Application Form

Purpose: The objective of a professional development project is to increase the quality of professional performance including preparation of classroom teaching, scholarly and creative activity, and academic advising. Examples of projects include individual research, refresher or retraining courses, manuscript preparation, preparation for performances and exhibitions, course development and workshops. FDC wishes to encourage joint projects, especially interdisciplinary ones. Individuals in a joint project will be funded separately according to individual guidelines even though only one project application need be submitted.

Eligibility: see "Faculty Eligibility and Categories for Funding" for eligibility and amount of funding allocated for each category.

Expectations & Rules:

• Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis provided that funds remain. Applications are to be received by FDC a minimum of two weeks prior to the project start date in order to be considered in a timely manner.
• For all projects funded in the amount of $501 or more, the Faculty Development Committee requires that a written report be submitted upon project completion. This report should define the results or product and the level to which the stated objectives were obtained. If a scholarly or artistic project is proposed, the product can be a publication, conference paper, exhibit or performance. A product related to teaching could be documented through a course syllabus, teaching materials, pedagogical innovations, or a report of curricular designs.
• If you are requesting funding for multiple projects, you should include a statement with each proposal explaining the relationship between the projects.
• FDC will fund preparation of a scholarly or artistic project. Under special circumstances this could include student researchers or University employees. In such cases university employment policies must be followed. Please check with Terry Bruner if your project will require this type of support.
• FDC will fund costs for photocopying, postage, and telephone charges connected with preliminary work on a research or artistic project (limit $500 in this category).
• The fund may be used for extraordinary publication costs, such as color plates or page charges in refereed journals, but not for the entire publication of a work.
• FDC will fund the purchase of permanent equipment and software for individuals in those cases in which the equipment is to be used to support personal research, which would not ordinarily be supported with departmental or other university funds. The equipment becomes the property of the University. IMS will catalogue the equipment for use by other departments.
• FDC does not purchase computers.
• Faculty members considering projects that involve technology should consult with Faculty Instructional Technology Support (FITS) at least two weeks prior to the application deadline.

Funding Process and Procedure:

Faculty members applying for Professional Development Funds must designate an application category on the application form. The categories are as follows:

• Scholarly and Creative Activity. FDC wants to enrich faculty members’ training and expertise in their fields. Examples could include expenses for research projects such as travel to libraries, preparation of manuscripts, equipment and supplies for the laboratory; preparing for performances and exhibitions, master classes; refresher or retraining courses.
• Teaching Innovation. FDC seeks to encourage innovative approaches to teaching that cannot be supported through other means or expansion into other areas of teaching. A case must be made that the approach, if successful, will have significant impact on, and utility in, classroom teaching. Projects that involve team teaching or cross-disciplinary activities are especially encouraged. Items purchased must be for use in the classroom or laboratory and become the property of DePauw University. Examples could include non-routine software, master-class/workshop expenses, and training courses. The final report must include an assessment of how the materials or training affected the courses you teach.
• On-Campus Workshops. FDC wishes to support on-campus workshops organized by DePauw faculty. Such a workshop may involve a faculty member sharing her or his expertise, or outside experts may be brought in for the workshop. Allowed expenses are stipends for participants (maximum of $500), honorarium for outside consultants, refreshments, materials such as software and copying needed for the workshop. Workshops must be open to a broad range of disciplines. Workshops traditionally funded by other means (e.g. academic computing, competency programs) are not eligible. The final report should include an evaluation by the workshop leader and the participants.
• Extended Off-Campus Workshops. FDC wishes to support off-campus workshops that extend longer than the usual 4 nights/5 days. For short-term workshops with expenses less than $1000, apply thru the Professional Conference and Workshop Fund. (Cannot use both PDF and Professional Workshop funding together for same workshop.)
• Language Immersion. DePauw encourages all faculty members to acquire and sustain the expertise to engage and participate fully with a culture outside of the U.S.A. whose language is not English. Funding is available to gain expertise in a new language and culture and to refresh and deepen an expertise and familiarity already developed, whether or not it relates directly to the faculty member’s main field of teaching and research or to an ongoing professional project. Funding for a language immersion visit must involve a stay in the foreign culture of at least three weeks. A faculty member may be funded for a language immersion only once every four years. The faculty member should plan to participate in a structured program of study of the language, or to work with a credentialed tutor, unless he or she already has significant experience and competence with the target language, as determined by self-report; some examples might be the ability to function well in conversation and understand newspapers, radio, TV, and films. A final narrative report on the experience is required. Funding for a language immersion experience is limited to $2000 per visit and is an alternate use of each faculty member’s regular Professional Development Fund grant eligibility. Such funding may be used to support language study during a sabbatical leave or for a three-week extension of a stay associated with attendance at a professional meeting in a non-English speaking country.

Reporting Process: Reports are normally due for fall projects - the first Monday of the following spring semester, and for spring projects - the first Monday of the following fall semester. Reports should be submitted electronically to. Receipts for expenses and a completed accounting reimbursement voucher worksheet should be submitted to Terry Bruner in a timely manner, normally during the fiscal year.

Advice: Large projects need not be completed during an academic year. Consider using this money to support summer work or for initiating a long-term project. If you are contemplating a long-term project, you should separate your project into discrete units for which reports can be submitted. In this manner long-term or expensive projects can receive more funding than if they were submitted as a single proposal. If faculty members are requesting funding for multiple projects, they should include a statement with each proposal explaining the relationship between the projects.