The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has established the professional development awards (PDAs) to promote professional activities of graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 

The PDA will be awarded to students who are presenting at a conference. The PDA committee will determine the merit of each application through comparison with the other applications. The GSA will fund, in whole or in part, the PDAs determined to be meritorious. It is also understood that this award represents a supplement to the applicant’s other resources of funding (e.g. advisor’s grant, personal funds). There’s no guarantee that every PDA application will be approved. Funds may only be used for transportation, lodging and conferences fees. Other expenses, such as for food entertainment. Books, CDs, and etc, will not be covered by PDA.

Responsibilities of Applicant

  1. The applicant should not assume that funds have been approved unless he or she has received an approved DocuSign from the GSA. 
  2. Advance funds for professional development activities are not available.
  3. Those who are making presentations at conferences must give independent evidence of their presentation. 
  4. The applicant should make copies of all the receipts. The application will require proof of payment. Awarded funds will be disbursed only after the applicant provides the receipts for all expenses.

Awards and Timelines

  1. PDA can be submitted within 30 days after the professional development activity with no pre-approval.
  2. GSA will accept applications for conferences between August 15 and May 1. Please note that from June 1 to August 1, accounts are closed for the academic year and no spending will be permitted during this period.
  3. The approval process can take up to 2-4 weeks from submission.
  4. There is a limit per student per academic year of $300.
  5. PDA applications will only be accepted through this PowerForm Signer Information DocuSign form.

Application Checklist

Below are the items that will be needed to complete the PDA Application: 

Activity/Event information

  • Documentation of involvement in event
    • Copy of Abstract, paper or poster and/or
    • Copy of presentation schedule showing applicant name
  • Receipts of expenses incurred
  • Any other known funding source
  • Student ID number
  • Travel authorization number
    • Domestic Travel Registration
    • International Travel Registration: Must be approved by Chancellor 
  • UML Employee ID Number (If applicable)