PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

Professional Development Award Guidelines

The Women’s Forum of the University System of Maryland (USM) recognizes and fosters the achievements of faculty, students, and staff within the System through the provision of monetary awards to promote research, education and professional development.

Purpose

Women’s Forum Professional Development Awards provide funds to eligible staff members currently employed at USM institutions to encourage and enable them to pursue training and/or professional development activities to enhance current job skills and/or seek career advancement. Funds can be used for non-credit courses, conferences, etc, but cannot be used for university courses leading towards degrees. Individuals interested in obtaining assistance for credit bearing courses should check with their human resources office to determine eligibility for tuition remission. Individuals who do not qualify for tuition remission should consider applying for the Women’s Forum Scholarship. Note that individuals may apply for Women's Forum Professional Development Awards regardless of sex, race, color, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. All student scholarships and faculty research awarded by the foundation are available to men and women.

Funding

Funding decisions are made on an ongoing first-come first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Six-month periods run August 1 to January 31 and February 1 to July 31. Maximum award amount is $500. The Treasurer of the USM Women’s Forum Executive Committee will disburse awards.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for professional development funds, the applicant must:

• Be a permanent or contingent full or part time staff member (students and faculty are not eligible)
• Be employed at a USM institution for at least 1 year
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US
• Submit a completed request form with accompanying documents

Note that only one application per person will be considered in any one six month period and that an applicant may receive only one award. Women’s Forum Executive Committee Members are ineligible to apply.

Review Process
Applicants shall complete a request form and forward to the Professional Development Awards Committee for consideration. This committee will review requests on an ongoing basis. Completed applications along with supporting documentation must be received no later than January 31 and July 31.

The USM Women’s Forum Professional Development Awards Committee, made up of at least three Women’s Forum Committee members, will evaluate each eligible application based upon the application materials described below. Special consideration will be given to single parents and those that demonstrate significant need and/or show that their work specifically contributes to issues that impact women. The Professional Development Committee Chair will notify applicants of funding decisions within 5 weeks of the date of the receipt of the application.
 

Building a Better Tomorrow Today

17th Annual Conference
November 13, 2008
Sheraton Columbia
10207 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044
410 730-3900

Apply for Scholarships today!
Deadline: June 30, 2008

Awards