SASgov and Other Sources of Funding
The University of Pennsylvania provides a wealth of opportunities for students above and beyond their basic funding packages. Since these opportunities from various sources across the university, they may seem difficult to navigate at first. What follows is a comprehensive guide to funding opportunities available to research and professional graduate students in the School of Arts and Sciences. You may be eligible for more than one form of funding, depending on the nature of the event you wish to attend.
Important Note
All applications should be submitted at least 15 working days in advance of the event/ travel date(s).
Individual Travel
- SAS Travel Subvention
- SASgov Travel Grant
- SASgov Dean's New Media Grant
- GAPSA Travel Grant
- GAPSA President Gutmann Leadership Award
- GAPSA Provost Award for Interdisciplinary Innovation
Group, Departmental and Event Funding
- SASgov Interdisciplinary Event Funding
- SASgov Departmental Merit Funding
- GAPSA Group Funding
Discretionary Funding
- SASgov General Body Discretionary Fund
- GAPSA General Assembly Discretionary Fund
INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL AWARDS
The following programs are designed for application by individuals. They support travel for research and professional development.
"Limited travel funds for one trip per year will be made available to those PhD candidates who are invited to give papers or to serve as commentators at meetings of professional organization. Only PhD candidates who are full time School of Arts and Sciences graduate students in residence at the University are eligible to apply for funds.
"Travel funds may be used to cover any eligible travel expenses consistent with University Policy. Expenses will be covered up to a maximum of $300. Priority will be given to those students unable to secure funds from grants or from the department. Requests will only be considered upon the completino and submission of the...REQUEST FOR SAS TRAVEL SUBVENTION form prior to the trip; the form must be endorsed by the student's faculty advisor and Graduate Group or Department Chair.
"Please submit this form to SAS Financial Services office, 3600 Market Street, Suite 570/2649."
Amount: up to $300
Application found here.
Required: Signature of Faculty Advisor and Grad Group Chair
Submit to: SAS Finance Office, 3600 Market St, Ste 501/2649
Phone: (215) 898-2327
Spring 2013:
SASgov travel grant is currently accepting travel applications only from graduating students towards interviews, and/or job search related travel.
This grant is designed to support a wide range of academic and professional travel. Eligible travel includes
- Presentation or attendance at academic conferences
- Participation in professional development workshops
- Travel for academic job interviews, either at conferences or institutions, if not provided for by the potential employer
Applications are reviewed by the Finance and Public Affairs committees on a rolling basis at our twice-montly General Body meetings. To ensure prompt review of your application, please be sure to submit the form as well as your itemized budget by the Sunday prior to Tuesday GB meeting at which you'd like your application read.
Amount: up to $500
Application found here
Submit at SASgov.org
SASgov Dean’s Award for Research and New Media
[…]
Amount: up to $4000
Application found here
Required Supplement: Letter of Endorsement
Submit at SASgov.org
The GAPSA Research Student Council distributes individual travel grants to defray the cost of qualified travel expenses for graduate students presenting their research at academic conferences and meetings. Applicants are expected to have considered all other possible funding options before pursuing funding through a GAPSA travel grant. Students attending international conferences or high impact conferences with large estimated budgets (greater than $1000) are encouraged to apply for the President’s Award.
Amount: up to $500 or 50% of total expenses, whichever is less.
Application found here.
Required: Letter of acceptance from conference
Required: Letter of recommendation from facutly advisor or graduate group chair
Required: Title and abstract of research presented
Submit completed applications to GAPSA VC for Research, 3615 Locust Walk, 2nd Fl.
GAPSA President Gutmann Leadership Award
President Amy Gutmann, using the proceeds of her 2009 Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award, has generously provided additional funding to GAPSA to augment GAPSA’s funding for graduate and professional student travel. The Carnegie Award funds are a one-time award that will be dispersed to students over the next few years. The President’s Award will be given as a travel grant to students presenting at either an international conference, or a conference within the United States that would normally be out of their budget even with an Individual Travel Grant through the Research or Professional Student Councils. Students must be presenting at the conference to be eligible. The grant applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of 3 research students, 3 professional students, the Vice Chairs for Research and Professional Students, and the Vice Chair of GAPSA.
Amount: up to $2000 or 50% of total expenses, whichever is less.
Application found here.
Required: Letter of acceptance from conference to be attended
Required: Letter of recommendation from faculty in department or graduate group
Required: Supporting materials (abstract, conference program, etc.)
GAPSA Provost’s Award for Interdisciplinary Innovation
The GAPSA Research Student Council in conjunction with the Office of the Provost offers $6,000 grants to provide summer support for research projects that promise to harness the knowledge of different academic disciplines to explore societal issues. Individual students or teams of students may apply for this award by submiting a proposal for a summer research project that clearly intends to integrate knowledge across academic disciplines. Contact: Benjamin Ediger, Vice Chair for Research Students, gapsa.research@gmail.com.
GROUP, DEPARTMENTAL and EVENT FUNDING
The Following programs are designed for application by groups of individuals, departments or schools.
SASgov Interdisciplinary Event Funding
This funding is designed to facilitate departmental co-hosting of academic or social events. Departments apply jointly. You may request funding for food/catering at conferences/symposia your department is hosting or travel, lodging or honoraria for speakers.
Amount: Unspecified.
Application found here
SASgov Departmental Merit Funding
The amount of departmental funding is limited by the number of students in the department. It is awarded based on the representative's attendance at the bi-monthly SASgov General Assembly. These funds may be used at each department’s discretion, but do not carry over from year to year. Before applying for departmental funding, please make sure you have discussed thsi with your department's respective student body organization. Make sure you choose what to purchase wisely. For approval of purchases from non-preferred vendors, please email the VP of Finance at sasgov-finance@sas.upenn.edu. Applications are accepted year-round.
Amount: $300, $500 and $700
Application: through SASgov representative
"GAPSA's Finance Committee solicits applications from Penn student groups throughout the year and awards funding once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Groups comprising undergraduates and graduate students are eligible, although all student groups must be registered with the Office of Student Affairs. Those organizations that cater to larger student populations with memberships from a variety of Penn programs typically receive greater funding. Average awards tend to be around the $400 mark. Successful applicants will receive a confirmatory email from the GAPSA VC for finance and will be asked to submit the letter at the Office of Student Affairs to receive reimbursements, which typically take three weeks. Please contact James Wiley, GAPSA Vice-Chair for Finance at gapsa.finance@gmail.com, with any questions."
Amount: Unspecified
Application found here.
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING
SASgov General Body Discretionary Fund
Each semester, SASgov Finance sets aside a certain fraction of its budget to facilitate projects or fill needs that may not be otherwise covered by the above funding sources. Applicants bring requests to the General Body meeting, for which they should email SASgov president by the end of the Saturday before the of the Tuesday General Body meeting at which the request will be presented. The General Body decides therein whether or not and to what extent to fill the request.
Amount: Unspecified
Application found here.