The Professional Development Grant is intended to provide CSPA-NYS members with the opportunity to attend the annual CSPA-NYS conference (or other CSPA-NYS event, i.e. NYLEC) when insufficient funding is available from their current institution. The value of the grant will be the cost of registration for the annual conference. The recipient will be responsible for their own travel and lodging costs.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee chaired by the President-Elect.  Grants will be awarded to the recipients who best fulfill the outlined requirements. If you are selected for the grant and have already registered for the conference, you will be refunded the cost of your registration.  One grant may be awarded annually; however, the committee may choose not to award a grant on the basis of the quality of applications received.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Be a paid member of CSPA-NYS | Register for Membership

  • Must be at employed or enrolled in a NYS institution

  • Not have received a grant within the previous two years

  • Individuals cannot submit more than one application for consideration in a given year (meaning, an applicant cannot submit multiple applications).

Criteria by which applications will be considered

  • Proposals/applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

    • Articulated lack of institutional funding

    • Stated benefits of conference attendance and participation in CSPA-NYS

    • Current or potential involvement with CSPA-NYS

Application Materials

  • Resume: a current resume that includes degrees earned and professional experience.

  • Supervisor Letter: a letter from a supervisor that certifies lack of institutional funding and provides permission to attend the annual conference should the applicant be selected to receive the grant.

  • Essay: no more than 500 words describing why you are seeking the grant, how you will benefit, and possible contributions you might make as a result of your professional development. Please include previous, current, or potential involvement in CSPA-NYS.

Funding

If the recipient has a change in circumstances and is no longer able to attend the annual CSPA-NYS conference, then the recipient must notify presidents@cspanys.org and return the funds that were allocated to CSPA-NYS.

Expectations

  • Attendance at the annual CSPA-NYS conference must occur within one calendar year of receiving funding under this grant.

  • The primary applicant is expected to communicate/disseminate results of project. The options for disseminating results include:

    • submit a column for eLert

    • get involved with CSPA-NYS (i.e. serve on conference planning committee) 

    • work with the VP for Professional Development to deliver a professional development event for CSPA-NYS membership

Timeline for Application/Selection Process

  • April 1st – Initial request for proposals will be distributed.

  • June 30 – Professional Development Grant Applications due.

  • August 1st – Recipients notified.

  • September 15 – recipients must have connected with VP for Professional Development, prodev@cspanys.org to develop a plan for CSPA-NYS engagement, and the expectations must be fulfilled by the following June.

For more information, contact presidents@cspanys.org.