Dear Graduate and Professional Students and Faculty Advisors,

Hello. We hope this message finds you well and you are enjoying your summer. We are writing to address the recent confusion in automated messaging regarding the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) Sponsorship Program funding decisions. The GPSA appreciates your patience as we navigate the complexities of the recent funding cycles. 

We understand the frustration and inconvenience caused by the initial denial of funding for applications that scored above 80%. Additionally, there was confusion stemming from some students receiving automated messages indicating an "approval" message that advanced their application to the next stage. This message was misinterpreted as "approval" of funding, which led several students to proceed with making travel arrangements before receiving the official letter outlining a funding decision. 

Upon careful review of this program, the funding parameters, and in light of the technical glitches that lead to much confusion, the GPSA will be reallocating its resources to fund eligible applications from the March and April Cycles that scored 80% or higher. This action reflects our commitment to addressing the needs of our student community. We acknowledge that some students are their faculty advisors may have already made alternative arrangements or canceled their activities due to the initial funding decisions. Please reach out to us to explore options for students who find themselves in this situation.

We deeply apologize for the confusion and frustration this situation has caused. We understand the impact it has had on our fellow students, and we are committed to finding appropriate solutions. As we move forward, we are diligently reviewing our processes and procedures to provide better clarity, governance, and align expectations. These considerations will be openly discussed at our upcoming meetings. 

In the coming days, the GPSA Sponsorship Committee Chair will be sending out decision letters to applicants from the March and April application cycles reflecting the approval of applications that scored 80% or above.

 Thank you for your partnership as we work through the challenges of trying to prioritize funding for an overwhelming number of applicants for an increasingly limited amount of funding. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are dedicated to supporting you throughout this process. Please be assured, we are implementing long-term measures to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. 

If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to GPSA.