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CoA Staff Professional Development Grant

Purpose

The College of Agriculture Professional Development Grant supports staff seeking professional development opportunities that enhance their skills, contribute to career growth, and benefit Purdue University. Funding is available for professional development activities benefiting individuals or groups.

Award Amount

  • Grants of up to $750 are available.
  • Funds must be used within one year of the award date.
  • Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis via departmental accounts.
  • Grant funds must be used within one year of the award date.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be College of Agriculture staff whose position primarily supports the college.
  • Be employed by the College of Agriculture when award recipients are announced.
  • Submit their own application.

The following are not eligible:

  • Faculty
  • Graduate students
  • Postdoctoral researchers
  • Student employees
  • Individuals who have received a College of Agriculture Professional Development Grant within the previous three years
  • Requests for professional organization membership dues

Eligible Activities

Examples include:

  • Professional conferences and workshops
  • Training programs or certifications
  • Coursework related to professional development
  • Other activities that support career growth and workplace effectiveness

Grants may support a single activity or a series of activities completed within one year.

Application Types

Individual and Group Professional Development Activities

The Professional Development Grant may support both individual and group professional development opportunities.

For activities that benefit multiple employees, a single staff member must submit the application and serve as the grant recipient. That individual will be responsible for coordinating the activity and any associated reimbursement processes.

If funding is awarded for a group activity, only the named applicant will be considered a grant recipient for purposes of the program's three-year eligibility waiting period.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are reviewed based on:

  1. The quality and completeness of the proposal.
  2. How the activity supports the applicant's professional development and career goals.
  3. The anticipated benefit to Purdue and the College of Agriculture.
  4. The reasonableness of the proposed budget.

For activities benefiting a group, reviewers will also consider the broader impact on participating employees and units.

Application Timeline

Applications are accepted twice annually, typically once each fall and spring semester. Review is conducted by members of the College of Agriculture Professional Development Subcommittee. Award notifications are generally sent within six weeks of the application deadline.

Funding and Reimbursement

Award funds are transferred to the recipient's departmental account and may be used in accordance with Purdue purchasing and travel procedures. If an award recipient leaves the College of Agriculture before using the funds, the award will be forfeited and returned to the college.

Frequently Asked Questions / Application Portal Questions

Can I apply if I previously received a grant?  Previous recipients may apply again once three years have passed since their award.

Can temporary staff apply?  Yes.

Can I use funds for conference travel?  Yes, subject to Purdue travel policies.

Can I use funds for professional memberships?  No.

What happens if I leave Purdue before using the funds?  Unused funds are returned to the College.

Can a department or team apply for a group activity?  Yes. Group professional development activities remain eligible for funding. One staff member must submit the application and serve as the grant recipient on behalf of the group.

Who is affected by the three-year eligibility rule for a group activity?  Only the individual named as the applicant and grant recipient will be considered a recipient of the award and therefore subject to the program's three-year eligibility waiting period.

Note 1: All application questions must be completed and submitted in a single session. Responses cannot be saved, and partially completed applications will not be retained by the system. Before beginning, please have estimated expenses related to your application available, such as travel, registration, tuition, fees, and other anticipated costs.

Note 2: Only one application will be accepted per applicant. If multiple applications are submitted, only the first submission will be considered during the review process.

Note 3: Grant funding will be forfeited and returned to the College of Agriculture if the employee leaves the university before the funds are used.


Q3 What Funding Cycle Are You Applying For? (Currently "Spring Semester 2027")

Q4 What is your name?

Q5 What is your email address?

Q6 Which employment category do you fit into? Note: This question is for eligibility determination purposes only.

  • Staff- Regular, Full Time
  • Staff- Regular, Part Time
  • Staff- Temporary, Full Time
  • Staff- Temporary, Part Time
  • Student Worker
  • Graduate Student
  • Faculty, Tenure Track
  • Faculty- Clinical, Research, and Teaching
  • Post-Doc

Q7 What is your primary department affiliation?

  • Ag & Biological Engineering
  • Ag Communications
  • Ag Economics
  • AgIT
  • Agriculture Science & Communication
  • Agronomy
  • Agronomy Farm
  • Animal Sciences
  • Animal Sciences Farm
  • Biochemistry
  • Botany & Plant Pathology
  • CERIS
  • Entomology
  • Field Extension
  • Food Science
  • Forestry & Natural Resources
  • Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
  • HHS Educators
  • Office of Indiana State Chemist
  • International Programs in Agriculture
  • Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
  • Ag Admin- Dean / Alumni
  • Ag Admin- OAP
  • Ag Admin- CES
  • Ag Admin- Business Office
  • Purdue Ag Center (All Centers)
  • Other (please describe)

Q8 What is your job title?

Q9 What is your supervisor's name?

Q10 What is your supervisor's email address?

Goal
Please tell us a little more about what you're hoping to accomplish.

Q12 Have you previously been funded for an Ag Professional Development Grant?

  • No
  • Yes

Q13 When were you previously funded?

  • Winter 2021-22
  • Winter 2019-20
  • Summer 2021
  • Summer 2022
  • Winter 2022-23
  • Summer 2023
  • Summer 2024
  • Winter 2023-24
  • Winter 2024-25
  • Summer 2025
  • Winter 2025-26
  • Summer 2026

Q14 Please provide a brief description of this proposed activity (100 words or less). Please be as specific as possible.

Q15 How will this activity help with your career goals and/or professional development (250 words or less)?

Q16 How do you see this activity benefiting the College of Agriculture or Purdue University? (250 words or less)

Budget Questions
This section will provide additional financial details regarding your application.

Q17 Registration/Tuition: Enter the amount of budgeted funds to be used for registrations/tuition. If the proposed activity involves a registration or tuition, what amount of the budget is related to those expenses? If there is no registration involved, please input 0. Do not include a dollar ($) sign.

Q17a Registration/Tuition: Please Explain Your Estimate

Q18 Travel Costs: Enter the amount of budgeted funds to be used for travel. If the proposed activity involves travel, what amount of the budget is related to those expenses (mileage, hotel, airfare, etc)? If there is no travel involved, please input 0. Do not include a dollar ($) sign.

Q18a Travel: Please explain your estimate.

Q19 Other Costs: Enter the amount of budgeted funds to be used for other expenses. If the proposed activity involves other costs, what amount of the budget is related to those expenses? If there are none involved, please input 0. Do not include a dollar ($) sign.

Q19a Other Costs: Please explain your estimate.

Q20 What is the total estimated cost of this activity? Enter the amount of budgeted funds without a dollar ($) sign.

Q21 Cost variance: Is there a variance between what you are requesting and the total costs? Please provide clarification if necessary, including alternative funding (e.g. departmental funds, personally financed, etc.).

QUESTIONS? CONTACT US!

agprofdev@purdue.edu

QUESTIONS? CONTACT US!

agprofdev@purdue.edu