In general, any kind of travel should be scheduled and planned to avoid or minimize interference with graduate student employment as a GA/GTA/GRA. This applies both to business travel (conference, interview, collaboration, etc.) and personal travel (holidays, vacation, etc.) Personal travel should be limited to breaks between semesters. Note that GA/GTA/GRA employments begin weeks before the start of the teaching semester and end weeks after commencement.

If the graduate student travel occurs during a GRA employment period, the travel plans need to be discussed and approved by the graduate student’s adviser before travel plans are finalized.

If the graduate student travel occurs during a GA/GTA employment period, the travel plans need to be discussed and approved by the graduate student’s adviser as well as the faculty directing all affected GA/GTA activities. Graduate student X on GA/GTA employment must find a substitute Y to fill his/her function during the time of travel and demonstrate that the substitution is possible without any overlap conflicts. The requested substitute Y needs to be named. The requested substitute Y must be approved by the faculty directing the GA/GTA employment of traveler X, by the research adviser of substitute Y, and by the faculty directing the GA/GTA employment of Y (if any).

The GA/GTA substitution permissions need to be collected with the online Graduate Student Travel and GA/GTA Substitution Request form. All approvals are required before travel plans are finalized. Failure to do so will be recorded and will reduce eligibility for future GA/GTA employment. 

January 1, 2021

1. You must contact International Affairs and apprise them of your travel plans.  You can do this via e-mail to Amy Smith.

2. International students must work with International Affairs and submit all their required paperwork. This is important as it can affect your visa and re-entry into the United States. Visit the website International Travel on Behalf of S&T.

3. All students must fill out the travel authorization form electronically. For information about the MOCODE & financial source, ask your advisor.

4. Print, sign & submit to your supervisor and then turn it in to Tammy Heldenbrand.

Things to Note: If you travel without submitting your Authorization for Travel first, the university reserves the right to not reimburse as you are in effect traveling without permission. Late submissions will not be accepted. 

1. Receipts for payment can be submitted immediately after being received. Any receipts received via e-mail (e.g., airline tickets, conference registrations, etc.) can be forwarded to Tammy Heldenbrand. 

2. All original receipts must be given to Tammy Heldenbrand, however it is recommended that you make an e-copy or hardcopy for yourself. Cash register receipts must be taped on copier paper (single sided) for filing purposes and will not be accepted otherwise. The receipts should not be stapled, as each individual receipt has to be pulled for scanning. 

3. Receipts for meals must be submitted as itemized. Hotel stays will not be reimbursed until after the stay, when you have the final receipt. If you are staying in an Air BNB, the payment is required prior to stay and the receipts can be submitted beforehand. 

4. The receipts will be attached to the expense report and filed by MOCODE. 

Things to Note:  If you are reimbursed and do not participate, you will have to pay the university back. If the trip is cancelled, you will also have to pay the university back for reimbursements and these will be attributed to the correct MOCODE. No itineraries or estimated expenses will be accepted as proof of payment, all must be in the form of a finalized receipt. Some room should be left on the papers with the receipts attached so that notes can be made.