2023-2024 Conference Award
Virtual Conferences are eligible for funding. For more information regarding travel impacted by COVID-19, please see: https://msu.edu/together-we-will/travel/
Award Information:
To help defray the costs of traveling to and from conferences, COGS provides up to $300 in the form of a Conference award. This can be awarded only once during a graduate lifetime. (NOTE: Funds are dispersed as an award via the financial aid office to the student’s stu-info account. Only enrolled graduate/professional students can receive this award.) Please review the Conference Award Funding Guidelines before applying.
NOTE: Conference Awards are only awarded to individuals presenting research at a conference. If you are not presenting, please submit a Professional Development Award application. Please review funding guidelines carefully for reimbursement requirements.
To submit an online application, you will need:
- Statement of Justification: In 500 words or less, please describe the conference you will be attending, what original research you will be presenting, and how the experience will enhance your academic and/or professional skills.
- Letter of recommendation: Please have your major professor or advisor write a letter (1) confirming your attendance and planned presentation at the conference (2) explaining how this experience will contribute to your academic career. If you professor wishes to submit the letter directly to our office, it can be emailed to office@cogs.msu.edu PLEASE NOTE: Letter of recommendation is part of the application and must be submitted on or before the application deadline to be considered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all parts of the application are submitted on time.
Applications will be reviewed at Finance Committee meetings (after the stated deadline(s) have closed, and awarded by approval at the next full council as long as funds are available for the current semester award budget. Finance Committee may adjust deadlines in future semesters and apply lottery for selection (per funding guidelines) if applications exceed available funding.
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Applications are due by 5pm on the stated due date. Please note: We are unable to consider late applications.
COGS FUNDS ARE LIMITED, SO APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY BY THE EARLIEST POSTED DEADLINE FOR THE SEMESTER THEY ARE ATTENDING THEIR CONFERENCE. ONLY IF funds remain after the first review period, will applications be reviewed for subsequent posted deadline(s) for that semester. Once no more funds remain for a given semester, then no further applications for conferences taking place for that semester will be considered. (You may apply early for the next semester’s conference, but your application won’t be reviewed until the posted review period for that semester.) Website will be updated as to the availability of funds after each initial review period.
Fall 2023 (Events from July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023) – First deadline is September 28, 2023. Notifications of awards will be sent after the October 18th full council meeting. Depending on funds available, the FINAL FALL SEMESTER deadline is: November 9, 2023. Notifications will go out to applicants after December 6th full council meeting.
Spring 2023 (Events from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024) – First deadline is February 1, 2024. Notifications will go out to applicants after Feb. 21st full council meeting.
FINAL DEADLINE (depending on available funds): March 28, 2024*. Notifications would then go out to applicants after April 17th full council meeting.
ALL AWARD NOTIFICATIONS will be sent following full council meetings. Check for dates here: https://cogs.msu.edu/governance/
NOTE: Do not apply for events that take place AFTER June 30, 2024 until the FY 24-25 Applications are posted, sometime after July 1, 2024.
*Number of awards approved depends on available funds for the current semester award budget. Once applications pass the initial review process, Finance Committee may apply randomized lottery for selection of final awardees, if eligible applications exceed available funds.
Please check with your department, and The Graduate School if you need additional funding sources for attending a conference: https://grad.msu.edu/travel
Please call the COGS office with any questions: (517) 353-9189 or email: office@cogs.msu.edu
