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Student Travel Program Overview
Purpose
The Student Travel Program provides travel grants to MSU Denver students to support professional development experiences that advance academic growth or a student’s chosen career path. Funding may help cover transportation, registration, and lodging costs for students attending regional, national, or international professional development events such as conferences, workshops, seminars, and non-athletic competitions that are directly related to their area of study or career goals.
What Is Not Covered?
The Student Travel Program does not cover meals, personal expenses, study abroad programs, or travel for academic credit. It also does not fund attending courses at other institutions or general research costs.
Funding Limits
- Individual Funding – Up to $275 for one student.
- Pair Funding – Up to $550 for two students.
- Group Funding – Up to $800 for three or more students.
Important Information
- Students may receive funding only once per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
- Only one of our programs may be used per experience. We do not allow students to combine funds from each of our programs to fund one experience.
- International travel proposals require approval from the Associate Vice President of Student Engagement & Wellness.
Student Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Student Travel Program, students must meet specific eligibility requirements related to conduct history, enrollment status, and travel advisor approval.
General Eligibility
- All applicants must pass a conduct review through the Dean of Students Office. A conduct record does not automatically disqualify a student, but it will be considered during the application process.
- Students must have a travel advisor (an MSU Denver faculty or professional staff member) who agrees to accompany them on the trip. Funding does not cover the travel advisor’s expenses.
- Students may receive funding only once per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
- MSU Denver employees are not eligible for Student Travel funding, even if they are enrolled as students.
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Requirements
- Students must be enrolled in at least 1 credit hour at the Main (Auraria) MSU Denver Campus during the semester of travel.
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For summer travel, students may be enrolled in either the Summer or the upcoming Fall semester to meet the enrollment requirement.
- Extended campus, correspondence courses, or coursework exempt from the Student Affairs Fee do not count toward this requirement.
- No exceptions will be made for the enrollment requirement.
Student Travel Advisor
Serving as a travel advisor is a valuable opportunity to support students’ professional growth.
Travel Advisor Requirements
- Must be an MSU Denver faculty or professional staff member and agree to accompany students on the trip.
- Students cannot apply for funding without an approved advisor.
- Advisors may be listed on a maximum of two proposals per event and cannot accompany more than two groups, pairs, or individuals to a single event.
- Advisors must follow MSU Denver travel policies outlined in the Travel Guide.
Travel Advisor Responsibilities
- Advisors must submit the Student Travel Advisor’s Role & Responsibilities Form before the proposal deadline.
- Once funding is approved, the advisor will work with the Lead Student and the Director of Student Travel to arrange travel logistics.
- If traveling by car, advisors must either ride in the same vehicle or caravan with the students.
- Advisors are required to accompany students to enhance their learning experience, ensure proper conduct, represent MSU Denver positively, and handle emergencies if needed.
How to Apply
Application Deadline & Process
Key Things to Know (Read First)
- Funding is awarded monthly and is limited.
- Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
- Applications must be submitted before the event takes place.
Application Deadline
- Submit a complete application by the last day of the month to be reviewed for that month.
- Incomplete applications will roll into the next month once completed.
Example:
Application completed on February 10 → reviewed in the February funding cycle.
What “Complete Application” Means
Your application is complete only after all required forms are submitted:
- Proposal
- Waivers
- Advisor Form
- Orientation Form
Eligibility Rules
- Students may receive funding once per fiscal year.
- Only one proposal per event is allowed.
- If an application is not funded, it cannot be resubmitted for the same event.
How to Submit
- The Lead Student is responsible for submitting all forms and ensuring all participants meet requirements.
- Application steps may vary for individual, pair, or group travel.
- All forms must be submitted electronically through Qualtrics.
Decision Timeline
Funding decisions are sent within five business days after the end of each month.
Below are the links to the required forms:
Required Application Forms
Note: The form includes a short video that explains the application process and eligibility requirements. Students must then fill out the required information to confirm their understanding.
Note: Each student is required to sign and submit their form individually when applying for funding.
Note: Responses must be personalized; generic or copied answers may lead to point deductions. Budget requests should be reasonable and tied directly to the experience; excessive or unnecessary expenses may not be approved.
Note: Each student is required to sign and submit their form individually when applying for funding.
Proposal Evaluation
The Student Travel Committee reviews and scores all proposals based on specific criteria. The committee includes:
- Program Manager (non-voting chair)
- Student Travel Assistant (student employee)
- Faculty or staff representative
Proposals are scored using a rubric based on the following:
Click on the following link for a copy of the scoring rubric: Student Travel Program Scoring Rubric
Please note: Responses must be personalized; generic or copied answers may lead to point deductions. Budget requests should be reasonable and tied directly to the experience; excessive or unnecessary expenses may not be approved.
Evaluation Criteria
- Completion of the Student Travel Program Orientation Form
- Clarity, completeness, and quality of the proposal
- Academic Impact – How the travel experience contributes to academic enrichment for both the participants and the MSU Denver student body
- Personal Goals – Alignment of the experience with the student’s academic and professional growth
- Diverse Perspectives – How the event topics contribute to enhancing diverse thinking at MSU Denver
- Knowledge Sharing – A detailed plan for sharing insights gained from the experience, including audience, format, and timeline
- MSU Denver Mission Alignment – How the experience supports MSU Denver’s mission and values
- Travel Budget
- Compliance with MSU Denver and the State of Colorado fiscal policies
If a student disagrees with a funding decision, they may appeal to the Associate Director for Student Experiential & Professional Development for reconsideration in special cases.
Post-Approval Obligation
Stipulations
- Students are financially responsible for any last-minute changes that result in additional fees. The Student Travel Program does not cover these costs.
- Students must follow the MSU Denver Code of Conduct while traveling as representatives of the university.
- Incomplete forms or failure to meet program requirements may result in loss of funding eligibility for the following academic year.
- If a student does not travel after expenses (registration, lodging, or transportation) have been paid, they must reimburse the program. Failure to do so may lead to disciplinary action.
- Funding is only available for MSU Denver students. Faculty and full-time staff are not eligible since this program is funded by student fees.
Pre-Travel Requirements
The students and Travel Advisor must meet with the Student Travel Program Manager to finalize travel arrangements and review expectations.
Students must follow all MSU Denver travel policies and ensure they have the necessary documents for travel.
Post-Travel Requirements
Students must complete and submit an Evaluation Form within 14 days of returning from travel. This form will be sent out around the return date of the trip.
Additional Funding
Explore extra funding if you’ve already applied for Student Travel and need more support
Looking for more funding to support your travel experience? If you’ve already applied for the Student Travel & Professional Development Program and need additional support, explore funding opportunities through CMEI (Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion) and the Student Government. These programs can help cover costs for eligible student organizations and individuals attending professional events.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, we only cover transportation, event registration, and lodging.
No, the program does not support study abroad or travel unrelated to the student’s area of study.
Yes, the funding is for all forms of transportation and lodging.
Please notify the Program Manager to discuss the changes and possible adjustments to your grant.
You can arrive one day before and depart one day after the event. If you plan to spend more than one day before or after, we cannot cover the additional expenses.
You will be shared a folder by the Student Travel Assistant to check if our program has received your forms for the review process.
You can not utilize the Student Travel Program for a virtual event. However, you can refer to another program called Local & Online Professional Development.
Funds are typically reimbursed after travel upon submission of receipts.
We would encourage you to reach out to your Department Chair to see if they can help connect you to other faculty or MSU employees.
Travel Advisors can address to FAS program for travel funding.
Contact the Classroom to Career Hub about the Student Travel Program
Program Contact: David Bourassa
Student Travel & Professional Development Funding is a student fee funded program within the Classroom to Career Hub.
Phone: (303) 615-0606
Email: [email protected]
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