MTSU Department of Psychology

Psychology Student Advancement Grant

The Psychology Student Advancement Grant (PSAG) has been established to fund student travel, undergraduate research, and faculty-led events. Student travel to conferences to present research is eligible for up to $500 reimbursement from PSAG if other university funds are available, and up to $750 if no other university funds are available. For research-related travel, undergraduate students are encouraged to apply to the URECA Travel Fund (SOAR) (https://urc.mtsu.edu/ureca-travel/) if they have previously received a URECA grant. Graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Graduate School for travel funds (https://www.mtsu.edu/graduate/forms.php). Undergraduate students conducting research or presenting research related to their Honor’s thesis are encouraged to contact the Honors College for additional funding opportunities.

In addition to funding research-related travel, PSAG also supports undergraduate student travel to attend graduate school interviews (up to $250 reimbursement) and undergraduate student research supplies (up to $250 per project regardless of the number of students involved).

The following charts summarize the steps to obtain and utilize PSAG funding depending on the type of funding requested. Below you will find more detailed information describing each of these steps.

STUDENT FUNDING

To Apply for PSAG Funding:

1. Fill out the PSAG application below.

PSAG- Student Application

The student application for PSAG can be used to apply for research-related travel, travel to graduate school interviews, and funds for undergraduate research project supplies. The application should be submitted at least two weeks in advance of travel or ordering research supplies. For travel, the application will ask that you describe the purpose of your travel (to present research at a conference or attend a graduate program interview) and all your anticipated expenses. Please list all expenses even if they exceed the amount that may be covered by PSAG. You may include anticipated taxi / rideshare services, taxes, or other anticipated costs as outlined on page 2 of the application. Anticipated expenses should be consistent across MTSU travel fund applications (e.g. – a student’s anticipated expenses listed on their URECA travel application and their PSAG application should match). For undergraduate research supplies, page 2 of the application may be left blank.

NOTE: The form may not work correctly if opened in a web browser. Please open in Adobe instead.

2. Ensure the application is signed.

Both you and your faculty mentor should sign page 3 of the application. Your faculty mentor may be the faculty member overseeing your research or your faculty advisor.

3. Include receipts with your application.

Please scan in all receipts that you have at the time of application. Receipts should show your name, the date, the vendor or company (e.g. – American Airlines), and the amount paid (not just the amount due). Acceptance letters to conferences or invitations to interview should also be included. Include all scanned receipts and documents with the application in one PDF document (see this website for assistance in combining PDF docs: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/merge-pdf.html).

PLEASE NOTE: Funding will be applied via reimbursement after you complete your travel. All receipts will need to be submitted after you have returned to be reimbursed up to the approved amount.

4. Submit your application via email.

Submit your application materials to Dr. Tiffany Rogers at tiffany.rogers@mtsu.edu. You may send any questions you have about the application process to this email as well.

After PSAG Funding Approval:

Travel Funding

1. Fill out the Travel Authorization Request below.

If your PSAG application has been approved for funding prior to travel, you should receive an email containing the approved application and the award amount. You will then need to submit the Travel Authorization Request (available here: https://boffice.mtsu.edu/travel/) to complete the approval process. In the email containing your notice of approval, you will also receive an instruction page for how to fill out the Travel Authorization Request. NOTE: For graduate student applications, you will also include your College of Graduate Studies Travel Fund application in the PDF with this form.

2. Include all receipts with the Travel Authorization Request.

Current receipts (the same as was submitted with the PSAG form) as well as the signed and approved PSAG application should be combined into one PDF and attached to this form.

3. Submit your Travel Authorization Request via Dynamic Forms.

The Travel Authorization must be completed and signed by all appropriate parties prior to the anticipated travel dates. After the Travel Authorization Form is completed, you should receive a confirmation email that includes a Travel Authorization (TA) number. Keep this for your records as you will need this number for completing the Travel Expenses Claim after your return from travel.

Undergraduate Research Supply Funding

1. Receive approval email.

If your PSAG application has been approved for undergraduate research supply funding, you and your research mentor will receive a confirmation email provided the approved amount. You and your mentor can then move forward to order supplies.

2. Order undergraduate research project supplies.

Your research mentor can send quotes for supplies and any other relevant information to CoTonya Malone at cotonya.malone@mtsu.edu for purchasing.

After Returning from Travel:

1. Fill out the Travel Expense Claim Form.

After returning from travel, you can apply for reimbursement up to the approved amount by filling out the Travel Expense Claim (available here: https://boffice.mtsu.edu/travel/). This form must be filled out within 30 days of returning from travel. When filling out this form, be sure that your MTSU mailing address listed in Pipeline is up to date as the Pipeline should match the address on the Travel Expense Claim form and it will be the location to which your reimbursement check is sent.

2. Include all receipts with the Travel Expense Claim Form.

Please scan in all receipts for all expenses incurred during your travel. Receipts should show your name, the date, the vendor or company (e.g. – American Airlines), and the amount paid (not just the amount due). Include your scanned receipts and your approved PSAG application in one PDF document.

3. Submit your Travel Expense Claim Form via Dynamic Forms.

After the Travel Expense Claim Form is submitted and signed by all appropriate parties, you should receive a confirmation email. Be sure to include all approvers and funding amounts for all funding sources.

For Faculty Mentors of Travelling Students:

Please have students directly access this website for instructions and forms as not all MTSU travel forms and policies are the same.
Please encourage students to include all expenses (including meals and anticipated expenses) on their application. This helps the committee overseeing the funds to identify when travel funding limits should be adjusted over time.
Please encourage students to turn in all receipts from any expenses prior to travel with the PSAG application and Travel Authorization Form.
Please encourage students to keep all receipts so that reimbursement can be issued via the Travel Expense Claim Form upon return.