Professional Development Grant
Virginia Tech makes intentional efforts to support the professional development of its advisors by providing funds to support the development of faculty, professional, and staff advisors who serve undergraduate students in an advising capacity. All undergraduate academic advisors are eligible to submit an application for this grant.
What Grant Recipients Will Receive
- A $500 professional development grant to assist with expenses related to advising conferences and events.
- The option to work with the AAI office to uplift their application to one of the following NACADA scholarships, which are limited to 1 nominee per campus:
- Christy Carlson Memorial Scholarships
- Wes Habley Institute for Academic Advising Scholarship
- New Advisor Annual Conference Scholarship
- Administrator’s Institute Scholarship
- Assessment Institute Scholarship
- Recognition on VT’s advising website, social media, and at the Advising Matters Conference
Applicants are not eligible to receive the professional development grant for two consecutive years.
This year’s list of professional development opportunities includes, but are not limited to the following events sponsored by The Global Community for Academic Advising (NACADA):
- Annual Conference
- Region 2 Conference
- Administrators’ Institute
- Advising Seminars
- Assessment Institute
- Summer Institute
- Webinars
Details about each of these events can be found on NACADA's website.
Other non-NACADA events to consider (but not limited to):
- The Appreciative Advising Institute
- National Resource Center FYE & Students in Transition Conference & Events
- The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students
- National Resource Center Continuing Education Courses
Application Requirements
- Philosophy of Advising
- 1-2 page personal statement addressing:
- The professional development you intend to participate in if award the grant
- Goals you hope to accomplish through participating in this professional development.
- How the information gained through this participation will be utilized in your department;
- How the information gained will enhance your professional development and advising practice (i.e. how it will benefit your students).
| Applications Open | Applications Due | Winners Notified |
|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2024 | September 6, 2024 by 11:59 p.m | September 20, 2024 |
You will be prompted to sign in to your Google account to complete the application.
How Recipients are Selected
The selection committee includes representatives from the advising community who will review and rank applications using the following rubric:
2024-25 Professional Development Grant Application Rubric
| Award Criteria | Inadequate = 0 No evidence is demonstrated |
Fair = 1 Some evidence is demonstrated |
Proficient = 2 Most evidence is demonstrated; meets expectations |
Outstanding = 3 All evidence is demonstrated; exceeds expectations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Statement Part a-goals for participating | The statement is poorly written, or demonstrates a lack of effort and focus. Applicant has not listed or described the goals they hope to accomplish through participation in a professional development | Applicant briefly describes a few goals that they hope to accomplish through participation in a professional development | Applicant includes several goals that they hope to accomplish through participation in a professional development and describes them generally | Applicant has well-articulated and descriptive list of goals related directly to participating in chosen professional development opportunity |
| Personal Statement Part b-use in department | Applicant has not stated how information gained through participation in a professional development will be utilized in their department | Applicant briefly describes how information gained through participation in a professional development will be utilized in their department | Applicant includes several general statements about how information gained through participation in a professional development will be utilized in their department | Applicant has well-articulated and descriptive statements on how the information gained through participation in a professional development will be utilized in their department |
| Personal Statement Part c-enhancement of professional development and advising practice |
Applicant has not stated how their participation will enhance their professional development and advising practice | Applicant briefly describes how their participation will enhance their professional development and advising practice | Applicant includes several general statements about how their participation will enhance their professional development and advising practice | Applicant has well-articulated and descriptive statements as to how their participation will enhance their professional development and advising practice |
| Advising Philosophy | Advising philosophy statement is poorly written, or demonstrates a lack of effort and focus | Advising philosophy statement is not as well-written or as in-depth as it could have been | Advising philosophy statement is well-written/thoughtful but it could have been more focused/in-depth | Advising philosophy statement is well-written with details that are thoughtful and focused |
Additional NACADA Scholarship Opportunities
The following scholarships are open to an unlimited number of applicants from a single campus and therefore anyone at VT who is a member of NACADA can apply on their own. Let us know if you would like assistance with your application packet.
- Region 2 Conference Scholarship (PDF)
- Region 2 NACADA Webinar Scholarship (PDF)
- Region 2 Graduate Student Scholarship (PDF)
- Graduate Student Annual Scholarship (PDF)
2023 Professional Development Grant Winners
Christina Minford
College of Science
Emily Vedder
College of Science