Other Financial Help

Professional Advancement Grants (PAG) Program

Funding for travel to professional meetings is available to graduate students through the Professional Advancement Grant (PAG) Program of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) and the office of the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate College. Graduate students are permitted one travel PAG per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30 of the following year).

Travel PAG funds may be used for reimbursement of meeting registration fees at conferences, room and board, or travel expenses. The GPSS awards $200 to students who are presenting and $120 to students who are attending, but not presenting. The Department of English may fund on a competitive basis travel for students in English Department graduate majors to conferences at which they are presenters (for example, serving on a panel, presenting a paper, or conducting a workshop). The maximum amount of travel funds will be $500 for Ph.D. students, $400 for M.F.A. students, and $300 for M.A. students.  More details about PAGs and a link to the PAG application form may be found on the Graduate and Professional Student Senate PAGs webpage.

In order to receive funding from the English Department, students MUST apply for PAG funds in advance by submitting an application to the Graduate College no later than two weeks prior to departure (no exceptions). Earlier application is better to ensure funding availability. After completing the PAG application, including signatures, please give a copy of the application and abstract to Nolan McDonald, 259 Ross Hall, to process for departmental support. You will be notified in 2-3 weeks about your funds.

Travel is reimbursed by submitting expenses to Nolan McDonald, 259 Ross Hall, within one month of the last day of travel. You must turn in the original receipts. Travel expenses will not be approved until receipts have been analyzed and approved.

University and federal loans and work-study

The university participates in a number of federally and state sponsored programs. Among those are the National Direct Student Loan and Guaranteed Student Loan programs and the College Work-Study Program. These programs are administered through the ISU Office of Student Financial Aid. For further information contact

Office of Student Financial Aid
0210 Beardshear Hall
(515) 294-2223

Off-campus sources for fellowships, travel, foreign study

The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA) provides help for securing aid outside the university. This service is available to graduate students as well as faculty. Graduate students are encouraged to contact the OSPA for assistance in identifying sources of financial aid. A research-funding library containing source materials is also available. The office has a number of directories that list prizes and awards and that can help graduate students discover both federal and private sources of financial aid for study at the master's degree level, for travel, for study abroad, and for attendance at conferences and institutes. For further information contact grants@iastate.edu or

Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA)
1138 Pearson Hall
(515) 294-5225