This Graduate School award provides supplemental funding for continuing graduate students to participate in professional development and career preparation activities.

Applications for professional development in October 2025 are now open.

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About this Award

The Graduate Student Professional Development Supplement Award is designed to support continuing graduate students in their individual professional development as scholars, researchers, and leaders. Professional development activities may include conferences or skill-building workshops, fine arts masterclasses, or juried performance competitions, for example, that support scholarly goals and career preparation.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis within the noted deadlines below. This supplemental award provides up to $300 to support expenses associated with an individual professional development activity. Should the proposed professional development activity include travel, the award may be up to $500.

This award is a supplement and requires other program, college, or university support up to or exceeding the amount of the Graduate School supplementary award. For example, if a workshop costs $400, the Graduate School will provide a supplementary award of up to $200, provided that another university funding source covers the initial $200 or more.

 

 

Eligibility

• Actively enrolled as a continuing University of Utah graduate student (first-year graduate students not eligible)
• United States citizen or legally present in the United States
• Engaging in an individual professional development activity with qualifying expenses that is financially supported by a university funding source

Allowable expenses can include activity registration fees, abstract fee, airfare/car mileage, lodging, and ground transportation.

Non-allowable expenses include meals, per diem, society membership fees, Concur report processing fee, and car rentals.

• Have not already received the Graduate Student Professional Development Supplement Award in the past.

This is a one-time award, meaning graduate students are only eligible to receive this award once during their graduate career. The award can only be applied to one professional development activity.

Applications that are incomplete or submitted outside of the allowable application window will not be reviewed.

Funding for the Graduate Student Professional Development Supplement Award is limited and submitted applications from eligible applicants are not guaranteed funding from the Graduate School.

 

Deadlines

 

 

Submission Procedures

• Complete application, including academic program signatures.
• Submit application online no later than 5 PM, MST of the application window deadline.

 

Award Notifications

Applicants will be notified as to the status of their application no later than two weeks after the posted deadline.

 

How Awards are Processed

Awardee Responsibilities

Once notified of receiving the Graduate Student Professional Development Supplement Award, awardees must work with their program administrator to process their award reimbursement. Please note that awards are processed via reimbursement for allowable expenses rather than as cash awards.

 

Program Administrator Responsibilities

Program administrators can submit requests via Concur Report, ePR, or eJournal to process the supplemental award reimbursement, as well as reporting the full award amount in Scholarship Administration. Administrators will receive further instruction for reimbursement in the award letter, which will be sent to them at the time of award.