Professional Development Awards

The UIC Chancellor’s Committee of the Status of Women Professional Development Awards are meant to serve as funding support for professional development activities of women in the UIC community.  Professional development activities supported by the awards must promote CCSW’s mission of professional and career development.  Applicant must demonstrate that she has been actively involved in the CCSW or can demonstrate that her proposed activity furthers the CCSW mission.

For AY2013, CCSW has allocated $2,500 for these awards.  The maximum amount available for request is $500 per applicant.  Awards may be made in full or partial support pending availability of funds and committee approval.  Applicants are eligible to receive the award only once per academic year.  Primary consideration for funding will be given to applicants who have not received the award in previous years. 

CCSW's Mission

The Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women (CCSW) promotes the professional, educational, and career development of women faculty, staff, and students at UIC. The CCSW advocates: 

• Opportunities for women for professional growth and advancement, both academic and non-academic.
• Equity in recruitment, policies, and participation of women at all levels at UIC. 
• Life-friendly policies that promote work-life balance. 
• A positive environment where women may thrive in all areas of research, education, teaching, administration, and service.

Who is eligible?

Any women faculty or staff (academic professionals and civil servant) employed part-time or full-time at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) or currently enrolled full-time students (graduate and undergraduate) may apply.

What award may be used for…

The funding must be used to cover expenses related to a UIC woman’s professional development per the eligibility criteria.  Funding must be used during the current fiscal year.  Funded activities must occur between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013.   You may submit a request to support an activity that has occurred before the application deadline, however, the event must occur within the funding period. Funding will only cover expenses outlined in the original application proposal; funds may not be transferred to cover expenses that were not included in the original proposal.  CCSW may only cover expenses that are in accordance with OBFS guidelines. This award will not cover any expenses that are not within the OBFS guidelines (i.e., alcohol, gifts, salary, etc).  Please refer to the OBFS purchasing guidelines. (http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/)

Travel expenses must be reimbursed.  Some expenses (such as registration fees) may be paid directly by CCSW.  If you are an award recipient, CCSW co-chairs will discuss with you the best method for covering expenses.  Be aware that some expenses must be incurred by you upfront and will be reimbursed by CCSW.  You must save receipts for all reimbursed expenses.   Any funds that you do not use will be forfeited.

Examples of such expenses that may be covered by this award include, but are not limited to:

• Expenses associated with attending a professional conference, training, or workshop (registration, travel expenses, per diem, etc.)
• Membership fees with a professional organization
• Books, journals, other materials relative to applicant’s professional development proposal

Award amounts

The maximum amount you may request is $500.  You may request less than the maximum amount.

Approved programs eligible for funding

In general, any professional development opportunity offered through the University of Illinois would be approved for eligibility.   List of approved programs eligible for CCSW funding:

• UIC Woman’s Leadership Symposium
• UIC HR Professional Development trainings
• Leadership Illinois
• Public Leadership Education Network

If you have suggestions of professional development opportunities that should be included in the list of approved activities, please contact CCSW co-chairs.  The review committee will consider the recommendation and determine if the proposed activities meet the requirements of the professional development awards.

Application form

• Professional Development Application (Fillable PDF) - Guideline

Deadline to submit your proposal

The deadline to submit a request for funding must be submitted to Elizabeth Otter by Monday, December 3, 2012.  There will be no extensions of the deadline.  Only complete proposals will be considered – you are responsible for checking your application to ensure your proposal is complete and contains all required materials.  

CCSW may offer additional awards later in the academic year if funding is available.

CCSW’s fiscal calendar runs from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.  After funding has been exhausted for the year, in order to be considered for the next fiscal year, you must resubmit your request during the next fiscal year.  CCSW will not consider requests made in the previous fiscal year.