Funding Resources

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There are many sources of funding available to graduate students through the GSC and other organizations in the university:

GSC Departmental Rebates

All departments at Brown University are entitled to a yearly
departmental rebate through the Graduate Student Council for events or activities involving graduate students. Each department can request a $5 return of the Student Activities Fee for each graduate student currently enrolled in their department. Please print out and include a departmental rebate request form (below). The department’s GSC representative can petition at a GSC meeting for the departmental rebate by filling out the departmental rebate form.

The departmental rebate can only be issued to each department once each fiscal year (July – June). The rebate money should be transferred to the department’s account within 1-2 months.

Download the Departmental Rebate Form

GSC Event Funding

The Graduate Student Council has limited funds to co-sponsor events or activities that are of interest to the Brown University graduate student body. The maximum funding that may be requested from the GSC for any one event or activity shall be $400, or half of the total budget for the event or activity, whichever amount is less. Any individual or organization requesting funds from the GSC for an event or activity must insure it is adequately advertised, explicitly stating that the GSC has partially or fully funded the event or activity.

Funding requests shall be submitted to the GSC Treasurer at least 1 week prior to a GSC meeting in order to be considered at the next meeting. Please print out and include a funding request form (below). The funding request shall include:

  • The amount of funds being petitioned for from the GSC. Either the maximum amount of $400, or some lesser amount.
  • The Brown University Account number to receive the funds (if available).
  • A copy of the event or activity’s budget.
  • The approximate number of graduate students to be in attendance.
  • A list of all other sources of support, which are currently sponsoring or have been petitioned to sponsor the event or activity.
  • The individual or a representative of the organization requesting funds from the GSC must be a currently enrolled graduate student and attend the next GSC meeting to make a brief presentation detailing their funding request.

If approved, the funds will then be either transferred to the
individual or organization’s Brown University Account. Or, receipts
from the event or activity can be submitted through the GSC Treasurer to the Purchasing Office as a Check Request to reimburse the individual or organization. Funds transferred to Brown University Accounts will be submitted as soon as they are approved and may take 1-2 months to clear. Receipts submitted for reimbursement would have to be done after the event or activity and may take 1-2 months for the Check Request to be issued. If any of the GSC approved funding goes unused, or the event or activity is cancelled, the GSC Treasurer must be contacted immediately to return the funds.

If denied, the individual or organization may attempt to alter their
funding request or advertising campaign and re-petition for sponsorship at a later GSC meeting. However, only one additional petition will be allowed per fiscal year (July-June). If declined twice in the same fiscal year, the individual or organization must wait until the next fiscal year to petition for sponsorship.

Download the Funding Request Form

GSC Conference Funding

The GSC understands the importance of conference to graduate career development and is offering financial support to graduate students to attend conferences. If you are a graduate student, have been invited to present your research, and are ineligible for financial assistance from the Graduate School or your department, you may request up to $200 from the GSC. Please fill out the conference funding request form [hyper link] and submit it electronically to the GSC Treasurer at least 1 week prior to the next GSC meeting, along with the following information:

  • A description of conference and how your participation advances your education;
  • An explanation of your ineligibility for departmental or Graduate School support;
  • The amount of money requested, which must not exceed $200;
  • A complete budget.
    Once the GSC Treasurer has confirmed your request, the next step is to come to following GSC meeting and to present your case. Give a brief presentation on the conference, your research, and the budget. Voting will take place after a short question and answer session.

If the GSC approves your request, you will receive your funding in form of a reimbursement. You will submit a “Travel Expense Report” to the GSC treasurer with appropriate documentation for your expenses. It can take up to 1-2 months for your reimbursement check to be issued by the Purchasing Office.
If the GSC votes down your request, you may not repetition the GSC for conference funding until the next school year.

GSC Grant Funding

Grant funding may be requested for projects or equipment that will have a lasting impact on Brown University graduate student body at large. As long as a minimum reserve of monies is maintained, the GSC may provide grants from its carry-over funds (Check with the Treasurer).

Grant requests shall be submitted to the GSC Treasurer at least 1
week prior to a GSC meeting for the proposal to be heard at that
meeting. Please print out and include a grant request form (below).
The grant request shall include:

  • The amount of funds being petitioned for from the GSC.
  • A proposal describing the lasting impact of the project or equipment.
  • A complete budget.
  • The Brown University Account number to receive the funds, if available.

The individual or a representative of the organization requesting
a grant from the GSC must be a currently enrolled graduate student and make a brief presentation at a meeting of the GSC regarding their grant request. Voting on a grant request shall take place at the next GSC meeting following the one at which the initial proposal was heard. The individual or a representative of the organization requesting the grant shall return at that meeting to answer questions before voting takes place. Grants requests require approval by a 2/3 majority of representatives present at that GSC meeting.

If approved, the funds will then be either transferred to the individual or organization’s Brown University Account. Or, receipts
from the event or activity can be submitted through the GSC Treasurer to the Purchasing Office as a Check Request to reimburse the individual or organization. Funds transferred to Brown University accounts will be submitted as soon as they are approved and may take 1-2 months to clear. Receipts submitted for reimbursement would have to be done after the event or activity and may take 1-2 months for the Check Request to be issued. If any of the GSC approved funding goes unused, or the event or activity is cancelled, the GSC Treasurer must be contacted immediately to return the funds.

Once the equipment has been purchased or the project is underway, the individual or a representative of the organization who requested the grant shall return to give a brief status report at a subsequent GSC meeting.

If denied, the individual or organization may attempt to alter their
funding request or advertising campaign and re-petition for sponsorship at a later GSC meeting. However, only one additional grant request or funding request shall be allowed per fiscal year. (July-June). If declined twice in the same fiscal year, the individual or organization must wait until the next fiscal year to petition for sponsorship.

Download the Grant Request Form

Graduate School Support

The Graduate School offers diverse support for grad students, not only through fellowships, TAships, and RAships, but also through grant-matching and up to $500 per year for conference travel. See the Graduate School’s Support webpage for details.

Division of Campus Life Funding

The Division of Campus Life & Student Services has a mandate to support “student initiatives”, and they’re looking to give more attention to graduate students and the graduate student experience at Brown. This means they may be able to help fund a variety of graduate student activities. They can provide funding for events hosted by/for graduate students, and they can also sometimes fund conference travel as a supplement to departmental funding. These contributions will likely run in the $200 range, but will depend on their budget. Groups or individuals seeking funding for either should contact Rosario Navarro in Campus Life.