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Specific UW System Guidelines For Faculty Retraining, Renewal and Development Proposals

While each institution has its own guidelines, procedures and protocols, there are a number of more specific System guidelines that individuals must adhere to as they draw up their proposals.

  1. By definition the program is limited to the faculty as defined in Chapter UWS 1.04. Academic staff who have been granted faculty status by the chancellor and faculty governance body are not eligible to submit faculty retraining, renewal or development proposals. (Chapter UWS 1.05).
  2. Only proposals which fit the definitions of retraining, renewal or faculty development are eligible for consideration under the program.
  3. Because the faculty retraining, renewal and development program is viewed as an important tool in developing institutional instructional flexibility, tenured faculty will normally receive preference over probationary faculty for System funds. Programmatic considerations may override this preference, however.
  4. It is incumbent on the institutions that their faculty development plans clearly reflect institutional faculty development plans, or if they do not, clear evidence should be offered on how the proposal will address the changing needs of the institution
  5. A faculty member must have obtained tenure by the time the award is to begin.  A faculty member must agree to return to UW-Madison for at least one academic year as a faculty member after the conclusion of the professional development grant, or repay any compensation (salary, plus the University's share of fringe benefits) received from the UW System during the professional development grant. (This condition will be interpreted to mean that the faculty member shall be in residence as a full-time faculty member at UW-Madison for at least one academic year after the grant in order that the results and benefits can be shared with colleagues and students.)
  6. Given the emphasis on minority professional development, priority will also be given to proposals that outline programs which address issues of race and ethnicity or are otherwise designed to improve the multicultural environment on campuses.
  7. Proposals may request matching funds for academic year salary support of faculty members at the option of the institution. However, salary support is not provided under this program to individuals who have also received a concurrent full academic year sabbatical with partial pay.
  8. System faculty development funds will not be used to support faculty proposals whose primary object is to allow an individual to complete a terminal degree.
  9. Proposals may contain requests to pay for fees and tuition for courses at accredited institutions that the faculty member takes as part of a retraining, renewal or development program. A faculty member may also request support to pay for registration fees, participation fees, etc., at professional workshops, seminars, institutes, etc.  A retraining proposal may request funds to buy course-related books and supplies.
  10. Supplies and equipment funds may be requested, if necessary, for the successful completion of the project. Ordinarily, capital equipment purchases are not eligible for funding under this program.
  11. If the retraining, renewal or development program takes place at a location beyond commuting distance from the faculty member's home, living expenses may be requested. However, institutional policies may limit the amount granted if the faculty member is also receiving a salary.
  12. Support for travel to and attendance at professional meetings may be requested if it can be shown that such participation is a required part of the individual's retraining, renewal or development program. UW System faculty development funds ordinarily will not be used in place of institutional travel money for attendance at professional meetings.