URSA funding
Travel Awards
Travel funds support students who plan to actively participate in a conference, competition, immersive program, performance, workshop, or other type of meeting or congregation of the student's peers/professionals in their respective field.
Award at-a-glance:
- Award amount:
Up to $2,000 (individual) or $4,000 (group) - Eligible Expenses:
Registration, airfare, lodging, per diem, and/or ground transportation costs - Requirement:
Each application MUST include a completed URSA Travel Budget Form
Overview
Individual students or groups of students that have been accepted to present, compete, perform, or otherwise actively engage at an in-person meeting of peers may apply for funding. All travel arrangements are made between the student and their department's travel coordinator. Please visit UAF' Travel page for more information on procedures. Applications are accepted any time throughout the year, however, applications must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the event. Groups need only to submit one application. URSA will only consider one group for each conference or competition.
Past projects
Examples of funded travel awards
Speech Competition
Group Travel Award
Spring 2023
Mentors: David Henry & Chisato Murakami
Conference Attendance
Sam Dempster
Fall 2022
Mentor: Jessie Young-Robertson
Design-Build-Fly Competition
UAF Aero Club
Spring 2023
Mentor: Michael Hatfield
Music Performance
Ariana Lopez & Olivia Buzby,
Summer 2023
Mentor: Jaunelle Celaire
Business Plan Competition
Native Alaskan Business Leaders (NABL) Club, Spring 2024 Award
Marcelo Ketzler-Lopez (Accounting), Shaina Atcherian (Applied Business), Elise Wood
(One Health), Aiyana Fragoso (Business Administration)
Spring 2024 Group Travel Award
Mentor: Jillian Bjornstad
Art Workshop & Portfolio Review
Kevin Carroll, Art
Mentor: Jamie Smith
Art Workshop & Portfolio Review
David McCain, Art
Mentor: J. Jason Lazarus
Traditional Games
UAF Native Games Club
Students (L-R): Colin McFarland (Business Administration), Leah Evans (Linguistics),
Parker Kenick (Information Technology), Naatanii Mayo (Art)
Mentor: Donald Crocker
Award information
Details, eligibility and requirements
- Must be a degree-seeking undergraduate student
Students of any year of study, from any UAF-affiliated campus, working toward an Occupational Endorsement, Certificate, Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree in any discipline are eligible to apply for URSA funding. Middle ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ Students, graduated undergraduate students, graduate students, and students enrolled in accelerated bachelor's/master's degree programs are ineligible.- UAF ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵes Include: Bristol Bay, Chukchi, CTC, Troth Yeddha’, Interior Alaska, Kuskokwim, Northwest
- Registration:
Students must be enrolled in at least 3 credits at any UAF-affiliated campus for the funded semester (Fall/Spring Awards). Summer Travel applicants must have be enrolled the Spring prior and Fall following the travel term. - GPA of 2.3 or higher
Students with a GPA lower than 2.3 are not eligible. - Must have a confirmed mentor for the proposed travel or event registration.
Faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, and staff may serve as URSA mentors. Mentors must confirm their participation via the URSA Mentor Confirmation form prior to the award deadline. - Students are eligible to receive one Project Award (or be funded under a Mentor Award) and one travel award (fall, winter or spring) per academic year (Fall to Summer semester). This policy allows for a greater number of students to receive awards with limited URSA funds.
Below are examples of previously funded opportunities:
- Poster and paper presentations at conferences
- Group or individual competition entries
- Musical and theatrical workshops requiring performances
URSA will NOT fund:
- Attendance to events without participation
- Study Away Opportunities/ UAF Course Travel/ Opportunities for Credit
- Skills workshops without a final product/ creative output
Don't see a similar event type as your opportunity listed above? Please contact the URSA Office to check the funding eligibility of your travel opportunity!
- Your Mentor must complete the URSA Mentor Confirmation form prior to the application deadline.
- Groups need only to submit one application. URSA will only consider one group for each conference or competition.
- Applications must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the event.
- Students must complete a Reflection Form by the end of each award period.
- Final products to be submitted with the reflection form include:
- 1-2 high resolution pictures and/or video from the travel event
IMPORTANT: Failure to submit a reflection or photos will make the student ineligible to future URSA funding.
If no account exists, complete the . Travelers will need to know their fund/org and travel approver. Travel coordinator can be listed as TCSO (uaf-travel@alaska.edu).
Complete the . This provides the Travel Customer Service Office with all the information necessary to enter travel requests and make arrangements on your behalf.
Please upload the award letter to the request, and include pertinent information such as the conference website link, if applicable. You can also upload preferred itineraries and provide any additional information that may be helpful for making arrangements.
All bookings and reimbursements are processed through Concur. You will only be required to login to submit your final expense report, all other action can be taken by a travel coordinator on your behalf. However, if you would like to set up mobile alerts, add travel preferences, mileage programs, TSA Precheck information, etc., you can view the page to learn about the process.
Most hotels/lodging providers require a major debit or credit card to be presented at check in for incidental charges. Please note with debit cards, the cost may be authorized and funds on hold for a period of time (5-7 business days)
Rental agencies generally do not accept third party payment so travelers need to be prepared to pay and seek reimbursement for these costs. Debit cards - the full cost plus deposit may be authorized and funds on hold for a period of time (5-7 business days) .
If there are travel delays/cancellations while in travel status, work with the airline to rebook. Airlines will often provide lodging, transportation and/or meal vouchers when there are cancellations/delays. Please check with an agent at the ticket counter to see how they can assist when you are getting rebooked.
Baggage Fees
Fees vary by airline and by status in airline rewards programs. You may fly out with
no baggage cost and return with baggage fees as a result. Free baggage allowance for Alaska residents on Alaska Airlines, no cost program:
During Business Hours:
UAF Travel Customer Service Office:
907-450- TRIP (8747)
After Hours:
Corporate Travel Management (CTM)
Alaska Team Phone (M-F: 8 am - 5 pm): 907-786-0107
Toll Free - After Hours Emergencies Only: 833-500-4292, please wait for the after hours option - initial message is CTM is closed.
Email: ua@travelctm.com
Apply & manage award
Application and reporting links
Use the links below to download the current request for proposals, submit your application materials, complete mentor confirmation requirements, and access award reflection or reporting forms. Be sure to review all eligibility requirements, required documents, and submission deadlines before applying.