Professional development grant

The Academic Staff Council is delighted to inform campus that they have re-appropriated funds so that staff can apply for professional development grants this 2023 - 2024 academic year.  Academic staff will be able to apply for funding for development opportunities. 

Professional development grants enable academic staff to increase their effectiveness by expanding knowledge in their areas of expertise and by refining and developing skills. These grants allow staff to engage in individual professional development, to improve program quality, and to improve institutional effectiveness. 

Timeline for PD Award Allocation

• Application deadline is May 27 for activities between July 1 and October 31.
• Application deadline is October 1 for activities between November 1 and February 28.
• Application deadline is February 1 for activities between March 1 and June 30.

PD Award Application Materials to be Submitted via Forms (see below):

• Applicant Information
• Proposal / Description of Activities Covered by PD Award
• UWL Position Description
• Signed Letter of Support from department chair/unit director
• Details of the activity’s cost by completing the spreadsheet (download a copy and save it with your information)

Application Link

Eligibility

• All academic staff (instructional/non-instructional) with at least a .50 FTE academic year assignments

Fundable Items

• Professional training and development
• Active participation in a conference, such as presenting a paper, poster and/or participating in a workshop.
• Professional development that is directly applicable and relevant to applicant’s professional position and/or department/unit. Activity should have direct impact on improved services to students, staff and/or the institution.
• Fees and tuition for UW System or non-UW System institution courses or for registration fees for workshops, seminars, institutes, etc. (not toward the completion of a degree or academic/professional credential). The applicant must justify and document the need for training.
• Fees for speakers brought to campus to provide presentations or workshops to academic staff with immediate impact on multiple academic staff. Primary focus of event/activity must be training/professional development of academic staff.
• The purchase of required books and supplies for courses or workshops if it can be demonstrated to the Committee that these materials would have substantial use to others who have not participated in this training/development activity.
• Supplies funded remain the property of the University.

Non-fundable items

• Proposals where primary purpose is tuition funding of courses towards the completion of a terminal degree or academic/professional credential
• Leave for formal study
• Salary or payment for duties performed
• Programs or items that are required by the department for the applicant’s position.

1. The following must be included in your Qualtrics survey application:
   1. General Information:
      
      1. Your Name
      2. Position Title and Department
      3. Total Cost for the Development Opportunity 
   2. Proposal, including: 
      1. A complete description of the activity and its objectives including your role in the activity.
      2. How this activity will contribute to your professional development
      3. How this will benefit the university and/or the community
      4. Activity schedule/timeline you will be following.
   3. A current position description
   4. A letter from the department chair/unit director or supervisor indicating support for proposal.  Letter must indicate that the activity is not required for the applicant’s current position.
2. Process
   1. Electronic Submission: Please include all material in survey using the Application Link.
   2. The Professional Development Committee of the Academic Staff Council will review and rank proposals, and may interview candidates. 
   3. All applicants will be notified by e-mail of the committee’s decision.
3. Final Report - after you complete your Professional Development opportunity you will be asked to submit a 1 or 2 PowerPoint slides about your opportunity. Things to include:
   1. Your name and office/department
   2. Name of the conference
   3. Location of the conference (or let us know it was online)
   4. General theme or purpose of the conference (5-20 words)
   5. Answer at least one of the following:
      1. What speakers inspired you? What did they share that was meaningful to you?
      2. What were the key takeaways or important things you learned?
      3. What knowledge did you gain that is already benefitting you and/or campus in some way? How?
   6. Please make the slides visually appealing with graphics, backgrounds, and pictures -- including a pic of yourself at the conference if you'd like. Do NOT include any transitions as these slides will be added to a larger slide deck.