Faculty Development FAQs
Q Where are the
application forms?
A The Request
for Funds forms are now located on the FDC webpage in Word
document format for convenient downloading and submitting
electronically. Just click on the link to access the form.
Q Do all my personal
funds need to be used before I can apply for an FDC grant?
A Yes, however,
one can also apply any unused personal funds towards the request
if the amount requested is larger than the remaining personal
funds. The grant awarded will then make up the difference.
Personal funds (which this year are $655) can be ‘rolled-over’
for up to three years for a total of four years of accrued funds
before the first year’s funds are relinquished. However,
all personal funds, including rollover year amounts, must be
used before or in process of the application of an FDC grant.
Q How does the reimbursement
process work?
A Once you have been
awarded a grant by the Faculty Development Committee, you are
entitled to that monetary amount in the form of reimbursement.
In order to receive your reimbursement, you must collect all
receipts relevant to your expenses, including a record of travel
miles, places, and dates if you drive your own car, and fill in
a blue Business Expense Report, available from your department
secretary. There is also a smaller, white Houghton College
Debit form available if you need a cash advance before you have
receipts and can fill in the expense report. If your
reimbursement is different than your FDC award, you must also
fill out a triplicate form, available from your department
secretary, so that FDC can accurately record funds expenditure.
The committee requires that you submit a brief written report
(at least a short paragraph) describing the successful outcomes
and accomplishments of your project. Please take your blue
expense report, with receipts attached, debit form and/or
triplicate form (if applicable), and project report to Julie
Haingray in Luckey building. Alternatively, you can submit
all your documentation to your department secretary and it will
be forwarded to Julie. A cash reimbursement
requires a signature in person. A check reimbursement will
be mailed to you within two weeks of submitting your
documentation.
Q What happens if my
actual expenses do not equal the grant that was awarded to me?
A As project
proposals and request for funds sometimes involve estimations of
expenses, the amount awarded and expenses accrued may be
different figures. Any funds not reimbursed due to lower
actual expenses remain in the FDC budget for other awards.
Please include the triplicate form with your document
submission.
Q Is there a cap for how much
I can request for an FDC grant per academic year?
A Yes. The cap
for AY '07-'08 is $1,100. The cap is necessary to provide
the most equitable distribution of funds among the faculty for
the purpose of supporting as many worthwhile projects as
possible. As long as any faculty member is under the cap,
there is provision for applying for additional funds within a
given year.
Q Is there a strategy for
applying earlier in the year vs. later?
A No.
There is generally a similar amount of available funds for each
of the four rounds, and it is helpful to the committee if the
number of proposals is spread across the year in an even
fashion. The best guide in terms of when to submit your
proposal is the date(s) of your project. One can submit
before or after the project takes place, but it is best to have
the reimbursement occur as close to proximity of the accruing of
expenses as possible. IRS tax laws specify
that funds must be reimbursed within 60 days of the date that
expenses were incurred in order to be tax-exempt.
Q Are there other fund
resources other than FDC grants?
A Yes. In
addition to annual personal funds of $655 per faculty
member, the Dean’s office provides up to $165 per faculty member
for professional memberships. Consult your department
and/or the Dean’s office for further information.
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