Career Development Fund

*We have reached 55% allocation of the Career Development Fund and have closed
applications for the semester.
Per SGA policy we must reserve 45% allocation for the spring semester.
Please check back at the start of the spring semester to apply.

The Career Development Fund provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students planning to attend events that directly support their academic and research development. Funding is for students attending conferences, workshops, or training that are closely aligned with their major or research focus. 

Purpose and Limitations of Career Development Fund:

Each academic year, a portion of the Student Activity Fee collected from all students is placed into the CDF, to support any currently enrolled Georgia Tech undergraduate or graduate student who plans to attend events, workshops, and conferences for career development purposes. Limitations apply to where and how this money can be used. The Vice President of Conference Funds oversees the distribution of the funds. 

Monies from this fund may be used to cover the costs of registration, airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and food.  

A maximum award of up to $300.00 will be allowed to a student each fiscal year (July 1st to June 30th). If you do not receive the full $300.00 the first time you apply during a fiscal year, you may apply for the remainder should you present at a second conference during the same fiscal year (e.g., If you receive $150 for a conference in August, you may apply to receive $150 or the second conference in April). 

 The Career Development Fund provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students planning to attend events that directly support their academic and research development. Funding is for students attending conferences, workshops, or training that are closely aligned with their major or research focus. 

 Examples of appropriate use of the fund: 

  1. Individual students traveling to conferences or career events that are directly related to their major or research interests. 
  2. Students attending events that support their professional development only when clearly tied to their academic path. Funding in this category is limited to 20 students per conference. 
    • Examples of such events include National conferences or chapter meetings for organizations such as SWE (Society of Women Engineers), NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers), and similar. 
  3. Travel that provides a clear benefit to Georgia Tech and includes a strong explanation of how the event contributes to both the student’s and the Institute’s development. 

The Career Development Fund does NOT support: 

1. Professional certifications.  

2. Personal development events that lack a strong connection to the student’s academic or research goals. 

3. Travel unrelated to a student’s major, research, or Georgia Tech-affiliated programs. 

4. Recreational or social events, even if hosted by professional organizations. 

5. Conferences attended primarily for general networking or job searching.  

Note: Students cannot apply for CDF if they are presenting research at a conference. Check the conference fund for that.

Application Procedure:

You are required to  provide correct details in the application.  

Any expense paid prior to the email approval sent to you by askgcf@gatech.edu that describes the awarding of the fund to you, after you have submitted your application, will not be reimbursed.   

Pre-event: Fill out an application for a CDF (linked here). PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE IMPORTANT NOTES SECTION ON THE APPLICATION PAGE! 

  • Be sure to include any outside funding you will receive to attend the conference.  
  • Applications are due 30 days prior to the departure date for travel. Students are highly encouraged to submit applications 45 days prior to departure. Applications should be completed via the online form available on the SGA website. Please allow 10-14 business days for application processing. 
  • Once the Vice President of Conference Funds reviews your application, notification of the award or rejection will be sent to you through email. We will use email to inform you of any missing information or for any other correspondence. 
  • If you are a GT employee, do not complete a Spend Authorization until you receive an email confirmation of your fund award from askgcf@gatech.edu . 
  • If you submit an application in the month of (May and June), please be aware that your application may be rejected, at that time, due to your close completion of application near close-out time of the fiscal year. 

Post-event: You have to file an expense report on Workday Financials (check Techworks. Expense reports are due 21 days following your return date. 

  • Submit expense report along with the following items: 
  • a copy of the event brochure showing registration fees, 
  • bank statement of money debited, 
  • verification of travel-related costs (airfare, hotel cost, and tax, etc.), 
  • a copy of the acceptance letter or event brochure/schedule verifying event participation. 
  • conference agenda: what happened/discussed at the conference (you might find it on the conference website) 

Required Documents: 

  • Copy of conference brochure showing registration fees or 
  • Estimation of travel-related costs (airfare, hotel cost, and tax, etc.) 

Supporting Link: 

Only after completing your application, if you have received an email approval sent to you by askgcf@gatech.edu that describes the awarding of the fund to you, use this link to help you complete both the Spend Authorization and Expense Report.  

(Only use this link to help you, when you have both completed your online application and received an awarding email from askgcf@gatech.edu for the fund).