DUSP Student Council - Funding info
Department conference stipends
The department offers a stipends to cover costs related to attending a conference. MCPs can receive one stipend per year, PhDs two. Stipends are available per fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Here are the stipends available:
Non-resident PhDs are ineligible for stipends, however all PhDs are considered "resident students" during the summer. They are therefore eligible for stipends to attend/present at conferences during summer months. This is an MIT policy, not a departmental policy.
- travel to domestic conference: $300
- presenting paper at a domestic conference: $500
- travel to international conference: $500
- presenting paper at an international conference: $750
The process:
- At least one week prior to your departure, fill out a Student Travel Application Form and turn it in to Janine Marchese in Headquarters (7-337). All forms available at Headquarters.
- You will receive notice from Janine regarding the approval of your request.
- Save all receipts.
- Upon your return, fill out a Travel Voucher Form attaching all original receipts to the form. Again, turn it in to Janine.
- You will receive a check in the mail reimbursing you for the conference expenses; process time is approximately two weeks.
Questions
What does the stipend cover?The stipend covers legitimate conferences expenses: travel, registration, lodging and meals. MIT will not reimburse gifts, alcohol or entertainment expenses.
Can I draw on my stipend throughout the year?Not at this time; do your best to get the biggest bang for your buck. For example, if you're planning to attend two conferences this year, one with costs totaling $30 and the other totaling $300, apply the stipend to the second conference (and get reimbursed the full $250).
I didn't use my stipend last year, do I get double the money this year?No, unused stipends do not roll over to the next fiscal year.
DSC funding for events
Each year, the DSC is allocated a budget for student activities within the department. Last year, our budget each semester was just over $5,000. Most of these funds are spent to support recurring events and activities organized by the DSC, such as ice cream vouchers for the new student buddy program, the Town Halls, several department-wide parties, periodic all-student meetings, thesis grab bags and thesis throwdown prizes, thesis advice lunch, and the DUSP-wide picnic, among others. DSC funds also pay for communal goods for the Common Room (such as our new large fridge and shelves, cleaning supplies, power strips, etc.).
The remainder of the funds are allocated by DSC to student-organized activities on a rolling basis. We encourage your email submissions of requests for funding!
The number of DUSP students to whom the activity or event is targeted will be considered in DSC's decision-making process (i.e., activities or other expenses involving or benefiting a greater percentage of DUSPers will in general be favored over activities of interest or relevance to only a small fraction of students). However, we will consider each request on a case by case basis. Please note that the DSC cannot fund alcohol for events.
Past projects funded by the DSC have included:
- Speaker series
- Student dinners
- Events with other departments in the School of Architecture and Planning, or across the Institute
- Joint DSC-SCC events
- Projects or events for DUSP student organizations
- Department trips to Boston-area events
- Study breaks
- Social gatherings and community-building activities throughout the term
Application form
To apply for funding, please email dsc@mit.edu with the following details:
- What is the date of the event/project?
- By what date do you require any DSC funds?
- How much funding do you request from the DSC?
- What is the total financial cost of your event or project?
- Have you sought funding from any other sources? What was the outcome?
- Describe specifically how funding from DSC will be used.
- How will your event or project involve and benefit DUSP students?
Timeline for response from DSC
Our regular weekly meeting time this semester is on Monday evenings. All funding requests received over the course of the previous week will be discussed and voted on at these meetings, and requesters will be notified by the following day of the decision taken regarding their request. Please plan for this accordingly when submitting funding requests. Please note that, because funding requests are considered on a rolling basis, we advise you to submit a request as soon as you have the necessary information together even if the funds would not be needed until later in the semester.
Information on past use of DSC funds
We are currently in the process of putting in place measures to ensure full transparency of the use of all DSC funds. This information will be provided soon on the DSC website, http://web.mit.edu/dusp/dsc/funding.htm. Bear with us in the meantime!
Contacting DSC
Your feedback on past DSC-funded or sponsored activities, as well as thoughts and ideas for how you would like to see our collective money spent (even if not yet at a funding request stage), are highly encouraged at any time. We are also happy to work with you to develop an idea into a funding proposal.
You can also send us a message through our anonymous emailer located on the DSC website: http://web.mit.edu/dusp/dsc/anon.htm
<< DSC home