L&S University Staff Issues Committee (USIC) Initiatives

Current Initiatives

Professional Development Grant Program for University Staff 

To:           College of Letters & Science University Staff  

From:      L&S University Staff Issues Committee (USIC)

Subject:  University Staff Professional Development Grant funding for activities that begin between January 1 – June 30, 2023

The College of Letters & Science has made available $10,000 per fiscal year to be used to fund professional development opportunities for college university staff.  This year, because of increasing demand for these funds, the college has doubled the amount of support it offers per year at the request of the University Staff Issues Committee.  There are two opportunities, one in fall and one in spring. In each round, the committee will distribute $5,000 to awardees for approved activities. The maximum per individual request is $2,000 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 & 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

As you prepare your proposal, make sure your initiative meets college, UW-Madison and State policies and procedures. If your training involves travel, you should justify that (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, explain the relevance of the association to your job.  If you request language training or software training, explain why the language or software proficiency will help you in your current job or career. 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 is due on Friday, November 11 and can be accessed here. The committee will review the applications as soon as possible following the deadline. Applicants will be notified of the results 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