The purpose of Spoon River College's Faculty Professional Development Program is to encourage individual faculty members, as well as groups, to continue professional development through conferences, courses, study groups, and independent studies and research. The goal of this committee is to involve as many participants as possible with the limited available funds; therefore, consideration is given based on the frequency of requests, as well as the benefit to the college, students, and applicant.
Individuals or groups requesting funds should adhere to the following time line: requests for funds for the Fall and Spring Semesters will be considered by the committee during the second week after midterm; summer requests will be considered the week prior to final exams. The committee recommends to the President or designee of the college funding for individuals and groups who request money for projects that will benefit the professional(s) as well as the institution. These guidelines are subject to change as conditions dictate.
- All requests will be assessed on a first come, first served basis.
- Full-time faculty members may request up to a maximum of $750 per year.
- A faculty member can also request up to a maximum amount of $1500.00 for a conference, but if they are awarded that amount they will not be able to request any professional development funds for the following two years. For example, if a faculty member is awarded $1,500 in FY17, they will not be eligible to request any more professional development funds until FY20.
- Part-time faculty members are limited to $750 every other year.
- Up to 100% funding may be awarded, to individuals or groups, for expenses for workshops, seminars, conferences, etc. not taken for tuition reimbursement or advancement on the salary schedule.
- Up to 100% funding may be allocated for workshops, seminars, or classes to be sponsored by Spoon River College and/or the Instructional Resources Committee.
- Up to 100% funding may be awarded for expenses related to reading and study groups not related to a graduate program or class. Expenses would not include personal expenses, but could include such things as books and materials that would become the property of the college.
- No funds will be made available for tuition for graduate level courses that qualify for tuition reimbursement and movement on the salary schedule according to the present Spoon River College policy.
- No funds will be made available for material to be owned by the participant.
- No funds will be made available to individuals who are on sabbatical leave from the college.