The Professional Development Fund annually offers grants to support any activity that advances professional growth. There is no restriction on project focus; however, activities that address gender issues will receive special consideration. Funding may be applied to conference travel, publication costs, and research expenses but is not restricted to these endeavors. The Caucus intends to provide up to $500.00 to no more than two members each academic year. Proposals can come from an individual, a team, or a group. Grants will be adjusted accordingly.
Eligibility: The fund is available to all members of the Madison Caucus for Gender Equality in good standing. Current steering committee members are not eligible to apply. Members who receive funding are not eligible to receive another grant for two years unless the Caucus Board decides that extenuating circumstances warrant a waiver of this eligibility condition.
Guidelines for Proposals
Application Procedures: Applicants must submit an original proposal and abbreviated curriculum vitae/résumé to the Professional Development Fund Committee of the Madison Caucus for Gender Equality via e-mail attachment. Proposals for 2023 are due by May 23, 2023.
Acknowledgments: Any publication, exhibition, or other final product that results from activity supported by these funds should indicate: "This work was supported by the James Madison University Madison Caucus for Gender Equality Professional Development Fund."
Proposal Format:
Summary: Describe the project in 300 words.
Narrative: The narrative should include the following, using no more than two double-spaced pages.
- Describe the project or activity.
- State the objectives of the project or activity as related to professional development.
- Explain the activities or procedures you will use to implement the project or activity.
- Detail the need for these funds and itemize other support for the project, if any.
- Discuss the projected outcomes of the project or activity.
If the project involves human subjects (JMU Policy 1104) or live vertebrate animals (JMU Policy 2202), the proposal must include documentation that the applicant has completed Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) with the Office of Research Integrity in advance of protocol submission to the Institutional Review Board or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Recipients will report outcomes from the project to the Caucus Professional Development Fund Committee in writing, and the Caucus may invite recipients to present their activity in a public forum.
Evaluation: The Caucus will consider proposed projects or activities on their merits. Reviewers will consider professional credentials when evaluating proposals of equal or comparable significance and determine the applicant's potential to complete planned projects or activities.
Notification: The recipient(s) will be announced by June 9, 2023.
