The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has established the Graduate Academic Travel Award (GATA) to promote professional activities of graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

The GATA will be awarded to students who are attending a conference, workshop or seminar, or presenting at a conference. The GATA committee will determine the merit of each application through comparison with the other applications. The GSA will fund, in whole or in part, the GATAs determined to be meritorious. It is also understood that this award represents a supplement to the applicant’s other resources of funding (e.g. advisor’s grant, personal funds). There’s no guarantee that every GATA application will be approved. Funds may only be used for transportation, lodging and conferences fees. Other expenses, such as for food, entertainment, books, CDs, etc, will not be covered by GATA.

Responsibilities of Applicant

  1. The applicant should not assume that funds have been approved unless you have received an approved DocuSign from the GSA.
  2. Advance funds for professional development activities are not available.
  3. Those who are making presentations at conferences must give independent evidence of their presentation.
  4. The applicant should make copies of all the receipts. The application will require proof of payment. Awarded funds will be disbursed only after the applicant provides the receipts for all expenses.

Awards and Timelines

  1. GATA can be submitted within 30 days after the professional development activity with no pre-approval.
  2. GSA will accept applications for conferences between August 15 and May 1. Please note that from June 1 to August 1, accounts are closed for the academic year and no spending will be permitted during this period.
  3. The approval process can take up to 2-4 weeks from submission.
  4. There is a limit per student per academic year of $300 if attending a conference, workshop, or seminar, and $500 if presenting at a conference.
  5. GATA applications will only be accepted through this GATA application PowerForm Signer Information DocuSign form.

Application Checklist

Below are the items that will be needed to complete the GATA Application:

Activity/Event information

  • If presenting, please provide documentation of involvement in event
    • Copy of Abstract, paper or poster and/or
    • Copy of presentation schedule showing applicant name
  • Receipts of expenses incurred
  • Any other known funding source
  • Student ID number
  • Travel authorization number
    • Domestic Travel Registration
    • International Travel Registration: Must be approved by Chancellor 
  • UML Employee ID Number (If applicable)