GSCC FUNDING REQUESTS

A portion of the student activity fee collected from all graduate students at AASU is placed in the budget of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council (GSCC). A part of this fund is available to all currently enrolled AASU Graduate Students who wish to apply for professional travel funding. The purpose of the Graduate Student Coordinating Council funding request program is to support graduate students at AASU in their travel to promote scholarship and professional expertise

The GSCC helps to support graduate students through funding them to present papers and posters at conferences, to attend professional conferences, lectures and seminars, which contribute to the development of their program of study. The goals of funding AASU graduate students are to promote the success of AASU graduate student professional and academic development, increase AASU's reputation as an educational institution, and to promote our graduate community at large.

**Please note that the GSCC fund is to be used after all other funding avenues are exhausted.

Eligibility

A candidate for funding requests must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours as a graduate student at Armstrong Atlantic State University at the time of application and for the specified time of the event for which he or she is requesting funding. You must have paid your Graduate Student Activity Fee both at the time you apply for funding and during the semester you plan to use funds. For this reason, students participating in the TAP program are not eligible to receive GSCC funding.

TERMS OF AWARD

The GSCC Travel Fund is comparable to any other funding agency. Deadlines and completed information are essential to processing requests. In order to ensure the integrity of the application process, no exceptions will be made.

This fund is to be used after all other funding avenues are exhausted. The distribution of these funds is voted on and directed by the members of the GSCC.

FUNDING APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please read through this information carefully to ensure the timely processing of your application. The Graduate Student Coordinating Council funding application and materials are available in the GSCC office in MCC, room 204. You may also download them here.

1. Please complete the Funding Application form
   NOTE: Applications that are not clearly legible, that are missing signatures or applications which are missing any other information will not be reviewed.
2. Read and sign a copy of the GSCC Fee Allocation Policy and turn it in with your application.
3. Students must attend a GSCC Funding Meeting to present their funding request and answer questions from the council. For a schedule of GSCC meeting times and dates please click on the Calender link. Plan on ten minutes to present your request and answer questions.
4. Applications are due no later than 7 days prior to the meeting you plan to attend. Please bring applications to the GSCC office at MCC, room 204. If the office is closed please leave applications in the mail slot on the door. You will be notified that the GSCC has received your application.

AWARD NOTIFICATION

Students will be notified of the council's decision via email within 7 days of the meeting that they presented their funding request. Once notified you have 14 days to formally accept or decline funding via email.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Funding request awards are competitive. Each student, therefore, should make every effort to clearly demonstrate the value of the proposed event as it relates to their professional and academic development. The GSCC especially appreciates and gives due weight to thoughtful, focused event overview descriptions. Student descriptions should be understandable to graduate students in any field. Please note that award decisions are also based upon the availability of funds and the number of applications. . The GSCC does not typically fund groups or individuals at 100%. The council will determine appropriate funding based on council discretion, but usually fund less than 50% of the total cost.

Funding decisions are based in part on the following criteria (not in any specific order).

REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS

1. Make copies of all of your receipts and retain copies for your own records.

2. Fill out the University Travel Expense Statement form. Complete the following lines on the Travel Expense Statement form be sure to fill out both the front and back of the form and sign it.

Name Social Security Number (not your 907 number) Title and Title Code (your title, which is student) Headquarters/Residence (address you would like your check mailed to) Institution (Armstrong Atlantic State University) Date from/to (dates of travel) Location/points visited and lodging cost during travel Mileage section with odometer information (if applicable) Common Carrier (airline, ect. if applicable) Miscellaneous expenses (conference fees) Totals Signed (not approval section, just signed)

3. Students are required to write a 60-100 word reflection of their experience specifically noting knowledge gained, skill sets acquired and general take away points from the event attended. Students must turn the essay in with all other reimbursement paper work, in order for their reimbursement to be processed.

4. Bring your completed Travel Expense Statement form, the reflection essay and original receipts to the GSCC office at MCC, room 204. All receipts and documentation must be submitted to the GSCC office within 30 days of travel. GSCC Funding Requests will only be granted as reimbursements, with original receipts and proof of attendance when submitted to the GSCC office within 30 days of travel. Receipts and proof of attendance will not be accepted after 30 days of last date of travel.

Student reimbursements will be processed by the GSCC and then sent to the Business Office for further processing and payment. If you do not receive reimbursement within 30 days, please email the GSCC at gscc@armstrong.edu