Student Travel Program

Program Overview

The Student Travel Program supports John Jay students attending conferences, competitions, trainings, research presentations, and other approved activities that advance academic or professional development. Students may also request support for approved John Jay or CUNY study-abroad programs.

How Funding Works

Student Travel awards are capped at $1,500 per individual and $5,000 per group (5 or more students). An award is not a cash payment or advance provided directly to the student. Approved funding is used for the specific event listed in your application and may be used to book or pay eligible expenses on your behalf or to reimburse you for approved eligible expenses you paid out of pocket after the required receipts and proof of payment are submitted.

Eligible expenses are limited to registration fees, lodging, and transportation. Food, meals, per diem, and personal expenses are not covered. For approved study-abroad programs, Student Travel funding is limited to transportation costs only.

Awards are event-specific. Funding approved for one activity may only be used for the event identified in the approved application. Any unused portion of an award cannot be transferred, saved, or used for another event or future trip.

Students may receive only one Student Travel award per academic year.

Who Is Eligible

Eligible applicants must be students in good academic standing. As a guide:

• Undergraduate students typically have a 2.5 GPA and at least 30 completed credits.
• Graduate students typically have a 3.0 GPA and at least 12 completed credits.
• First-semester transfer students should submit a transcript from their previous institution showing that they are in good academic standing.
• Students scheduled to graduate before the proposed activity date are generally ineligible unless they provide proof of enrollment in additional coursework.

What Makes a Strong Application

Funding is limited and competitive. Your proposed activity should clearly connect to your coursework, research, career goals, professional development, or official representation of John Jay College.

The activity description is one of the most important parts of the application. Use the Travel Activity Criteria as a guide and explain, in clear and specific terms, how the activity will support your academic or professional development.

How to Apply

Apply by the posted deadlines. A Gmail account is required to submit an application.

Your application must include an itemized budget supported by price quotes for the eligible expenses you are requesting. Additional supporting documents are also required. Review the Student Travel Procedures for the complete list of required documents and formatting requirements.

Applicants should submit a complete application by the applicable deadline. Do not make non-refundable travel purchases until you receive written approval and instructions from the Student Travel Program.

If You Are Approved

If your application is approved, you will receive instructions explaining your award and how approved expenses will be handled.

Depending on the type of expense, the program may arrange or pay for eligible travel costs on your behalf, or you may be authorized to pay an approved expense and request reimbursement. For reimbursable expenses, you must retain itemized receipts and proof of payment and follow the reimbursement instructions provided with your award.

Your award may only be used for the approved activity and eligible expenses identified in your award.

After You Travel

A travel presentation must be submitted within two weeks after the event.

The presentation must:

• Be a PowerPoint presentation with at least 10 slides and captions.
• Capture your overall experience, including what you learned, people you met, and anything significant you learned about the conference, event, institution, or place you visited.
• Be emailed to studenttravel@jjay.cuny.edu.
• Use an email subject line containing your first and last name followed by “Travel Presentation”.

Example subject line: Joe Smith Travel Presentation