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Professional Development Support Program for Academic Specialists - Description

Frequently Asked Questions
Application - View/Download/Fill PDF version
Application -  View/Download/Fill WORD version

2009-10 Program Description

The Professional Development Support Program provides eligible specialists with support to participate in credit courses, seminars, workshops, short courses, and other short-term training programs. The program is funded with an annual allocation of $100,000.  Funding from this program is not intended to replace support normally provided by units for professional meetings, programs, and other activities [see Academic Specialist Handbook].

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis (as long as funds are available) for courses, programs, etc., that take place during the period August 16, 2009 through August 15, 2010.

Applications will be evaluated by the Office of the Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources in accordance with the selection guidelines/principles below.

Eligibility/Application Criteria:

• All academic specialists with fixed term, probationary, or continuing appointment status and who have a minimum of 24 FTE (full-time equivalent) university service months at the time of application and are appointed 50% time or more are eligible to apply.
• Part-time academic specialists (less than 100% time) are eligible for support on a proportional basis to employment percentage.
• For credit courses, eligible academic specialists must be admitted to the institution where the credit course(s) are offered and must achieve a grade of 2.0 or better.
• Eligible academic specialists must have an active appointment when the course/training begins.
• Applications must include the following:
  • Course information (see application form).
  • Statement of professional benefit that indicates importance/relevance of course, workshop, etc., to the unit and to the specialist.
  • Unit approval, including arrangements for release time or other unit support as appropriate.

Eligible Types of Courses:

• Job-related.
• Degree-related.
• Career/professional development related to professional growth.
• Courses may include credit/non-credit courses, seminars, workshops, short courses, or other short-term training programs.
• Credit courses may be on- or off-campus and may be taken from any accredited educational institution.
• Course fees and the MSU matriculation fee are eligible for reimbursement.
• NOT COVERED: Travel, subsistence, and professional membership costs.

Selection Guidelines/Principles

Thresholds and limits:

• Applications are accepted on a continuous basis as long as funds remain available.  They will be reviewed in the order received.
• Credit courses are limited to four (4) credits per semester with a maximum of  twelve (12) credits per academic year at the MSU rate corresponding to the student's academic level.
• Reimbursement for non-credit courses not to exceed $1,000 per academic year.
• Credit and non-credit benefits are coordinated and may not exceed a total maximum of the equivalent of twelve (12) credits per academic year at the prevailing MSU resident Lifelong Education rate.

Selection criteria will include (in priority order):

1. Relevance of proposed professional development to university, employing unit, and individual (as reflected in statement of benefit).
2. Number of FTE service months at MSU.

Application Review

Applications will be reviewed by the Office of the Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources.  In special cases where it is not clear that the request meets program requirements and rules, a subcommittee from the Academic Specialist Advisory Committee will be consulted.

Program Evaluation

The program will be reviewed every five years to assess accomplishments, impacts, and outcomes.  The next review will occur during 2009-10.

Questions?

Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for additional information and program requirements. If your question is not addressed by the FAQs, please contact Vanessa Pollok, Faculty and Organizational Devleopment, 432-1185, or fodexsec@msu.edu.