Graduate Student Association

In light of the current guidance provided by administration, the Graduate Student Association is prohibited from providing any funding for any international travel expenses until further notice.  Domestic travel expenses may be considered if constitent with local health guidance.

The maximum GSA funding allocation for eligible graduate students for an academic year is $1,500. The maximum limit may be adjusted for the 2024-2025 academic year at the discretion of the Vice President for Finance, upon approval of the Senate GSA Senate.

We offer funding support for SUNY Buffalo State's eligible graduate students for various reasons:

• Research and scholarship
• Participation in professional organizations and conferences
• Creation and/or presentation of professional posters and documents related to research and scholarship

If you are interested in applying for funding from the GSA, please follow these instructions.

STEP 1: Review Section 3 of the GSA Constitution to ensure your request meets the specfied criteria.

STEP 2: Complete the electronic GSA Funding Request form.  All requests must be made at least four weeks prior to trip/event. Three (3) transportation quotes must be submitted for requests involving transportation (outside of personal vehicle) and three (3) hotel quotes must be submitted for requests involving hotel stays. 

*The deadline for funding requests each academic year is May 1st.  The GSA will not review funding applications from May 1 - August 31 each year.*

STEP 3: Make sure that you have included all the required documentation:

• Documentation of the event in which you will participate (Examples include pamphlets, brochures, and print outs of the event's website).
• A letter of support from your academic department verifying the relevance between your request and program.
• Students requesting funding for domestic and international travel as it pertains to independent research or one's master's project must submit the following additional information: (1) Sign-off from the student's department chair and academic advisor that includes a checklist of items that have been completed for the student's research (e.g. IRB verification, literature review, etc.); (2) An abstract that states the purpose of the student's research; (3) Submission of the student's IRB of the requested research.  If the student has not received IRB approval at the time of the request, a letter of support from the student's advisor is required to verify that all IRB requirements will be met; and (4) Submission of budget for research that includes, but is not limited to, additional funding provided by the student's academic department and dean, cost of research materials (excluding software), and travel and lodging expenses.
• A statement of intent (maximum one page; 12 pt. font) that includes: (1) A brief description of the ways in which the request relates to your course of study and/or your intellectual and professional development; (2) A brief description of the ways, if any, in which the request will benefit your academic department, the GSA, and/or Buffalo State; (3) A short report of your academic progress, your cumulative GPA to date, and a statement about your career goals.

To view the required criterion used for funding requests, please view the GSA Funding Rubric. Students must meet the first four criterion and submit all required documents. Conferences and events, projects, and presentations are the most common types of funding requests made through the GSA. Students are not required to meet one or any combination of these criterion as long as the request falls within the parameters listed. Please allow 7-10 days to process and review all requests. Approved requests will be funded as reimbursement to students and are subject to change based on the expenses incurred. Questions can be sent directly to the GSA Treasurer at buffalostategsatreasurer@gmail.com

*All qualified applications will be subject to approval by the GSA.