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Career Development Fund for Staff

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Submissions for this form are closed.

Update July 20, 2023:

An announcement for "year two" applications is planned for October.
All 700+ applicants have been notified and awards were offered for FY 2023.

Your Applications Made an Impact!

Your collective passion for career growth, as expressed by your applications, highlighted the immense need for financial support in career development among our staff members. Plans are in the works to expand funding for the 2024 award cycle. Look for more information in the fall!

$1 Million Boost for Staff Learning

The new Career Development Fund for Staff will receive $200,000 in annual funding from the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with an initial commitment of five years. The fund is administered by University Human Resources in partnership with the Voices of the Staff program. The Career Development Fund for Staff is here to help facilitate your learning, growth, and collaboration. The fund is an opportunity for staff and work teams at every academic campus and Michigan Medicine to request financial grants for career growth.

Evolution of a Voices of the Staff Initiative

The Career Development Fund for Staff builds on the Voices of the Staff Career Development Fund. The idea for the Voices fund came from Voices of the Staff alumni when asked to develop ways to celebrate the university's bicentennial.

Up to $1,500 Individual and $5,000 Team Grants

The fund supports staff in enhancing their professional experience at the university by offering grants of up to $1,500 for individuals and up to $5,000 for work teams to fund a wide range of learning opportunities.

Apply for Your Grant by January 30, 2023!

Questions? Contact U-M Staff Career Development Fund.

For Individual and Team Applicants

The information in this section provides more details on eligible activities and criteria. Your application for a professional, personal, or team development grant should emphasize how your request will benefit your work experience.

Examples of Eligible Activities or Expenses
Eligible activities for an individual or a team may include:

Tuition for instructional classes or events at an accredited institution

Coursework to earn a degree or certificate

Costs for educational resources (books, computers, etc.)

Workshop or seminar or conference

Artistic or creative endeavor

Exploring tools, technologies, or other resources intended to enhance team collaboration and dynamics

Other work-related professional development activity
Suggested Guidelines for the Application
Share how this professional development activity will support the values of the university (such as Integrity, Excellence, Respect, Inclusion, and Equity). Examples include how your request will:

Help you or your team develop new skills that enhance your effectiveness

Inspire you or your team to recognize your own and others’ values and talents

Help you establish connections to enhance communication

Enhance your creativity or problem-solving capacity

Build stronger work relationships and appreciation for one another

Build your capacity for leadership and achievement

Share how this activity benefits your work experience, in such areas as:

Goals and initiatives for your department, school, or unit

Your current role, or a role to which you aspire

Emerging issues that will impact our institution

Best practices

Development of your competencies

Team collaboration, camaraderie, or interpersonal dynamics

Your application should explain how this professional, personal, or team development activity will help you or your team to:

Develop new skills

Establish connections that open new channels of communication

Enhance your creativity

Build stronger work relationships

Build your capacity for leadership and achievement

Foster collaboration within a team or across teams in other units
General Eligibility and Expectations
All regular U-M staff members working at every academic campus and Michigan Medicine who are in good standing, with one or more years of service, are eligible to apply

Submissions are reviewed by the Voices of the Staff members and administered by University Human Resources

UPDATED 3/15/23: Grants are considered for expenses incurred in the current fiscal year (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023) and up to one year from the award date (expected in May 2023).

Individuals are eligible to receive grants once every two fiscal years
Awardee Information
The distribution of grant awards will be made via the completion of a reimbursement request in Concur

Awardee will submit one expense reimbursement request for the total reimbursement not to exceed their award and only up to the amount of actually incurred expenses

Those selected to receive grant awards will be notified about the specifics of their award and instruction on requesting reimbursement

Participants will be required to submit proof of participation in the career development activity for which grant funding is provided within the fiscal year

Individuals are eligible to receive grants once every two fiscal years
Additional Resources for Ongoing Learning

The University of Michigan is committed to the growth and development of its people. Examples of existing resources include Organizational Learning and the Tuition Support Program.
Did You Know? Arriving Home Honors Staff

The image on this page is a glimpse of the sculpture Arriving Home, which honors 200+ years of staff contributions to the University. Its purchase and placement were made possible by staff.

Jagdish Janveja (BA 1963) and Saroj Janveja (BA 1968) funded a gift in appreciation of the University’s dedicated staff, whose commitment and strength galvanize our never-ending mission.

A committee of Voices of the Staff members and colleagues in the President's Office along with the U-M Campus Planner selected the sculpture and its location near North University Ave.