TCU Faculty Professional Development Grants

The College Fund recognizes that tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) have limited funding to support faculty members’ professional development. The College Fund Professional Development program offers one-time grants up to $2,000 to TCU faculty. The goals of the program are to (1) enhance faculty members’ skills and knowledge and (2) to support TCU program development and leadership capacity by funding professional development activities that:

• connect faculty with the latest research- and practice-based information on curriculum development, instruction, student engagement, higher education leadership, accreditation, and more.
• inform faculty of current research and issues within their field of study or teaching area.
• provide an opportunity for faculty to share their research with TCU and non-TCU audiences.

Faculty members can use the grants to:

• attend or present at a conference related to their field of study or teaching area
• attend a training, seminar, or workshop on a topic relevant to their role as a faculty member (e.g., teaching, assessment, engaging students online, accreditation) or to strengthen their skills as a researcher and/or writer.

The professional development grant can be used to cover the following expenses:

• Registration costs
• Travel costs (hotel, airfare)
• Per diems and incidentals

Funding is limited each academic year and we typically award all funds well before June 30.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a current faculty member at an accredited tribal college or university. For grants, the definition of faculty member includes full- or part-time permanent faculty members, as well as adjunct instructors (including TCU staff or administrators) who teach at least one course regularly.
• Be committed to growing in your role as a faculty member by enhancing your skills and knowledge in areas such as your teaching practice, student learning and success, current research, and professional network.
• Have demonstrated your commitment to American Indian higher education and to strengthening your TCU’s academic programs and long-term success.

Application Process

• Completed application
• Personal statement
• Itemized budget
• CV/resume
• Letter of recommendation from your TCU president or academic officer

Deadline Dates

Funding is extremely limited each academic year. Due to high interest in the program, we are accept applications for professional development activities and conferences taking place within 6 months of the application date.

We have awarded all grants for the 2023-24 academic year and are no longer accepting applications. Please check this page for updates about the availability of funding or contact Heidi Normandin at hnormandin@collegefund.org.

Selection Process

The College Fund will review applications using the following criteria:

• Impact of the professional development activity on the applicant’s skills, knowledge, and/or ability to enhance their role as a faculty member. Activities could focus on curriculum development, teaching practice, leadership skills, knowledge of trends and current research, sharing research, professional networking, and more.
• Clearly articulated goals and objectives for the activity as indicated in the personal statement.
• Strong letter of recommendation and support from a TCU administrator.

Do not hesitate to contact Heidi Normandin, Faculty Development Program Officer at 303-426-9909 or hnormandin@collegefund.org, with any questions.