We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for SPAA 2026 student travel grants. Please apply by Friday, May 22, AoE, to be considered for travel support.
All students are eligible for SPAA travel grants this year; you do not necessarily have to be enrolled at a U.S. institution. Students enrolled at institutions outside the U.S., regardless of citizenship or visa status, are eligible for funding from ACM. Students enrolled at institutions inside the U.S., regardless of citizenship or visa status, are eligible for funding from ACM and, if available, NSF. The selection process for both funding sources will be handled through a single application.
At this time, we have confirmed ACM funding, but we do not yet know whether NSF support will be available this year. We plan to notify the first batch of awardees around May 26 using the currently available funding. If NSF travel support is later awarded to SPAA, we may make a second round of notifications. All awards, including any awards announced in a later round, will be selected from this same application cycle. Students who wish to be considered for any travel support must apply by the May 22 deadline.
Selection will be based on financial need and degree of participation in the conference. Presenters of papers or posters will receive priority. Since the total funding is limited, each award will cover only a portion of the student’s expenses. Reimbursable expenses include conference registration, airfare, ground transportation, and lodging only.
The grant will likely not cover the full cost of attendance. To be selected, applicants must provide a letter from their advisor verifying that the advisor has funding available to cover the remaining costs of attendance.
For NSF-funded awards, additional reimbursement requirements may apply. For example, flights must be on a U.S. carrier, and receipts must include the last four digits of the credit card used for payment. If you are awarded an NSF travel grant and wish to reimburse flights, you may also be required to book the flight through an approved booking service. Full details will be provided with the award notification. Alternatively, if your non-flight expenses, such as hotel, registration, and ground transportation, are at least the amount you were awarded, you may submit those receipts instead.
After the conference, awardees will submit receipts for reimbursement and a one-page reflection. Reimbursements will be processed up to the amount specified in the award notification. NSF-funded awardees may also be asked to complete additional participation-related tasks, such as scribing talks or writing a summary of their conference experience. These materials may be compiled into reports submitted to NSF.