Professional development funding supports faculty attendance at a national/international conference focused on general education such as the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS) (includes General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment), an Association for General and Liberal Studies (AGLS) Constitute, or another conference providing sessions related to General Education. Funding would cover registration, transportation, lodging, and any per diem up to $5,000 per award. Awardees would be expected to give back to the Gen Ed Program by sharing in a forum with other instructors of general education courses, such as at the annual Student Success Symposium or a Gen Ed Assembly. Read more about Promoting Excellence in General Education
Eligibility
Open to all Tenure-system or specialized faculty who have taught on the Urbana-Champaign campus for at least one year as of the first day of the current academic year, and teaches one or more Gen Ed courses. Gen Ed Board members are eligible to apply.
Each instructor shall be eligible to receive a maximum of one award every two fiscal years.
Evaluation Criteria & Selection Process
The review and selection of award is managed by the Gen Ed Program in the Office of the Provost and includes members from the Gen Ed Board, the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, and the Office of the Provost. Selection criteria include:
- What the applicant hopes to gain from this opportunity related to General Education
- How the applicant plans on giving back to the Gen Ed Program and benefit the University
Funding
Two annual awards of professional development funding reimbursement up to $5,000 per award to support faculty attendance at a national/international conference focused on general education
Unit or individual will submit a request for reimbursement
General Education focused Conferences:
- American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Conference on Learning and Student Success (CLASS) (includes General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment)
- Any other conferences providing sessions related to General Education
The following are uses of professional development funds that are allowable:
- Registration/Conference fees
- Travel, hotel, per diem, and other allowable travel expenses, following travel policy standards (15.1.4 Determine Allowability of Travel Expenses)
Terms
Awardees are expected to give back to the Gen Ed Program by sharing in a forum with other instructors of general education courses, such as at the annual Student Success Symposium, a Gen Ed Assembly, a Gen Ed Board Meeting, or in other way to benefit the Gen Ed Program on campus.
Timeline
Priority Due Date: April 30, 2025 by 11:59 pm (Application will remain open until two recipients have been approved for the academic year)
Selection Notification: May 15, 2025 (Selections may be made earlier for conferences in Spring 2025)
Application
Submit the online application to apply for the Gen Ed Professional Development Award funds.
Application Questions
Applications must be submitted using the online form and will require the below information:
Applicant Information:
- Applicant Name
- Title(s)/Position(s)
- University Email
- Gen Ed Teaching Experience
- Gen Ed courses you have taught and/or will teach including all semesters taught (example: SUBJ 100 Title (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Future Fall 2025)
- Additional Gen Ed Service/Experience (if applicable)
- Gen Ed Board, Gen Ed Assemblies, Gen Ed (Re)Certification Proposals, etc.
Unit Information:
- Instructional Unit (Department/School)
- Unit Executive Officer (UEO) Name
- Unit Executive Officer (UEO) Email
- Letter of Approval
- Upload a letter or email from your Unit Executive Officer providing travel/conference approval
- Budget Officer Name
- Budget Officer Email
Event Information:
- Title of Event (Name of Conference/Event)
- Organization Hosting Event
- Start Date (00/00/00)
- End Date (00/00/00)
- Link to Conference Website
- Location (City, State, Country)
- Estimated Costs to Be Reimbursed (Provide estimated costs, including Registration Fee, Travel, Lodging, and other allowable travel expenses)
Justification:
- Description of what you hope to gain from this opportunity
- Description of how you plan on giving back to the Gen Ed Program and how this will be used to Benefit the University
- Awardees are expected to give back to the Gen Ed Program by sharing in a forum with other instructors of general education courses, such as at the annual Student Success Symposium, at a Gen Ed Assembly, at a Gen Ed Board Meeting, or in other way to benefit the Gen Ed Program on campus
- Additional Information (Optional)
- Additional Attachment (Optional)
Questions/Support
Please contact gen-ed@illinois.edu