The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Faculty Professional Development Council (FPDC), established by Board of Governors’ policy in 1985, is designed “to encourage continuous attention to the professional growth and development of System faculty as teaching scholars.”
Annual Grants Program
Guidelines and Submission Instructions for the 2010–2011 FPDC grants-proposals were due December 17, 2010.
IUP faculty members may apply for grants of up to $8,000 to support their research, teaching, and professional development in eight proposal categories. (The average funding request was $4,850 in 2009–2010.) Proposals must describe the potential professional development benefits to be realized by the faculty member(s), the significance and impact of the project, and its intended outcomes.
Collaborative Academic Grants
Guidelines and Submission Instructions for FPDC Collaborative Academic Grants Competition 2012. The deadline to submit is January 17, 2012. Two paper copies must be submitted to 113 Stright Hall and one electronic copy to jbassaro@iup.edu.
These particular grants are targeted for (1) professional development required for collaborative academic programs/curriculum development, and (2) individual faculty with little or no experience in delivering courses using alternative formats. There will be a priority for joint programs with at least two universities and projects involving academic programs scheduled for periodic review as of December 2013.
The funds are intended to lead to the following potential long-term outcomes: (1) Innovative courses and distance learning programs that may bring new student populations to the university; (2) Collaborative, multi-university distance or online classes in programs that are facing enrollment challenges; and (3) Innovative multi-university shared content, such as online modules suitable for any class/course
Faculty may apply for grants up to $12,000 to support their efforts in the above areas.
Proposals must describe the potential professional development benefits to be realized by the faculty member(s) and the significance and impact of the project and its intended outcomes. The proposals will be reviewed by the IUP Faculty Professional Development Committee (FPDC), which will in turn forward two proposals for statewide consideration in early September.
Examples of Model Proposals for Annual Grants Program:
According to Article 44 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (2007–2011), $200,000 will be provided each fiscal year ($50,000 of which is for probationary faculty members) to the statewide FPDC to support professional development programs and activities approved by the council.
From this funding, the council solicits proposals from PASSHE faculty for the Annual Grant Program. Proposals are reviewed first by the IUP Faculty Professional Development Committee, which was formed in response to the creation of the (FPDC).
IUP’s Faculty Professional Development Committee meets monthly during the academic year to advance professional development opportunities for IUP faculty members.
The IUP committee provides feedback to proposal writers, narrows the field if necessary, and forwards up to twelve proposals to the State System office for review by the council.
See a list of recent Faculty Professional Development Council (FPDC) Annual Grants Program award winners.
