State of New York/United University Professions
Joint Labor-Management Committees

INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS PROGRAM GUIDELINES

GUIDELINES FOR PERIOD July 1, 2006 - JUNE 30, 2007

Overview

The Individual Development Awards program is designed to support a variety of professional development activities by employees in the UUP Bargaining Unit. The maximum amount that can be awarded to an applicant for an activity under this program is $1,000. This announcement pertains to the award period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.

Due date - The application deadline for receipt of applications will be Monday, February 26, 2007. Applications should be sent in hard copy (because original signature of applicant is required) to the Grants Development Office, 6th Floor Allen Administration Building. Due to the volume of applications we receive we cannot accept late applications.

The Campus Professional Development Committee will meet by March 15th and award letters will be sent out by March 20, 2007.

Our campus has been allocated $27,727 in funding. Of this amount a minimum of 15% ($4,159) of our funds must be allocated to part-time UUP employees.

Review criteria - review of applications by the Campus Professional Development Committee will take into consideration whether or not the proposed activity will enable the applicant to meet one or more of the criteria (a-e) specified in Article XII, Titles A, B, or C of the Policies of the Board of Trustees concerning employees evaluation and promotion. In addition, the campus committee shall give preference to part-time employees for a minimum of 15 percent of the funds available for award under this program.

Objective

The State of New York/United University Professions Professional Development Committee's Individual Development Awards Program is intended to assist eligible SUNY employees in developing their full professional potential and in preparing for advancement.

Eligibility for Award

Both full-time and part-time employees in the UUP Bargaining Unit are eligible for awards. For full-time employees, the applicant must be in the bargaining unit at the time of the award and during the dates of the proposed activity. Full-time employees who accrue annual leave shall not be required to charge those credits for any activity funded by an Individual Development Award.

All part-time employees are eligible for professional development funds. Those who meet the eligibility tests for 26 week coverage for health benefits will have the same eligibility for individual development awards. Thus, a part-time employee who is eligible for health benefits during the summer is also eligible to be funded for a professional development activity that occurs during the summer whether or not he/she is on the payroll.

The guiding principle of the Individual Development Awards Program is to affect as many members of the bargaining unit as possible. Consequently, employees are eligible for one funded activity per award period.

Campus Priorities

The SUNY Brockport campus committee has established the following priorities (as they have done in the past):

Funds will be distributed equitably between academic, professional, tenured and untenured members of the bargaining unit;
Preference will be given to proposals that clearly indicate how the proposed activities will contribute to the applicant's professional growth (or tenure or promotion);
Due to limited funds preference will be given to applicants who did not receive UUP Individual Development Funds last year (2004-05)
No preference will be given to those who have departmental financial support;
No preference will be given to those presenting as opposed to just attending a conference. But strong justification as to why attendance at the conference is important will be as competitive as presenting;
Applicant's must attach a letter from your supervisor or a colleague that addresses how this activity will benefit the applicant's professional growth.

Examples of Projects or Activities

Only one application will be accepted and only one project or activity may be funded. Projects or activities must fall within the following categories:

Basic, applied or historical research.
Curriculum or instructional material development.
Workshop, seminar, internship or course work not covered by Contract Article 46.
Conference participation or attendance.
Preparation of material for publication.
Artistic or creative endeavors.
Professional reading or independent study.
Other work-related professional development projects or activities.
Please note that our campus committee has not supported tuition reimbursement due to limited funds.

Types of Support

Registration fees for conference or workshop.
Consumable supplies (paper, pens, postage, etc.).
Non-consumable supplies (books, software, etc.).
Travel and related expenses (includes lodging and meals).
Research support (e.g., computer time, network access or support, clerical support).
Equipment lease or purchase (any equipment purchased with Professional Development Committee funds will become the property of the State of New York/State University of New York).

All funding requests must conform with the State Comptroller's Rules and Regulations and limitations contained therein. Specific questions about travel and other items should be addressed to your Campus Fiscal Office. Additional justification for specific items may be requested. Please note that software, books and other non-consumable supplies purchased with Professional Development Committee funds must remain the property of the State of New York/State University of New York.

Application Procedures

Your application must be received by the Grants Development Office, 6th floor Allen Adm. Bldg. by the end of the day on Monday, February 263, 2007. Along with the completed application (attached) the applicant must submit the following information:

An updated brief curriculum vita.
A list of any other grant support for project or activity (if applicable - no preference will be given to those that have other support as per campus priorities).
Be sure to address in your narrtive: a) how this project will contribute to your professional development; b) will you complete the project if you don't receive full support from this grant program; c) if you are attending a conference or workshop with other colleagues from campus please descrive your own particular role in the conference either as a presenter or attendee and how it contributes to your professional development
A letter from your supervisor or a colleague that addresses how this activity will benefit the applicant's professional growth (see campus priorities on page one).
A brochure, announcement or other relevant material describing the program and costs. If material is not yet available, please send information as soon as possible.
Any other supporting documentation.
Be sure to sign the application form attached.
Budget: a) Use state per diem rates in developing budget costs (these can be obtained from the College web page under campus offices - travel); b) itemize budget categories on attached budget form (how did you arrive at that number?)

NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to gather and forward this information to the Campus Professional Development Committee with the application before the deadline. This is a very competitive program. To make sure you application is as competitive as possible be sure to consult the checklist above.

Set Asides for Part-Time Employees

The campus committee has set aside at least 15 percent of our allocation ($4,159) for awards to part-time employees. If applications from part-time employees do not amount to 15 percent of the total fund, then the remainder from the set aside can be reallocated to awards for full-time employees.

Limits Of Support

The maximum amount that can be awarded to an applicant for an activity under this program is $1,000. Due to the competitive nature of this program few applicants receive the full amount. All awards are subject to the State Comptroller's Rules and Regulations and limitations contained therein. An individual may apply only once in each award period.

Reimbursement Procedures

Reimbursement of actual expenditures will be handled through the Campus Fiscal Office in accordance with the State Comptroller's Rules and Regulations and limitations contained therein. Questions regarding rates of reimbursement should be directed to that office. New York State vouchers with accompanying original receipts must be submitted to the Campus Fiscal Office by the recipient within thirty (30) days after completing the project or activity or award notification if the funded project or activity has already been completed. Vouchers and receipts not submitted in a timely manner will result in forfeiture of entitlement to reimbursement.

Reporting and Crediting Requirements

A brief written report on the funded project or activity, including a summary of expenditures, is required by your Campus Professional Development Committee within thirty (30) days of completing the project or activity, or award notification if the funded project or activity has already been completed at the time of the award. Award recipients are required to acknowledge the support of the State of New York/UUP Professional Development Committee as the funding source on all publicity, publications and handout materials, regardless of format, resulting from this award.

Where To Ask Questions

If you have any questions concerning this program please send an email to Colleen Donaldson, Grants Development Director at cdonalds@brockport.edu.

The State of New York/UUP Professional Development Committee does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation in the admission to, access to, or employment in its programs or activities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided on request.

FORMS FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE

Application form