Professional Advancement Travel

A committee composed of faculty, staff, and students will review all applications and make recommendations for funding based on criteria below. Funding levels by group are expected to be in proportion to the number of applications received. 

• Eligibility Criteria
  • Travel Dates: June 1, 2026 through May 14, 2027
  • Applicants may submit one application for a single destination
  • CSUSM Student travelers must be enrolled and in good standing both at the time of applying for funds and during their travel
  • CSUSM Faculty and Stateside non-MPP Staff  travelers must be employed by CSUSM and in good standing at the time of applying for funds and during their travel
  • CSU Travel Policy and CSUSM Procedures must be followed
• How to Apply
  • The application process opens on March 30, 2026
  • All application must be submitted through the InfoReady portal by 5:00 pm PST on Friday, April 13, 2026
  • Application must clearly make the case for professional advancement
  • Supporting PATR Application Document must be included as part of your application
  • Applications that are late or incomplete will not be considered
  • Approved applications will be reviewed by the appropriate committee
• Reviewer Approval Process

  After you submit your application, your designated reviewer will receive an email notification. 

  • Staff applicants: Supervisor
  • Student applicants: Faculty Mentor
  • Faculty applicants: Dean or Department Chair

   

  Why is review required?

  The review process ensures that your supervisor or mentor is informed in advance of any time away from work or classes, and is aware of your professional advancement activity for consideration during performance evaluations.

  What happens next?

  • Reviewers must approve or decline your application
  • All responses must be completed within 3 days of receiving the email notification
  • Applications that are approved will move on to committee review
• Funding Process

  The funding process involves rigorous assessment, collaboration among various stakeholders, and a focus on funding excellence. 

  Committee Review: Committee members are charged with fully funding (up to $2,000) the highest-rated applications across different award categories.

  • Faculty applications: Reviewed with support from the Faculty Center
  • Staff applications: Reviewed with support from the Staff Nomination and Election Committee (SNEC)
  • Student applications: Reviewed by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research (OGSR) in collaboration with ASI representatives

  Travel Funding Distribution: Funds are not transferable and must be used exclusively for the approved travel within the approved time frame 

  Faculty & Staff Travel

  • Travel requests and expenses are processed through Concur 
  • Registration fees must be paid using a CSUSM Universal Card
  • Reimbursement is based on actual, allowable expenses and requires supporting receipts
  • The budget chartfield will be provided and shared with the traveler and department budget analyst

  Student Travel

  • Funding is provided as a reimbursement after approved travel is completed and based on actual, allowable expenses supported by receipts. Reimbursements cannot exceed the total amount awarded and may be less than the awarded amount if submitted receipts do not support the full award
  • Registration fees must be paid in advance with a Universal Card. Contact your department Student Travel, Administrative Coordinator, or OGSR for assistance
  • Your department Student Travel Coordinator will process your claim once receipts are provided. Notify them of any additional funding sources
• PATR Funding Recipient Expectations

  As a condition of receiving PATR funding, recipients will submit a brief written report that summarizes how the funds were used and the outcomes of their activity.

  Recipients are also encouraged to share their experience with the campus community and donors. This may include providing a short thank-you message, photos (if available), or optional social media content that highlights their experience.

FAQ

• Does each group have equal access to the money or will students, the largest group, have a larger percentage of the funds earmarked for them?

  Funding levels by group are expected to be determined by the approximate proportion to the number of applications received from that group.  For example, if applications from students account for 30% of total applications submitted, we intend to award 30% of the funding to students. 

• Can applicants travel while on leave?
  No. If the trip takes place while the faculty/staff member is on leave (e.g., DIPL or Sabbatical), they are not eligible.  
• Are travel advancements available?
  No, advance payment is not available.
• Can funds be transferred to a different person?
  No, funds are not transferable and must be used exclusively for the approved travel.
• Can applicants receive partial funding?
  Evaluators aim to fully fund, up to the maximum of $2000,  the highest rated applications across different categories. This means if an application is asking for $1450.00 and they score highest on the evaluation rubric for their classification, they would receive $1450.00. 
• Are lecture faculty eligible?
  Yes.
• Are FERP employees eligible?
  No.
• International Travel Resources
  The Committee for International Research (CIR) offers valuable resources on their website. Visit: Committee for International Research | Research | CSUSM for more information. 

Thank you!

Thank you to the University Advancement team for their efforts in securing this donation, which makes Professional Advancement Travel possible.