The Professional Development Fund (PDF) is a small allocation of University funds which supports the research and training of non-Senate faculty (members of Unit 18) at Berkeley. Funds are awarded competitively by a committee of peers, subject to the approval of the Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs. They are disbursed by the Academic Personnel Office under the University's standards for allowable expenses and documentation.

The chief criterion for the selection of awards is an evaluation of the project's contribution the applicant's professional growth (including research) and to pedagogy at the University. The PDF will fund travel and conference expenses, training courses, software and paid leave (if the faculty member has a continuing appointment). "Paid leave" allows a lecturer with a continuing appointment relief from teaching for a semester to conduct research or engage in some other scholarly activity, and the lecturer's department would hire a replacement instructor while a member is on leave. An application for paid leave should include letters of support from the department to indicate that this arrangement would be possible.

The Committee circulates a call for applications once a year. The applications are checked for completeness and then ranked based on the committee members' assessment of the likelihood that the project will contribute to the faculty member's professional growth and to the teaching at UC Berkeley.

There is no limit on how often an individual may apply or receive an award. Grants are in the range of $1,000 to $8,000 and the pool of funds is limited (about $35,000 per year). For all proposals the Committee considers whether alternate sources of funding are available. In particular, it is a departmental responsibility to provide faculty with access to equipment needed for instruction.
 

 FAQ

Q: Can I apply for reimbursement for something I've already paid for?
A: Yes. The Committee understands that there will be some circumstances in which a faculty member will already have committed to attend a conference and may have already submitted a registration fee, for example.

Q: I don't know if my paper will be accepted at a conference, can I apply?
A: Assuming you would attend the conference in any case (with or without the acceptance of your paper), then yes, you can apply.

Q: I'd like to take this summer off from teaching so that I can finish my book. Can I apply for Paid Leave?
A: No. PDF Paid Leave only applies during the School Year to Unit 18 members with continuing appointments .

Q: Can I ask for Paid Leave (Course Relief) for more than one course?
A: Yes, up to the limit of $8,000 including benefits. Relief for more than one course would raise the total of the grant and the Committee would carefully consider how this would affect the ability to recommend other proposals.

Q: I'm in my first year at Berkeley, may I apply for a grant?
A: Yes, all members of Unit 18 are eligible to apply.

Q: I'm almost finished turning my  thesis into a book. Can I use PDF funds to pay for a typist?
A: Although you could apply for this, it's unlikely that PDF funds would be awarded for secretarial support unless there was a very clear link to specific courses offered at UC Berkeley (for example, the book would be used in photo-copy form to offer a course for which no textbook exists).

Q: Is it possible to get a grant for classroom equipment?
A: This is possible if the equipment is needed for a particular course, especially one that is regularly offered. The application should explain why the equipment could not be bought from departmental funds, especially if it was likely to be used by several people.

Q: Can I get a grant for software?
A: Yes. However, the University has many broad "site-licenses" that may provide you with free access to the software--check with your department first.

Q: I'm a performing artist. Could I ask for a grant to travel overseas to collaborate with another artist?
A: Yes. The application would be evaluated on the contribution to your professional development and the "payoff" for teaching at Berkeley.

Q: What is the limit on what the University will pay for travel?
A: The University will pay for coach airfare. Be careful in preparing  your budget that a discount fare may not be available at the time you go to make your reservations. Choose a mid-range, typical, fare in preparing the budget. If your actual fare is more than the proposed budget, you may not receive full reimbursement. There are city-by-city limits on the maximum allowable for lodging, meals and miscellaneous expenses. Consult with your department administrator to learn the rules. All your expenditures must have receipts.