Academic Staff Professional Development

A. Background and Purpose
B. Eligibility
C. Writing Guide
D. Deadlines for Application

A. Background and Purpose:

This program exists specifically to provide grants for professional development, renewal, and retraining of academic staff. Because it is characterized by innovation, the program can provide a variety of forms of support. You are encouraged to discuss ideas with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs staff. Awards under this program will not exceed $1,000 from ORSP. Support for this program has been provided jointly by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and UW System, Office of Academic Affairs.

Three types of activities are supported under this program:

Travel Support: to learn new skills required to meet a present academic challenge or to develop skills and gain experience necessary to assume a different role within the academic community. Travel for workshops and specialized training is allowed under this program; however, tuition will not be provided for credit-bearing courses. Routine travel to professional meetings is not funded; however, specialized workshops or training sessions associated with annual professional meetings may be supported.
Consultant Support: to seek advice or obtain information and services from an expert. Funds may be used to bring consultants to campus and to cover necessary expenses for materials for attendees at on-campus workshops, or to support on-line workshops or consulting.
Project Support: to enable academic staff to implement a project that incorporates significant personal professional development. These projects should lead to the development of new skills, or knowledge that prepares the applicant for career advancement, new assignments, or performance of current assignments with greater expertise. As for all grant programs, any non-expendable materials purchased are the property of the University.

B. Eligibility:

All academic staff with at least a .5 FTE appointment are eligible to apply under this program. Departments and colleges or academic staff units and divisions are expected to contribute to the cost of the proposed professional development activity. Proposals for workshops or other projects will not be funded if the event has taken place prior to the proposal submission.

C. Writing Guide:

The proposal consists of:

The Cover Page (PD Form I)
The Budget Form (PD Form II)
- Applicants must clearly explain and justify all requested expenses
A Narrative (2 to 4 pages in a Word document) addressing each of the following:
- Project synopsis, describing activities pertinent to professional development
- Benefits of the proposed activity to the applicant and to others
- Plan detailing how, when, and to whom information from the activity will be disseminated
- List of the applicant's academic staff professional development awards in the past 5 years

Attach a copy of pertinent parts of the workshop and/or program description, consultant biography, etc., as applicable.

If more than one person is included in the travel request, special justification regarding the need for multiple participants must be provided in the narrative.

D. Deadlines for Application:

Submit your proposal to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by the quarterly deadline dates: September 1, December 1, March 1, June 1, using one of the submission methods below. If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, proposals will be due the next working day.

Electronic submission: Submit one copy of your proposal as an attachment to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (forward it to orsp@uwec.edu with ASPD in the subject line) by the first working day of the quarter. Submit one additional hard copy with required signatures by the same deadline, OR
Hard copy submission: Submit eight copies of your proposal to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by the first working day of the quarter. One copy must contain required signatures.

A decision will be made by the end of the month in which the proposal is submitted. If an opportunity arises that requires funding prior to the next quarterly review cycle, please contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 836-3405 to discuss options available.