ºìÐÓÖ±²¥app

Skip To Content Skip To Menu Skip To Footer

Professional Development Projects

Professional Development Projects at Dickinson

Photograph in Psychology Department

What is a Professional Development project?

The purpose of Professional Development projects is to help faculty develop new knowledge, expertise, or skills. This may include specialized training, attendance at workshops or seminars, or attendance at other programs for the purpose of learning new skills or techniques to foster pedagogic or curricular improvements or improve scholarly projects.

Please note, however, that this funding is not intended to support the pursuit of a degree. 

What criteria are used to determine funding?

Preference is given to projects that will directly enhance the applicant's teaching or research.  Professional development to enhance scholarship requires an explanation of the intended research application (a 1-2 page narrative). R&D also looks to the ancestry of the project. The applicant's previous history of grant applications should indicate the ability to accomplish what was promised, to use awarded funds prudently, and to file final reports as required. Development projects are not funded for emeriti faculty. (Please note:  professional development for administrative projects are not handled by R&D).

You are strongly encouraged to apply for external (non-Dickinson) funding for all R&D projects. Please contact the Corporate, Foundation and Government Support Office for more information.

How are these projects supported?

R&D provides funding for expenses, including travel, materials, and registration fees. Funding is limited to $1,500. A proposal explaining how the professional development experience will enhance the faculty members' teaching and/or research is required.  A full agenda or curriculum plan for proposed professional development activities must be included in this narrative. R&D cannot consider funding requests that do not provide these materials.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but please submit all expenses for a single project at the same time.

For instructions on reporting, please visit Expense Reporting and Narrative Reports

Resources to support this activity are also available at:

Note that the Center for Sustainability also offers small grants for Professional Development Projects relating to sustainability. Please visit Sustainability Education Funding