Funding

Please view the SCOMSA Events Calendar before submitting a request for organizational funding (maximum of 2 events at any time).

ANY funding requests must be submitted at least 3 days prior to the SCOMSA meeting before your event.  The SCOMSA meeting schedule can be found in the “about” tab.

Click here to download the SCOMSA Reimbursement Form (necessary to get reimbursed).  Form must be submitted within 30 days of the event.  Receipts MUST be itemized.  Receipts that are not itemized will NOT be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE: Funding requests for dinners will now be capped at $200 for 50% funding by SCOMSA of $100 max.

Criteria for Budget Allocations

  1. TRAVEL
    1. Organizations Seeking Funding
      1. Each organization that has a National Conference or Conferences is allotted no more than $1500 for travel and expenses for each academic year.  These funds may be used to send a maximum of 5 students.  Each person will received 100% of their expenses up to $300.  The following organizations have National Conferences:
        1. Asian American Medical Association
        2. Association of Latino Medical Students
        3. American Medical Student Association
        4. American Medical Association/Massachusetts Medical Society
        5. Armed Forces Medical Society
        6. Medical Students for Choice
        7. Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Medicine
        8. Maimonides Society
        9. AAMC-Organization of Student Representatives
        10. Phi Delta Epsilon
        11. Primary Care Society (American Association of Family Practice)
        12. South Asian Medical Students Association
        13. Student National Medical Association
      2. Each student is allowed to attend a maximum two trips per year, as discussed below. This includes funds received for individual travel discussed below.
      3. Organizations without National Conferences will be reviewed on a conference-by-conference basis with total funding not to exceed $1500 per academic year.
      4. The annual $1500 is a maximum, and unused portions do not carry over to the next year.
    2. Individuals Seeking Funding
      1. Any student may receive funding for a maximum of two trips per year, with the year initiating June 1st. This includes funds received through organizations as discussed above. Documentation of the conference, such as a brochure, must be included with the budget request.
      2. A student applying for funds to attend any conference sponsored by any of the above mentioned organizations must notify leaders of the organization and request them to apply to SCOMSA on their behalf. Students will not be funded by SCOMSA to attend organization-sponsored conferences except as part of an organization’s overall request.
      3. For individual requests not covered by student organizations, SCOMSA will consider funding in the following two categories:
        1. For individuals presenting research conducted at BUMC. 75% of any travel request, up to a maximum of $550 per student per trip.
        2. For individual’s attending for their own enrichment (i.e. not presenting research)—50% of any travel request, up to a maximum of $300 per student per trip.
      4. SCOMSA will not fund students if:
        1. They are presenting research on behalf of another institution.
        2. They are receiving a stipend or academic credit for the trip.
    3. Requirements for Approval of Funding Requests
      1. A formal written request must be submitted to the SCOMSA Budget Committee at least 3 days before the SCOMSA meeting prior to the date of travel in order to obtain funds. The request form is available on-line at http://www.bumc.bu.edu/scomsa/finance/ and must be completed and approved by the Budget Committee for funding to be provided.
      2. All organizations must submit to SCOMSA (in writing) their guidelines for how they allocate money to attend conferences and their criteria for selecting who is able to attend. Also they must submit a list of students being funded for any conference. Any student who has already received one SCOMSA funding to attend or present at a conference during the same semester will not be funded.
      3. The year will initiate on June 1st and a student will be held to a maximum of two trips until the next calendar year initiates on the subsequent June 1st.
      4. The price ceiling on funding of food will be $25 per person per day.
      5. The price ceiling on funding for accommodations will be $80 per person per day; however it is expected that students will avail of the most economical accommodations in the area and that rooms will be shared when possible.
      6. Only the person whose name is on the hotel reservation will be reimbursed for that amount.
      7. Travel arrangements will be funded to and from Boston ONLY.  No additional flights to other locations will be funded.
      8. All receipts must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs following any trip and any excess funds must be returned. The proper forms found on the subpages of the finance section of the SCOMSA website must all be fully completed before submission. Note that improper use of travel funds is an honor code infraction.
      9. The group of student(s) attending the conference will be required to either submit a newsletter article or prepare a lunchtime talk to inform the student body about the conference.
  2. ON CAMPUS EVENTS
    1. A formal written request must be submitted to the SCOMSA Budget Committee at least 3 days before the SCOMSA meeting prior to the date of the event in order to obtain these funds. The request form is available on the web at http://www.bumc.bu.edu/scomsa/finance and must be completed and approved by the Budget Committee for funding to be provided.
    2. You must check the SCOMSA Events Calendar before submitting a request.  A maximum of 2 events are allowed to occur at the same time.
    3. The maximum an organization is suggested to request for funding a dinner or lunch event is $200. The student/organizations must obtain further funding from other sources. Receipts must be submitted for the full amount of the event, not only the percentage funded by SCOMSA. Note that improper use of funds is an honor code infraction.
    4. You will reimbursed for 50% of your expenses, up to $100 max (50% of the $200 request).
    5. On campus events must be open to, and benefit, the entire Boston University Medical Community.
    6. Every organization is allotted a maximum of $500 for EdMedia expenses.
    7. Lounge Cleaning: Every organization has the opportunity to sign up to clean the student lounge.  Organizations can receive up to $100 per semester that can be used towards any organizational expenses.  Money may not be used for alcohol.  In order to receive this money students must clean the lounge on their designated day, e-mail scomsa@bu.edu upon completion, and receive an approval e-mail.  Requesting this money must be listed on the reimbursement form with the original receipts.  Unused funds do not carry over to the next semester.
Primary teaching affiliate
of BU School of Medicine