Professional Development
These funds are intended to support professional development activities such as the dissemination of creative work or scholarship, and to be aligned with college priorities.
Professional Development Funds Policy for 2023-2024
In the 2023-2024 academic year, Simmons has committed to making available $900 in professional development funding for each full-time and proportional faculty member.
We have also set aside some small additional funds at the College level for specific, well-justified requests that require more than $900 (examples might include presenting additional papers at conferences, or pedagogical activities that are particularly aligned with department/College/University priorities). Those requests should be submitted using the same process below.
Eligible Activities and Expenses
Full-time and proportional faculty may apply for up to $900 of funding to support eligible activities, including:
- Conference registration, fees, and related travel
- Individual professional memberships and licensures related to the faculty's field of academia
- Access to major scholarly publications and databases not available through the Library
- Purchase of research materials or support for research activities that are otherwise unavailable
- Continuing education courses, workshops, or certifications
Professional development funds cannot be used to supplement an academic unit's operating budget and may not be used to cover student salaries, student registrations for conferences, personal book purchase or journal subscriptions, or non-academic memberships.
Activities for which funding is being requested must be in accordance with University policy and public health guidance related to travel and events.
Request Process
Faculty need to get approval to access these funds. After discussing the request for funding with their Chair/supervisor, faculty should complete CNBHS' Faculty Professional Development Approval Request form. Requests should be submitted as soon as plans are known, but at least one full week in advance of the expenditure. Requests will be reviewed by the Associate Dean on a weekly basis, with every effort made to notify faculty of their request's approval status in a timely manner. Expenditures above $900 will need additional approval by the Dean.
Fund Management and Expense Processing
Please review the Business Expense Policy when making travel arrangements and for guidelines on the eligible expenses listed above.
If approved, arrangements will be made for expenses to be paid through expense report reimbursement, invoicing, or university purchasing card. All expenses should be submitted via Workday no later than the 10th of the month after the purchases were made (if purchased via university purchasing card), within 20 business days after the professional development activity completes (if purchased individually and seeking reimbursement), or per specific invoicing terms. Proof of purchase is required.
Funds are available to use from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. If an event falls beyond these dates, submit the request and if approved, these funds should be marked as prepaid when expenses are submitted, and may come out of future year's professional development allotments.