Each faculty member has access to an annual Faculty Development Fund of $2,000 that can be used to assist with their professional development.
Professional Travel
For most faculty, travel expenses will use up the major portion of the allocation of funds each year. This includes travel for the purpose of attending a conference or meeting, presenting a paper at a conference, participating in a workshop, seminar or board meeting of a professional organization, traveling for research purposes, and other such activities. The faculty member will discuss plans for travel with the department chair to ensure that the use of funds is consistent with the faculty member’s professional development plans.
Faculty must seek pre-approval from the respective Dean to spend their Faculty Development Funds on any conference that involves international travel.
Pre-approval is also required for travel to a conference at which the faculty member is not a presenter.
In addition, faculty must adhere to guidelines for travel expenses as outlined in the travel and expense policy 4107 found in the College’s Policy Manual (see Appendix D of this Handbook). The College’s Travel and Expense Policy is available online, both on myHill and on the Faculty Resources Guide webpage. The policy provides information about acceptable reimbursable expenses. Acceptable expenses include transportation, registration, housing and food, and workshop fees. Reimbursements should be submitted through the Online Request for Payment Form found on the Accounts Payable page of the Finance section in myHill. When arrangements are made far enough in advance, a Request for Payment Form may be used to pay for the charges.
A portion of the funds may be used for reimbursement for professional memberships. Normally the amount of the reimbursement does not exceed 30% of the total Faculty Development Funds in one year.
Books, Lab Equipment and Research Materials
Faculty may use up to 30% of their yearly allotment for the purchase of laboratory supplies, equipment and books to be used for their research and pedagogical activities. Faculty should check with IT, the Library, and other relevant departments to avoid duplication of resources. Receipts for such materials must be submitted within 30 days of purchase. Receipts for purchases made in the month of June must be submitted no later than June 30.
Computer Equipment or Supplies
Normally, the College does not support the purchase of computer equipment or supplies with Faculty Development Funds. All technology requests should first be requested through Information Technology (IT).
An exception is made for the purchase of a personal technology device such as a tablet. The following are the requirements for such purchases:
- Each full-time professor in a continuing appointment may propose using up to 30% of the total Faculty Development Funds (in lieu of books or supply purchases listed in C. above) to fund or partially fund the purchase of a new personal device such as a tablet. This type of purchase can be made every other year.
- A Request for Purchase of a Tablet form must be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for approval prior to the purchase of the device.
- The personal device/technology purchased with these funds is the property of the individual professor who has purchased it. The professor must keep the original receipts and will be responsible for following up on any warranty issues with the manufacturer if there are any problems with the device, if it needs to be repaired, or is stolen.
- The professor will take the initiative to learn how to use the device.
- Information Technology can only help the professor explore the use of this technology for teaching and learning.
Note: The Information Technology Department will not be involved in the purchase or technical support of the tablet.
Timing of Submissions for Reimbursement
All reimbursements should be filed within 45 days of the charges incurred. By April 1, please inform the Office of Academic Affairs of any travel still expected between April 1 and June 30. This will allow the Office to evaluate whether or not there will be excess faculty development funds to assist those whose research agendas are particularly heavy in that year. Notice of any additional available funding will be made by May 1.
When a faculty member has exhausted their funding, they will receive no other funding from this account for the rest of the fiscal year. However, if money is left in the account at the end of the fiscal year, faculty members will be notified that additional reimbursements or travel allowances might be possible, upon application to the respective Dean. Development fund allotments are subject to modification at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee.