GSG Grants Workshop August 24, 2017

GSG Grants Workshop
     August 24, 2017

GSG Grants
• GSG grants fund graduate students’ research and professional
  development
• Graduate students in all disciplines may apply
• Eligibility Requirements:
   • Graduate Student Activity Fee
   • Department’s GSG Senator: 75% attendance at GSG Senate Meetings

Grant Cycles
• GSG funds up to $850 per cycle
• Fall Application Cycle
   • Deadline is September 29th at 5pm
• Spring Application Cycle
   • Includes summer session
   • Deadline typically in February
• Reimbursement of expenses incurred during previous application
  cycle

Funding Categories
• Travel to Present
   • Expenses to travel to and present at a conference or professional meeting
   • Only one individual funded per presentation
• Degree Related
   • Professional development or networking opportunity
   • Research supplies (including undergraduates)
   • Travel expenses to a conference if not presenting

Application Process
The application includes:
• Abstract: 2 typed pages, double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman
  font, 1” margins
• Itemized Budget
• Budget Explanation
• Submit a single pdf that includes your abstract, budget, and budget
  explanation

Copy of itemized budget example available on GSG Grants website:
               http://www2.umaine.edu/gsg/grants/
                                           GSG Grants Workshop     6

Application Review
• Applications are anonymously reviewed
• Interdisciplinary panel of graduate students
   • Write to an educated general audience
   • Unfamiliar with the merits of your work
   • Eliminate jargon or colloquial language
   • Professional and University benefits
• Grants awarded at 100%, 75%, and 50% of the amounts requested
   • Consider alternative sources of funding

Application Process
• FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!
   • Deductions are strictly applied
   • Late submissions are not accepted
   • Rejections can happen: failure to follow format / personal identifiers
• Content-based rather than merit-based format
   • Clarity, sentence structure, intent and purpose
• Follow the examples on the GSG’s website

Application Process
• Seek assistance from:
   • Your advisor or graduate coordinator
   • Other graduate students in your department
   • The Writing Center at 402 Neville Hall (9-5pm), Fogler Library (6-8pm)
      • Website: http://www.umaine.edu/wcenter
      • Tel: (207) 581-3828
      • Paige Mitchell works with international students
   • GSG Grants Officer

Funding Obligations
• Awardees must submit all original receipts with a typed, dated,
  and signed report by deadline specified in the application
• Proof of presentation required for travel-to-present category
  • Conference itinerary, web listing, photo
  • Submit proof of presentation and original receipts with expense
    report
• Failure to submit expense report affects future funding.
  Please see Grants Officer if extension is needed

Funding Obligations
• Funds can only be used for specific items approved in the application
  budget
• Misused or unused GSG funds must be returned to the grants officer
  with:
   • Letter of explanation
   • Check payable to:
              Graduate Student Government
• If you wish to alter your use of funds please contact the Grants Officer

Clubs & Organizations
• GSG will award up to $600 per year to clubs and organizations that
  promote professional, educational, cultural, and/or social
  engagement of the graduate community
   • Guest speakers in relevant field
   • Networking opportunities
• 50% of funds requested can be used towards food.
   • Clubs wishing to exceed this amount may petition to the Grants Officer in
     writing for an exception.

Clubs & Organizations
• Clubs seeking recognition submit an application to the GSG Senate for
  approval.
   • Briefly describe the purpose of the club and its role in the graduate
     community
   • Club representative presentation to GSG Senate
   • New club recognition applications due by September 22nd
• Newly recognized clubs are on a semester-only funding schedule for
  one year.

Clubs & Organizations
• Clubs must apply for funding each year
• Funds are not dispersed until the department’s GSG
  senator confirms that the club meets the GSG mission to
  serve the professional and social life of graduate students
• Clubs that receive funding must submit an annual report
  that includes:
  • Briefly describe the purpose of the club and its role in the graduate
    community, list of events and activities, approximate count of attendees, and
    proof of advertising (flyer, social media, etc.)
  • Expense reports are mandatory and failure to submit required materials will
    affect changes of future funding

Partial List of Graduate Student Clubs
•   Clinical Psychology Diversity Committee
•   English Graduate Students’ Association
•   Graduate Board Game Club
•   Graduate Business Association
•   Graduate Earth Science Club
•   National Society of Black Engineers
•   History Graduate Student Association
•   Iranian Graduate Student Association
•   Men of Color
•   School of Marine Sciences Club
•   UMaine Association of Computing Machinery-Women
•   University of Maine Graduate Student Organization for Society and Natural Resources
•   Wildlife Ecology Graduate Student Group
•   Women in Academia

Contact Information
Graduate Student Government
Attn: Grants Officer
University of Maine
5755 Stodder Hall
Orono, Maine, 04469
Email: umaine.gsg.grants@gmail.com
https://umaine.edu/gsg/grants/

Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-2pm, 60 Stodder Hall or by appointment