GPSA has increased spending on grants by more than two thirds

January 30, 2012 by Camalot Todd 

As state funding declined, student government helped pay for research

The Graduate and Professional Student Association expects to award 87 percent more money in grants this academic year than it did when UNLV’s fiscal crisis began five years ago.

GPSA aided almost as many students this fall as it did during the entire 2007-2008 academic year.

GPSA plans to spend its entire $125,000 grants budget during the 2011-2012 academic year.

The grants committee has already distributed $89,445 among 170 students, said GPSA business manager Rebecca Boulton.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, $80,301 was awarded to 173 students.

GPSA grants support projects that directly influence a graduate or professional scholar’s degree program or contribute to the a student’s field.

“It is [the student's] first opportunity to initially get their foot out into their field,” said GPSA Vice President Thomas Bussey, who chairs the committee.

After receiving an unexpectedly high volume of requests, the GPSA Council voted in April to transfer a total of $10,000 from its Medical Hardship and Scholarship accounts, in an effort to enable funding of grant requests through last summer.

The GPSA may award any graduate and professional students a maximum of $1,750 per academic year. No individual may receive more than three grants and applicants may only submit one application per grant cycle — fall, spring, or summer.

The amount of money granted depends on the priority of the applicant.

First priority is given to research or travel that is necessary for completion of a degree program. Next on the list is assistance for students traveling to perform, present at an academic conference, or share of knowledge.

Funding for travel for professional development excluding presentations is the committee’s lowest priority.

Funds for each grant cycle are limited, and each grant must be used in one calendar year.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a UNLV graduate or professional program.

Each applicant must conduct his or her project with a graduate faculty member, fill out an application and include one letter of recommendation from a member of the scholar’s committee which addresses the significance of the opportunity the GPSA is asked to fund.

Summer grant proposals must be submitted by March 15, and fall proposals must be submitted by April 15.

Grant proposals for the current semester were due by Nov. 15.

Contact Camalot Todd at camalot.todd.ry@gmail.com.