Professional Development Grants

• Overview
• Award Cycles and Deadlines
• Purpose
• Eligibility and Funding Criteria
• Application Process and Requirements
• Post-Development Activity Reports and Presentation
• Questions

Note: New applications will be accepted after January 1, 2008 for grant funds to be applied during the 2nd half of the 2007-2008 academic year.

Overview

Professional development grants offer the opportunity to participate in professional activities beyond DU. Grants are available to defray the cost of registration fees at conferences, workshops or seminars in combination with departmental funding.

DU Training and Development Advisory Group awards professional development grants on a competitive basis to any professional or support staff member of the DU community twice annually. Grant funds may be awarded only to individuals for a specific development activity, not to departments and not for general development.

Specific eligibility and application criteria must be met in order for a proposal to be considered. Individuals and managers must also be willing to commit to post-development reports.

Professional Development Grant Award Cycles and Deadlines

There are two categories of awards with different deadline criteria and funding limits:

1. Professional Skills Grants may be awarded up to $200. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year a minimum of four weeks prior to the event. Funds must be used by June 30th. Up to seven Professional Skills Grants may be awarded annually.
Click here to Download Professional Skills Grant Application Form (.pdf)
2. Initiative Grants may be awarded from $200 to $500. There are two grant award cycles during each calendar year. Up to three Initiative Grants may be awarded annually.

Tentative annual application submission deadlines are:

• October 1 - applicants will be notified by mid-November; funds will be available for use between February1st and June 30th
• May 1 - applicants will be notified by mid-June; funds will be available for use between August 1st and January 31st

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

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Purpose

The intent of this program is to support professional development activities that enable individuals and departments to assist the University of Denver achieve its mission and strategic goals.

Development opportunities might include:

• Participation in workshops, seminars or conferences
• Participation in courses not offered within the University of Denver

This program is intended to complement - not replace - departmental funding of professional development.

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Eligibility and Funding Criteria

Funding Eligibility

Professional development grant funds are available on a competitive basis to any professional or support staff member of the DU community. Grant funds may be awarded only to individuals for a specific development activity, not to departments and not for general development.

In order to be considered for professional development grant funds, the individual and their department head or manager must complete application criteria and commit to post-development reports.

Funding Criteria

Professional development grant funds may be used ONLY to defray the cost of registration fees. Funds may not be used to cover travel, hotel, meal, or other incidental expenses associated with the development activity.

The department must arrange funding for at least fifty percent (50%) of the registration fees and all travel or other costs associated with the event. Applicants may request professional development grants for up to fifty percent (50%) of the total event registration fee. Grant awards will not exceed $500.

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Application Process and Requirements

Professional development grants are awarded on a competitive basis. To be considered for a development grant, applicants and their department heads or managers must submit the first two pages of the application form, including:

1. A signed proposal outlining how the funds will be used
2. The relevance of the development activity to the University's strategic goals (the eleven UPAC goals are online at www.du.edu/upac)
3. A plan for incorporating learning on the job upon completion of the activity
4. Costs of the development activity - including registration fees, parking, estimated travel and other costs (Travel Expense Report Form may be obtained from the Office of Sponsored Programs web site at www.du.edu/osp)
5. other documentation as outlined on the application form

The documentation must be submitted to Human Resources, Training and Development by deadline (see below cycles). The DU Training and Development Advisory Group reviews applications, determines the funding awards, and notifies applicants.

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Post-Development Activity Reports

Post-development activity report from the participant, and statements from the department head or manager of how the development activity benefited the department following the event are due four weeks after the participant's return to campus. The participant and their department head/manager must complete the "Professional Development Activity Report" portion of the application form and submit it along with the "Background Information" and "Request for Grant Funding" portions to Human Resources.

All reports will be retained on file and used for future referenceby potential participants, their managers, members of the Training and Development Advisory or Steering Groups, or other members of the DU community.

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Questions?

Contact Aimee Neu, Asst. Human Resources Director for Organizational Effectiveness, at aimee.neu@du.edu or call 303.871.3103 for more information.

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