Professional Development

Overview 

The Title III Faculty Development initiative at Bowie State University supports full-time faculty and adjunct faculty in advancing their professional growth through workshops, conferences, webinars, and training. The program is designed to foster and facilitate ongoing excellence in two primary areas of professional development: a) Teaching and b) Scholarship. These two areas are interrelated and mutually interdependent. Faculty who are active scholars, engaged in and aware of the ongoing expansion of knowledge within their academic fields, will bring their enthusiasm for their disciplines into the classroom and thus help foster within students a lifelong love of learning. The Faculty Development program at BSU wants its faculty to have every opportunity to enhance their role as teacher-scholars.

The Professional Development Guidebook (pdf) is the policy and procedures for this initiative. It is highly suggested to read it thoroughly BEFORE applying.

Opportunities 

The opportunities that are currently available are non-travel, domestic, and international travel. Faculty can apply for professional development opportunities between October 15 and August 31.

Domestic Travel

Apply for Domestic Travel

• Full-time faculty can be rewarded up to two domestic opportunities with a maximum award of $3,000, and adjunct faculty, $1,500.00
• Applications must be submitted 45 days before the start of the conference or training, and it takes 10 business days for review. A spend authorization can be submitted once an award letter is received.

International Travel

Apply for International Travel

• Full-time can be rewarded once a grant year with a maximum award of $6,000, and adjunct faculty, $3,000.00
• Applications must be submitted 60 days before the start of the conference or training. After an internal review, applications are sent to the Department of Education for approval or denial. 
• Each awardee must register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at the U.S. Department of State. This ensures that the U.S. embassy is informed of your travel and provides you with security updates while on travel. A copy of your STEP confirmation must be attached to your spending authorization.

Non-travel

Apply for Non-travel Opportunities

• Full-time faculty can be rewarded up to two domestic opportunities with a maximum award of $3,000, and adjunct faculty, $1,500.00
• Applications must be submitted 45 days before the start of the conference or training, and it takes 10 business days for review. A spend authorization can be submitted once an award letter is received.

Additional Resources 

• How to Submit a Spend Authorization (pdf)
• 8 Required Supporting Documents (pdf)
• How to Submit an Expense Report (pdf)
• Professional Development Rubric (pdf)
• Faculty Development ChatGPT

Frequently-asked Questions

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• Who is eligible to apply for Title III Professional Development funding?

   

  Full-time and adjunct faculty at Bowie State University are eligible. Each application must align with the Title III Faculty Development purpose and the university’s strategic goals. 

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• How many professional development opportunities can faculty apply for each year?

   

  Faculty may apply for up to two domestic opportunities per grant year (October 1 – September 30). For international travel, faculty are limited to one opportunity per grant year.

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• What is the maximum funding for professional development?

   

  • Domestic travel: up to $3,000 per application for full-time faculty; $1,500 for adjuncts.
  • International travel: up to $6,000 per application for full-time faculty; $3,000 for adjuncts

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• When are applications due? 

   

  • Domestic/non-travel applications: at least 45 days before the event.
  • International applications: at least 60 days before the event

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• Can I mix international and domestic travel?

   

   

  No, you can only be approved for international travel once a grant year (October 1 – September 30). You can be approved for two domestic travels or two non-travels in one grant year. You can also be approved for one domestic travel and one non-travel in one grant year. 

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• Can group applications be submitted?

   

  No. Each faculty member must submit their own application, and each approved application counts toward their annual limit.

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• Can faculty fly first class or purchase flight upgrades with Title III funds?

   

  Faculty must book the least expensive fare available through the university’s contracted travel service, Globetrotter Travel. Title III does not reimburse first-class tickets, flight upgrades, flight insurance, or early-bird check-in.

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• What is required after attending a professional development activity?

   

  Faculty must submit a Post-Survey Report within 10 business days and an Expense Report within 15 business days of returning. Expense Reports submitted more than 60 days after travel are reviewed on a case-by-case basis

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• What happens if I need to cancel my professional development trip?

   

  If cancellation occurs due to BSU, Title III, or emergency circumstances, associated penalties may be covered. However, unused tickets cannot later be applied to personal travel. Faculty should notify the Title III Office immediately.

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