Programming and Awards

Each year, GPSC reserves a significant portion of its budget for graduate and professional student conference travel and presentation. Graduate and professional students are eligible for up to $250 per fiscal year. (Please note that GPSC does not offer travel funding for undergraduate students.)

Graduate and professional students may claim $125 in reimbursement for simply attending a conference OR $250 for presenting at a conference. If a student claims the $125 reimbursement for attendance, they still have $125 in remaining eligibility for the fiscal year and may claim the remaining $125 for attendance at a separate conference. If a student claims $250 for presenting, they must also include proof of their presentation acceptance (e.g. email, program) and will not be eligible to receive any additional funding toward conference travel and presentation for the remaining fiscal year.

Applicants may apply for the GPSC Travel and Conference Award during the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) while funding is available. Because GPSC is provided a limited amount of resources toward student conference travel and presentation support, the Council prioritizes applications based on the date the completed paperwork is received. GPSC does accept applications prior to attending conferences to encourage students submit their applications early.

Note that required proof of registration (and proof of presentation acceptance) must be included to have funding requests approved.

If you cannot remember if you have already received funding for this academic year, please contact GPSC at gpsc@siu.edu.

Applications can be accessed and submitted here. Once your application is received and processed, you will receive an email with the Council's decision. Please contact gpsc@siu.edu with questions.

PLEASE NOTE: GPSC WILL NOT ACCEPT OR SIGN DEPARTMENTAL TRAVEL VOUCHERS. Graduate and professional students MUST process their request using the GPSC application. GPSC has a separate fiscal account that funding is processed through. If Departmental Travel Vouchers are received, these documents will immediately be returned as to not slow down the department funding process for the student.

Apply for a GPSC Travel and Conference Award

We will begin accepting applications for the Travel and Conference Award starting from the beginning of classes for Fall 2026.
  

Graduate and professional students may claim up to $250 per fiscal year for professional development expenses, including exams, professional memberships, or certifications that are required in their profession or field of study. Funds are available until they run out. The fiscal year is from July 1st to June 30th. This fund is a reimbursement; we will need a paid receipt to process the form. Before you fill out this form, please make sure to have receipts ready to upload. Please be aware that it may take up to 90 days for reimbursement.

Applications can be accessed and submitted here. Once your application is received and processed, you will receive an email with the Council's decision. Please contact gpsc@siu.edu with questions.

Apply for a GPSC Professional Development Award

We will begin accepting applications for the Professional Development Award starting from the beginning of classes for Fall 2026.

The Fee Allocation Board (FAB) of GPSC provides event funding for graduate and professional students' registered organizations. The FAB considers RSO's applications and funding requests and makes a decision based upon need, GPSC's history of giving, and budgetary limitations. Applications can be accessed and submitted here.

*RSO Event Funding is intended to assist student organizations putting on events that support graduate and professional students. It is not meant to fund RSOs attending conferences as a group. We encourage individual RSO members who are attending a conference to apply for funding through our Travel and Conference Award.

Please note the following before completing the application:

• The form must be completed by the listed Registered Student Organization (RSO) Financial Officer.
• Requests will not be considered unless the RSO is in good financial and judicial standing with the university and the Office of Student Engagement.
• Funding will not be considered unless the request is received at least one month in advance of the date of the event, during the academic school year. All event funding is voted on by our complete council; see meeting dates to help plan in advance.
• Each line item for which an organization is requesting funding should have adequate documentation of proof of costs.
• No items should be bought or contracts entered before GPSC has approved and transferred allocated funds into your organization’s account.
• The Vice President of Administrative Affairs will contact a member of the organization to inform them of their scheduled meeting time with the Fee Allocation Board. (The Fee Allocation Board meets immediately prior to general council meetings.)
• If a representative from the organization does not attend the scheduled meeting with the Fee Allocation Board, the funding request will suspended until a formal presentation can be made. Note: The Fee Allocation Board may agree to review the application without a formal presentation if no representative is available to meet members of FAB.
• Questions concerning funding should be directed to the Vice President of Administrative Affairs at gpsc@siu.edu.

Apply for GPSC RSO EVENT FUNDING

We will begin accepting applications for the RSO Event Funding starting from the beginning of classes for Fall 2026.

**Important Note: GPSC Cares Funding will soon open for this academic year from Fall of 2026. We are honored to have been able to fund so many graduate and professional student organizations.**

GPSC Cares can offer funding to RSOs and other organizations across campus that need funds for operating expenses to assist graduate and professional students. Applications can be accessed and submitted here. 

*Important Note: GPSC Cares Funding is not meant to fund RSO events or RSOs attending conferences as a group. We encourage individual RSO members who are attending a conference to apply for funding through our Travel and Conference Award.

Please note that incomplete submissions for any award will result in the submission not being considered.

Applications open during the spring semester. GPSC announces the open and close dates for the applications via a university-wide email to all registered graduate and professional students.

Teaching Award

"2026–2027 Academic Year: The application period is currently closed. GPSC will update the information once applications reopen for the awards."

SIU's Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) have a tremendous and long-lasting impact on current and past undergraduate students. Outstanding GTAs are able to relate their unique experiential knowledge and training to students in a classroom setting and encompass the mission and goals of the university by embracing a unique tradition of access and opportunity, inclusive excellence, innovation in research and creative activity, and outstanding teaching focused on nurturing student success.

The GPSC Outstanding Teacher Award will recognize Graduate Teaching Assistants for their outstanding pedagogical practices as educators on the campus of Southern Illinois University.

In order to be eligible to apply for the GPSC Outstanding Graduate Teacher Award, nominees MUST:

• Be a full-time student enrolled in the current academic year
• Have been appointed at least a 25% Graduate Teaching Assistantship during the current academic year
• Provide the following documents:
  • A letter of support for the award from current or past undergraduate student(s) they have had a direct impact on
  • A personal teaching philosophy statement
  • Quantitative and/or qualitative student evaluations (e.g., ICE reports)
  • A curriculum vitae (CV)

In addition, applicants may provide the following supporting documents (please note that these additional items are NOT required):

• Departmental letter of support
• Example(s) of lesson plans or assignments
• Short narrative essay further describing their impact as a GTA

The application and all materials MUST be submitted through the online application form, which can be found here.

• All documentation MUST be submitted as PDF files in the online form
• If someone wishes to send a letter of support directly to GPSC, it can be emailed to gpsc@siu.edu and should include the GTA's name and "Outstanding Graduate Teacher Award" in the subject line

Please contact GPSC at gpsc@siu.edu with any questions.

Student Creative Activities and Research Award

"2026–2027 Academic Year: The application period is currently closed. GPSC will update the information once applications reopen for the awards."

GPSC annually offers Creative Activities and Research Awards to aid in the creative activities and research of graduate and professional students who demonstrate dedication to exceptional work in their fields of study. Students who receive this recognition will also receive a monetary award.

• Be a student enrolled in the 2023-2024 academic year
• Provide the following documents:
  • A short proposal which summarizes the project and how this award will contribute to their research or body of work
    • Please note that a general audience should be able to read this proposal and understand the significance of the student's work
  • A letter of support for the award from a faculty member in their department
  • An itemized budget showing how the funds will be used
  • A curriculum vitae (CV)

• Other letters of support
• Example(s) of previous research or creative activities

The online application form can be found here. Please contact GPSC at gpsc@siu.edu with any questions.

Service Awards

"2026–2027 Academic Year: The application period is currently closed. GPSC will update the information once applications reopen for the awards."

GPSC wishes to recognize, honor, and celebrate the efforts and contributions of those whose work supports, advances, and/or demonstrates exemplary commitment to the graduate and professional students of SIUC and the missions of GPSC and SIUC. Every spring GPSC asks members of the SIU community to submit nominations for those whose service they feel is deserving of either our Distinguished Service Award and/or our Outstanding Service Award.

Distinguished Service Awards: recognize, honor, and express gratitude for those persons, groups, or organizations, who, in course of their work and duties, demonstrate exemplary commitment to the support, advancement, and achievement of SIUC graduate and professional students, the mission of GPSC, and the mission of SIUC.

Outstanding Service Awards: recognize those persons, groups, or organizations whose contributions and efforts go beyond expectations and are exemplars of aspirational and ideal conduct, demonstrate consummate determination and commitment, excellence and achievement in practice, and resolution to the wellbeing, investment in, and success of graduate and professional students at SIUC and the missions of GPSC and SIUC.

GPSC’s Executive Board and Award Committee receives, reviews, and makes all determinations as to honorees for these awards.

• Nominations are open to all persons, groups, and/or organizations, who may be nominated by any individual, group, or organization. Self-nominations are allowed.
• Those nominated or those nominating need not be a member of GPSC or a current or former student, faculty, or staff member of SIUC.
• Nominations may specify which award they would like the nominee to receive (i.e., Distinguished or Outstanding); however, the Board and Committee may choose to award a nominee with an award other than that specified (e.g. a nomination is submitted for the “Outstanding Service Award,” but the Board and Committee determine the “Distinguished Service Award” better suits the achievements of the nominee).
• Nominations should provide whatever materials are pertinent to support the nomination (space provided below and/or email to gpsc@siu.edu).
  • Required materials include a nomination letter written by the person making the nomination and the nominee's CV.

The form for the Distinguished and Outstanding Awards may be accessed here. If you have questions, please contact the Graduate and Professional Student Council at gpsc@siu.edu.

The Fee Allocation Board is one of two committees set by the GPSC constitution. The Board supervises the allocation of funds available to graduate and professional Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). The Board meets on a biweekly basis to hear event funding proposals, collaboratively decide whether to approve such proposals, and how much money to allocate if events are approved. Such decisions are then taken to the next GPSC general meeting where the recommendation is given and a vote on the event funding request is taken by the GPSC representative body.