paper or *Project Presentation
- Fine Arts Performance or Pedagogy Instruction
- Roundtable or Panel Discussion
- Poster Presentation
*Project presentation is meant for those disciplines that are not necessarily conducting or presenting research, but rather showcasing scholarly work, such as those that pertain to certain programs in the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning or College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
Application Process
Students who wish to apply must complete::
- Application
- PI Acknowledgement signature form (upload to application)
- Personal statement (500-750 words) describing (upload to application):
- Why is it important for you to present at this meeting?
- How does it relate to your degree program and professional development?
Applications must be complete and submitted to The Graduate School through the online application portal. Please direct any questions to john.shaffer@utsa.edu.
Award Disbursement
Awarded funds will be disbursed from The Graduate School office directly to the colleges. The colleges will disburse funds to students. Contact your college for their policy on travel reimbursements or travel advances. If a student receives GSPD award funding and the funds are not utilized, funds must be returned to the Graduate School.
Deadlines
The awarding process takes place twice in the fall semester, twice in the spring semester, and once during the summer. Students should submit their application:- Fall semester submission: September 1; November 1
- Spring semester submission: February 1; April 1
- Summer semester submission: July 1
Travel Authorization Documents
To meet University requirements prior to travel, graduate students are required to fill out and submit the forms listed below to their academic departments. Do not submit these forms to The Graduate School. Forms will either be submitted to your College Dean's office or to your department (depending on which entity disburses your travel award to you and assists with organization of travel).
- Student Travel: Request for Authorization (form 1)
- Student Travel: Request for Authorization (form 2)
- UTSA Release and Indemnification Agreement
Additionally, students must fill out the Supplier Information Form in order to set up an account with the Disbursement/Travel Office. However, if the student currently holds any student job titles (Graduate Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, or Graduate Assistant), then it is not necessary to do so. The student must fill out this form to be reimbursed for travel expenses.