All current graduate students in good standing are eligible to apply. 

Complete the GSA Conference Grant Application Form. The application ought to be submitted at least one month before the conference. Your request must be submitted by the submission deadline of the GFAC meeting in which you want your application to be considered for funding. The applicant will be notified of the decision via email within three business days after the GFAC meeting. Applications are open year round until funds are depleted.

All academic and professional conferences relevant to the student's field of study in which they are not presenting.

Conference Grants are intended to allow graduate students to attend a conference at which they are not presenting. Students who have been asked to present at a conference are not eligible for GFAC funds. Should presenters apply for these funds, they will be encouraged to apply for the Graduate College Travel Grant.

The grant covers up to $1,000 in registration, accommodation, transportation expenses and meals. If these expenses total less than $1,000, GSA will only reimburse the expenses paid by the student. 

Please apply for only one grant per month. You can apply multiple times throughout the year, however once you have been approved for a grant any subsequent applications will be denied. 

Master’s Students are eligible to receive one GSA grant (either Certification, Conference or Data Collection) over the course of their graduate program. PhD students are eligible to receive one full GSA grant for their first approved application and partial (half) grant for their second approved application over the course of their graduate program with the limitation of only one grant per academic year. Students who complete more than one graduate degree concurrently at WMU are eligible to receive one maximum two grants for each degree program over the course of their programs.  

Please contact the GSA Vice President at gfac-info@wmich.edu so that the award can be voided. Once the award is voided, you will be eligible to apply for another grant. 

No, GSA grants cannot be used for purchases that occurred before the grant application was approved. Wait until after application approval before you pay for registration fees, accommodation or transportation.

GSA can pay for things like registration fees and airfare for you. After your grant application is approved, you will receive information explaining how to request these purchases. You are also welcome to make purchases yourself and be reimbursed. 

The conference must occur and receipts must be submitted before you graduate to receive reimbursement. 

These applications will be considered on an individual basis, however, priority will be given to conferences that benefit the student academically or professionally.  

Applications will be reviewed by GFAC. Applications which meet the criteria above will be awarded the grant. In the event that we receive more eligible applications than the budget allows, GFAC will consider the relevance of the conference to the student's field of study, as well as the date of application.

During the week between the application deadline and the review meeting, the GSA Vice President will review your application to make sure it is complete and to recommend changes if the application is unlikely to be approved. 

The daily standard per diem rate is $52. However, if meals are provided by the conference, that will be subtracted from your per diem. For more information, consult WMU Travel.