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Student Travel Program Overview
Purpose
The Student Travel Program provides travel grants for MSU Denver students to support professional development opportunities. These grants help cover transportation, registration, and lodging costs for students attending regional, national, or international professional development events such as workshops, conferences, seminars, and non-athletic competitions related to a student’s field of study or leadership role.
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 $550 for one student.
- Pair Funding – Up to $1,100 for two students.
- Group Funding – Up to $1,800 for three or more students.
Important Information
- Students may receive funding only once per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
- Funding cannot be combined from multiple programs for the same travel 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 three proposals per event and cannot accompany more than three 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
The Student Travel Program has updated its proposal deadline to ensure a more streamlined and accessible application process. Students must submit their proposals at least 30 days before the first date of travel to be considered for funding. Late submissions may result in a point deduction or ineligibility.
The Lead Student is responsible for submitting all required forms and ensuring that all participants meet the application requirements. The steps vary slightly depending on whether the application is for individual, pair, or group funding.
All forms must be completed electronically and submitted via Qualtrics Survey. 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
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.
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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