UUP Individual Development Award Applications Now Being Accepted

This program is intended to assist eligible employees in the UUP bargaining unit in developing their full professional potential and in preparing for advancement by funding professional development activities. The 2024-2025 Individual Development Awards Programs each provide a maximum individual award of up to $2,000.

Employees may be funded for up to two projects or activities, not to exceed a total of $2000 for the period. 

The Individual Development Award Committee will review applications, taking into consideration whether proposed activities will enable applicants to meet one or more of the criteria specified in the following SUNY Policies of Board of Trustees: Title A. Evaluation of Academic Employees, §4. Criteria (a)-(e); Title B. Promotion of Academic Employees, §2. Criteria (a)-(e); or Title C. Evaluation and Promotion of Professional Employees, §5. Criteria (a)-(e), of Article XII Evaluation and Promotion of Academic and Professional Employees, of the Policies of the Board of Trustees.

Full-time employees must be in the UUP bargaining unit at the time of the award and during the dates of the proposed project. Full-time employees who accrue annual leave will not be required to charge credits for any activities funded by Individual Development Awards.

Part-time employees who meet the eligibility requirements for 26-week coverage for health benefits will have the same eligibility for Individual Development Awards. Part-time employees who are eligible for health benefits during the summer also are eligible for funding for activities that occur during the summer, whether or not they are on the payroll. 

Projects or activities must fall within the following categories:

• Basic, applied or historical research.
• Curriculum or instructional material development.
• Workshop, seminar, internship, or coursework not covered by Contract Article 46, Program for Tuition Assistance or SUNY tuition waiver.
• Conference participation or attendance.
• Preparation of material for publication.
• Grant proposal development.
• Artistic or creative endeavors.
• Other work-related professional development projects or activities.

Funding can only be awarded for:

• Registration fees for conferences or workshops.
• Professional organization membership fees which are bundled with a free or reduced members-only rate for conference or workshop attendance expenses.
• Travel and related expenses (including lodging and meals).
• Tuition at the maximum allowable SUNY rate at the time of application, excluding associated fees.
• Fees for licensing or certification exam prep courses (e.g., USMLE Step 3 exam, medical board exam, or bar exam prep course, etc.). For reimbursement of exam fees, go to https://oer.ny.gov/nysuupclefr
• Fees for continuing education courses (e.g., CME or CLE courses).
• Entrance or access fees to institutions or archives that house materials which are related to, and the review or use of which is necessary, to complete the research or artistic endeavor.
•  Funds are available for expenses related to professional development projects or activities that are not provided by the employee’s campus, department, program, or through other funding sources, including research materials, short term use of specialized equipment, services for skills, and costs associated with publication.
  • Consumable artistic or research materials, which are necessary to complete the research or artistic endeavor (e.g., reagents, antibodies, dyes, art supplies, sheet music).
  • Fees for short term use of specialized equipment or skills (e.g., sound mixing/engineering, recording studio fees, video recording and editing fees, performance space rentals, real time PCR testing, RNA sequencing).
  • Costs associated with publication (e.g., copyright or licensure fees, journal page charges, and stipends or fees for indexers, proof reading, translations).

The General Program Information document applies to all JLMC/UUP programs. Information that is useful to applicants includes the Expenditure Limitations section which lists the types of expenses ineligible to be reimbursed under this program.

All funding requests must conform to the guidelines for this program and are subject to review and approval from the NYS Office of Employee Relations. Additional justification for specific items may be requested.

Applicants must submit the following in a single PDF document in the following order:

• Application form
• A  bio sketch or resume
• A description of the project or activity including:
  • Type of event, event site and sponsor
  • Whether the employee is presenting a paper or formally participating. If presenting a paper, the title of the paper and nature of the presentation must be provided. Identify multiple people attending the same conference.
  • Letter of acceptance of the paper, poster or other proposal. If acceptance is pending, please provide an explanation including timeframe estimations.
  • How this project or activity will further the employee’s professional development or otherwise assist in preparing for advancement.
• A brochure, announcement or other relevant material describing the project or activity. If material is not yet available, please provide an explanation including estimated material availability.
  
• Details and justification for travel expenses including the type of travel, cost of travel and cost of lodging per night.
• Any other supporting documentation.
• Budget Summary (Part C of the application). Provide expenditures to be incurred to complete the project or activity. Please refer to Part C: Budget Summary of the application instructions to complete this section. NOTE: “JLMC Funds” on the Budget Summary refers to the amount being requested from the Individual Development Awards Program.
  • If there will be a campus contribution or other sources of funding then the applicant must explain in the appropriate box(es) under 'Campus Contribution' on the application or the application may be rejected. 
  •  A justification of cost must be provided for funds to support projects or activities under 4(c) above, that are not provided by the employee’s campus, department, program or through other funding sources, that require research materials, fees for short term use of specialized equipment, or services for skills, and costs associated with publication
  • Proof of cost from a vendor or firm. A reliable vendor or firm should be selected, and services or items purchased should be at a reasonable cost. Internet quotes for purchases are acceptable. Whenever possible Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) vendors or firms should be used
  • In instances where a single source vendor or firm has been selected, a justification and the process used to select the single source vendor or firm must be provided.
  • In addition to the above the following applies:
    • When purchasing a single item or service of $250.00 or more, or multiple items of the same whose total is $250.00 or more but less than $500.00, two different vendor or firm price quotes or a single source justification must be submitted. This applies if purchasing multiple items that cost less than $250.00 each but due to the number of items totaling more than $250.00 but less than $500.00.
    • When purchasing a single item or service of $500.00 or more, or multiple items of the same, whose total is $500.00 or more, three different vendor or firm price quotes or a single source justification must be submitted. This applies if purchasing multiple items that cost less than $500 each but due to the number of items purchased cost $500.00 or more.
    • Enter the lowest vendor or firm price quote in the budget summary. 
    • Shipping is an allowable expense.

Submit applications in the form of a single PDF File:

• Upload your application 
  • Buffalo Center Chapter Employees: 
  • By Friday, February 14, 2025
  • Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered
• Questions regarding the application process should be directed to:
  • Buffalo Center Chapter Employees: 
  • ub-ida-committee@buffalo.edu
• The UB UUP IDA Committee webpage enables the committee to share updated information about the award process including FAQs.
  

Applicants are expected to be notified of award decisions late in the spring 2025 semester.