Library Professional Development

Process for the Professional Development Funding Application

 

Timeframe: This new process will be on the fiscal quarter system and applications are due 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter.

 

Due Dates FY22:

Q1: June 4th

Q2: Aug 18th

Q3: Nov 17th

Q4: Feb 16th

• Q1 : July 1st - Sept 30th
• Q2 : Oct 1st - Dec 31st
• Q3 : Jan 1st - March 31st
• Q4 : April 1st - June 30th

The Committee will meet the following Wednesday to approve/disapprove applications. New applications will be sent out for the following quarter shortly there after.

 

Process:   Faculty and Staff will be emailed unique links to the funding application each quarter. This unique link will allow for the automatic save and retention of their application data and will be accessible for 3 months. Once Faculty and Staff submit their application, their supervisors will be automatically sent an email with a link that will allow for applications to be reviewed and signed for approval. The Committee advises against making any bookings until your application has been approved.

 

• Do not prepay; all approved expenses will be paid through the administrative office. Lodging can only be paid for by check, but if the only method available is by Credit Card then contact the administrative office as soon as possible. Once the application has been completed, employees will get a confirmation email with a link to a Feedback form to be completed before the next quarter.

 

• If your application has been approved it is important that you have your registration sent in on time to avoid late registration as well as issues regarding all other travel arrangements. The difference in cost from your approved estimate as a result of late registration will be adjusted in other parts of your funding request that may lead to some out-of-pocket cost.

 

• A Webinar & Online Course Training Application has been created to better accommodate specific funding request that become available with short notice and which only require registration cost, no travel, etc. This must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to your webinar or online course and the application will be provided both in the Professional Development Funding Application and the quarterly emails sent out.

 

• If you are aware of an event you would like the Professional Development Committee to plan for funding early and it ranks high on your priority then please contact the committee chair, Quechyan.Cummings@gcsu.edu, for an advanced quarter application. If you need to revise/modify your application before the committee approves, contact the committee chair.

 

• Approved funding for requested fields must be applied to those categories. What was included in your approved application will be what is funded; any additional activities after the fact will not be funded. If you’re considering going to a pre-conference or the like, account for that in your application.

 

• You are expected to be a responsible steward of state funds and considerate of your colleagues’ Professional Development needs by minimizing travel costs (ie. taking advantage of group rates, etc.).

 

Guidelines:   Funding is intended to develop an individual’s professional and/or academic goals and encompasses attending conferences, workshops, events, seminars, and the pursuit of Continuing Education credits.

• Highest level of consideration: Untenured Faculty presenting, serving as chairs/officers or participating in panels etc. and/or Faculty and Staff needing professional development to improve performance.
• Second level of consideration: Untenured Faculty who need the request to further their efforts in completing their promotion/tenure requirements.
• Third level of consideration: (Un)tenured Faculty and Staff who currently need the funds to participate in their committee memberships, boards etc.
• Fourth level of consideration will be given to those that are pursuing SMART goals or obtaining Continuing Education credits.
• The lowest level of consideration will be given to those who do not meet any of the 4 above levels.

 

Appeals: Faculty and staff members can fill out an Appeals Form for further consideration up to 2 weeks from the date the application was denied. Applications that did not meet the deadline and directions will not be considered for review. It is recommended that there be some cost/priority change between your initial application and your appeal. The form will be attached to your confirmation email after the completion of your application. The Professional Development Committee can hold an emergency meeting to review the appeal and either approve or deny it.

Feedback Form: Completing the Feedback form is a requirement to be eligible for funding in the following quarters. This form should be completed preferably after your event or by the end of each quarter that funding for an event was used. If funding will be needed in back-to-back quarters then this form needs to be completed as soon as possible as application approvals are discussed the following Wednesday of the quarter’s due date. The link to it will be provided in the confirmation and invite emails for the Funding Application and its completion will be a part of the rubric used by the committee when approving or disapproving applications.

Staff Council Funding: There is funding available for staff through Staff Council and the application form will present this information first. Staff will then have a choice if they still need additional funding from the library and can continue through the funding application. There will also be a document submission field to attach the Staff Council Funding Application so the committee will have it available for our records and be able to keep track if staff have already used those funds or if they are still at their disposal. Staff are to complete the Staff Funding Application and then attach it to the Professional Development Funding Application and send to their supervisor. Once approved, Brittnee Robinson will send all Staff Funding Applications off together. Staff Funding is broken into 2 six month periods, from Jan-June and from July-Dec, and so in that window, staff would have the availability of those funds.

 

If your application was approved: You will receive an email notifying you that your application, or portions of it, will be funded. A link will be provided in this email for you to submit the necessary documents for your event. You can also use the link provided here.

 

 

 

 Library faculty may not use professional development money to pay for personal memberships to professional organizations.