The Graduate Funding Payment (GFP) process (formally called the “GSPIP process”) is the process that pays graduate students who have received scholarships and funding through various scholarships and funding from researchers.

$24,000,000 of graduate student funding from various funding programs and researchers is processed each year through this process. Graduate funding supports 1000-1400 graduate research students a term in 78 graduate programs across Dalhousie University.

The Graduate Funding Payment process is currently a highly manual, non-transparent and paper based process. The main objective of this process review is to ensure timely disbursement of funding to graduate students while streamlining the process for improved efficiencies.

For more than ten years, all involved in the Graduate Funding Payment process have expressed the need for the process to be reviewed and improved.   Although the goal is an improved and more open and efficient process for all involved, students are the key group. Concerns and complaints of payment and process issues, and not easily understood information and details continues to be an ongoing issue. As this project aligns with Dalhousie’s Strategic Priority 5.7 to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of administrative and operational processes aligned with our academic mission, we are pleased this process was chosen to be reviewed.

Benefits of an improved process:

~ Improved student service and experience

~ Streamlined modern online processes and approvals

~ Improved timely disbursement of funding

~ Reduced errors

~ Increased understanding and awareness of payment and process information

~ Ease of access of data and information for students, staff and faculty

~ Improve accounting errors experienced by departments and/or researchers

~ Reduced operational costs; Reduced repetitive and non-essential activities

~ Improved available time for value-add activities that contribute more effectively to student experience and Dalhousie University

~ Reduced carbon footprint by eliminating paper processes and transportation