Phd Program in Social WelfarePhd Program in Social WelfareBack to Program Manual Table of Contents
The Graduate School distributes limited travel funds for students through the departments. These funds can only be used for transportation (airfare, train, bus, car mileage, etc). Only students who are attending conferences to present papers are eligible, and the fund each quarter is generally used up quickly. Each department is given a maximum amount available for its students, and the funds are usually insufficient to support everyone presenting in any given quarter. The annual SSW allotment is usually $2000. Therefore, it is important to submit for travel funds as soon as a paper has been accepted for presentation. The support available per trip is up to $300 ($500 for international travel). And students will receive support only once per year. The Graduate School fund requests are administered through the PhD Program Office. Students seeking support for travel to conferences complete a "PhD Program Travel Request form" and submit it to the Assistant Director, who verifies that the request is for travel to a conference at which the student will present, obtains the Program Director and Dean signatures, and then inputs the request into the Graduate School MyGrad Program. The Graduate School administrator approves the request and sends an email approval to the student and the Program Assistant Director, who then forwards the approval to SSW fiscal office. Typically, if the airfare is within the $300 ($500 intl) limit, the student then makes airfare (or other transportation) arrangements through the SSW vendor, Council Travel, and the School pays the ticket directly. If the cost is over the allotted amount, the student will pay personally and be reimbursed for the awarded amount.
The School of Social Work funds student travel through the Doctoral Excellence Fund. Students who are attending conferences may apply. Although preference is given to those presenting papers, students may petition the PhD Program Director for travel support for other purposes than presenting. The annual allotment is usually about $2000, as a match for the Graduate School fund. Therefore, it is important to submit for travel funds as soon as the decision to attend has been made. The support available per trip is up to $300 ($500 for international travel). And students will receive support only once per year. Use the PhD Program Travel Request form. Submit the form directly to the PhD Assistant Director.
Students should be aware that many conferences have financial support for which students may apply to attend the conference if they are presenting a paper. Any time a paper is accept for a conference, check that conference's materials and email to ask about possible financial support.