News
from Academic HR Services

Professional Development Fund for LEO Lecturers

May, 2008

INTRODUCTION

The 2007-2010 collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO) calls for the creation of a Professional Development Fund (the “Fund”) for LEO Lecturers on the Ann Arbor campus.  Awards of up to $500 are available to eligible Lecturers each academic year.  The purpose of the Fund is to encourage creativity through the support of Lecturer professional development by providing grants in support of activities that enhance Lecturers’ teaching at the University of Michigan; the Fund is not intended to provide a salary supplement to the Lecturer.

In addition, Lecturers with continuing appointments at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus are also eligible to apply for Lecturers' Professional Development Grants (LPDG).  Please note that the Professional Development Fund for LEO Lecturers and the LPDG are not mutually exclusive but they do differ in the amount of funding, guidelines for eligible submissions, submission deadlines, and application and review process.

ELIGIBILITY

1. Any Lecturer who has an active appointment or who is on an approved leave of absence at the time a proposal is submitted may apply for an award from the Fund.
2. A successful applicant must also demonstrate that he or she has a reasonable belief that he or she will hold an appointment beyond the time the award is disbursed.
3. The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has applied for any other professional development funding available within his or her academic unit(s) prior to submitting a proposal to the Fund.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Criteria
Successful proposals will address one or more of the following criteria, consistent with the expectations of excellence in the applicant’s appointing academic unit:

1. Does the proposal offer a way for the Lecturer to enhance his or her command of his or her subject matter?
2. Does the proposal provide for growth in the Lecturer’s teaching methods?
3. Does the proposal assist the Lecturer in developing, organizing and conveying course content?
4. Does the proposal offer enhancements for the development or implementation of innovative teaching and learning activities in the Lecturer’s academic unit?
5. Does the proposal offer a way for the Lecturer to share results of his or her work with a broader scholarly community?

Examples
Examples of proposals that are likely to be successful include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Travel to and participation in regional, national or international professional meetings or competitions
2. Graduate student or work study assistance
3. Memberships in professional organizations
4. Continuing education in the Lecturer’s subject area, instructional methods or technology

REQUIRED MATERIALS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Required Materials
Eligible Lecturers are invited to submit a proposal that includes the following materials:

1. Brief (1-2 page) description of the proposed professional development activity
2. Application cover page, including signed statement from Chair/Director or Dean
3. Itemized budget
4. Brief curriculum vitae

Application Procedure

1. Applications must be submitted in hard copy or by e-mail attachment (PDF format) to Academic Human Resources at the address provided on the Application Cover Page.
2. The applicant must provide the required materials listed above, and must obtain the signed statement from the Chair/Director or Dean.
3. Applications for the first round of awards must be submitted by no later than September 30, 2008.
4. Please contact Academic Human Resources at 763-8938 with questions about the application procedure.

FUNDING DECISIONS

1. Proposals will be reviewed by a committee consisting of faculty, Lecturers, and academic administrators. 
2. Preference will be given to Lecturers who have been appointed for at least two semesters at the time the proposal is submitted.
3. Applicants who have received an award from the Fund in the past may seek support for new proposals, but preference will be given to proposals submitted by applicants who have not previously received awards from the Fund.
4. The initial round of awards will be announced on or about October 31, 2008.    It is anticipated that a second round of applications will be solicited during the Winter 2009 semester, subject to available funding.