L&S University Staff Issues Committee (USIC) Initiatives

Current Initiatives

Professional Development Grant Program for University Staff 

The College of Letters and Science has made available $5,000 per fiscal year to be used to fund professional development opportunities for college university staff. There are two opportunities each fiscal year, one in fall and one in spring. In each round, the committee will distribute $2,500 to awardees for approved activities. The maximum per individual request is $1,500 per program. However, it is understood that development opportunities do not always run on this schedule, so applications may be submitted at any time. If there are funds remaining after either round, the funds will be distributed for applications submitted outside of the deadline dates.

This program is in response to USIC's concern that some university staff members do not have funding available to them to attend training and professional development opportunities, particularly employees in small departments and those in technical and blue collar positions. All permanent university staff in the College of Letters and Science are eligible for these grants. Fixed term terminal and temporary employees are not eligible.

 Examples of training and development opportunities that employees have received funding for in the recent past include:

• Courses from UW-Madison or within the UW System relevant to your professional development
• Other courses—either off-site or via distance learning—such as language courses or software training, offered through institutions such as Madison College, etc.  Stronger consideration will be given to non-private type organizations (e.g. UW-Madison, Madison College)
• Attendance at the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professional Conference 
• Leadership & Management Development Conference through OHRD 
• UW-Madison Conference for the Office Professional 
• National Council of University Research Administrator Conference 
• Diversity Training
• Membership fees for professional organizations

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that proposals meet college, UW-Madison and State policies and procedures. Training that involves travel should be justified (i.e. sole provider of training/retraining only available at single location, no locally known trainer, consultant, etc.)  If a fee for membership in a professional association is requested, the relevance of the association should be explained.  If language training or software training is requested, the need for such training should be stated. The grant will not subsidize the purchase of software.

For additional information on UW-Madison specific training, please refer to the Office of Human Resources, Professional Development website at  https://hr.wisc.edu/professional-development/.

The online application form  can be accessed electronically here.  The deadline for spring 2021 applications will be posted soon.

The committee will review the applications as soon as possible following the deadline. Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition at that time. Please contact Lori DeMeuse (lori.demeuse@wisc.edu) with questions.

University Staff Excellence Awards

See Also:

• L&S University Staff Issues Committee (USIC)
• L&S University Staff Issues Committee (USIC) Bylaws
• L&S University Staff Issues Committee (USIC) Agendas and Minutes