AGSUSF Professional Development Funding
Apply for AGSUSF Professional Development Funding
AGSUSF Professional Development Funding allows members of the AGSUSF the resources to advance graduate student life through personal and professional development.
The total 2026–27 AGSUSF Professional Development Funding budget is $20,000.
Eligibility
Any AGSUSF member may apply for Professional Development Funding towards an eligible conference or certification. AGSUSF means any full-time graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Law, School of Management, or School of Nursing and Health Professions. Full-time graduate students from other USF campuses (i.e., downtown campus, Orange County campus, etc.) may also apply!
Award Limits
AGSUSF members may apply for up to a total of $300 per academic year towards registration, lodging, or air travel towards an approved conference. Additionally, AGSUSF members may apply for a total of $200 per academic year towards certification costs. The award will be granted as a reimbursement.*c
Application
Application Deadline
In order to be eligible for funding, requests must be submitted and reviewed by the Finance Committee prior to the conference or certification taking place.
Application Review
The Finance Committee will deliberate on all applications, which shall include a detailed budget, conference or certification information, and a detailed description of the benefits of pursuing this professional development.
Funding may only be approved for conferences or certifications taking place during the academic year or conference occurring over summer for non-graduating AGSUSF members. No international conferences will be considered. No retroactive requests for access to this funding will be considered. Funding is not guaranteed until the committee votes on and approves your request.
*All reimbursements will occur after attendance to conferences or certification is completed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Professional Development funding covers registration fees, lodging, and air travel for a conference, and registration only for a certification.
It does not cover certification or seminar fees, learning materials (books, e-publications, etc.), food expenses, membership fees (if not tied to conference registration), gas expenses, or ground transportation-related expenses (including to/from the airport to conference location).
An acceptable budget could look like a screenshot or pdf of the bill of the conference registration cost, expected airline fee, or lodging estimate.
Please note: all items requested to be covered in the funding award must be submitted at the time of application. Additionally, all receipts must be submitted in the name of the student who has been awarded the funding.
You should register for your conference, book your travel, etc. Then, attend your conference! Collect all receipts for your conference as PDFs. Take three (3) photos documenting your conference experience, and submit your Professional Development Report within one week of returning from your conference or completing your certification.
All AGSUSF Professional Development Funding will be disbursed in the form of a reimbursement. It is your responsibility to submit your Professional Development Report within one week of returning from your conference/completing your certification. Please note: all receipt items must be submitted in the name of the student who has been awarded the funding. You cannot get reimbursed for an item with another student’s name on it, even if sharing the cost of a hotel. You may also not be reimbursed for the same receipt twice.
You must be a full-time graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Management, School of Law, or School of Nursing and Health Professions.
You may be awarded up to $300 towards approved conference expenses and $200 towards approved certification expenses.
Unfortunately, no.
Please let us know if this happens. Ultimately, your funding award will be withdrawn and your reimbursement will not be processed. You are then eligible to re-apply for Professional Development Funding.
The finance committee meets on a bi-weekly basis throughout the academic year. The finance committee does not meet during holidays or school breaks.
You may apply multiple times as long as the total awarded does not exceed $300 towards conference expenses and $200 towards certification expenses. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. It cannot be reserved.
No, awards are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the money runs out we do not give out awards.
No, graduate students may not utilize their awarded funding towards an international conference or certification. The University does not permit any student or student organization to participate in international travel because the level of resources needed to manage them is beyond the scope of any recognized student organization.