1. I am attending two conferences. How can I apply for both?

You can't. You can only get funded from the TFP for one conference per year. You may choose whichever conference to apply for, but if you submit more than one application (or more than one conference in the same application), your entire application may be disqualified.

2. Is there a length restriction for the advisor recommendation letter?

No, there is no length restriction. Your advisor is free to write a recommendation letter as s/he sees fit.

3. Is there a format for the advisor recommendation?

There is no specific format. In their letter, your advisor should indicate that they approve your trip and mention the relevance of attending this conference for your field of research.

4. My conference is still a few months off and I don't have any of the required documentation. What do I do?

For registration and travel, a link to the conference website showing registration materials and a quote from a travel website is sufficient for this stage. However, please keep all of your receipts as you will need them to get reimbursed, if you are awarded. If you have no presentation confirmation because your conference is too far off, your conference is likely to fall within the overlap period (April-August or in December). In this case, you may want to delay your application to the next cycle when you have more documentation.

5. I need more money than the $500 ($350 Masters) provided. What do I do?

The TFP is a highly competitive program with a limited budget. It is the intention of the GSA to award as many deserving applicants as possible with a reasonable amount of money to help towards the cost of travel. It is not intended to be your sole source of funding, so please try to seek out other forms of funding that may be available to you in your department. You are NOT allowed to request more than $500 ($350 for Masters Students) so please do not do so. The only exception to this rule is applicants traveling outside the USA; these applicants may request more than the set limits but there is no guarantee that they will be awarded the funds requested.

6. How do I know if I submitted all the required documents?

An application checklist is provided on the TFP website for your convenience in the TFP FAQs. Please use it to check that you submitted all the required documents as it is your responsibility to make sure everything was submitted correctly. You will receive an email stating that your application has been received, but this is not a confirmation that all documents are completed correctly. Any missing documents will result in disqualification of your application, so please use the checklist.

7. How do I confirm that my documentation was received?

The TFP website (https://scholar.vt.edu/portal) can be used to confirm whether your application has been submitted properly or not. You may go and log in with your PID and password to review your application status. You will also receive an email to stating that your application has been received.

Please do not email several times asking if your documents were received and please do NOT resend/submit your attachments several times. It is your responsibility to check the drop box regularly to make sure that all the documents were submitted properly and on time. Any application sent as attachment in email to the TFP chair will be disqualified. It is the responsibility of the applicant to keep his/her application updated.

8. When will I hear about the results of my TFP application?

The final decision will be made 4-6 weeks after the deadline of the TFP. All applicants will receive an email, indicating whether or not their TFP application was successful. Final decisions can also be seen by going through the Gradebook menu of TFP website (https://scholar.vt.edu/portal). Please do not email the GSA to ask about the status of your application as no information can be given to any single applicant until a decision is made on all applications. The GSA thanks you for your patience.

To go to Gradebook menu, follow the steps as given below:
a. Go to https://scholar.vt.edu/portal
b. Log into VT Scholar using your “User ID” and password
c. Click on GSA TFP site
d. Click on the "Gradebook" menu

9. How can I claim the money I have been awarded?

Once a final decision has been made, an email will be sent to successful applicants with instructions on how to claim your award, as well as the appropriate forms. In addition, the instructions and forms will be posted on the GSA website.

10. When do I need to pick up the award?

The award notification will contain an expiration date, and the website will also list said expiration date. The award must be picked up before then, or the award will be considered forfeited. If the award is forfeited, please note that the applicant no longer has ANY claim to the funds whatsoever and the money will be allocated towards future awards for the TFP.