{"id":12054,"date":"2025-08-11T17:13:43","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T21:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/excellence\/?page_id=12054"},"modified":"2026-07-02T13:32:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T17:32:46","slug":"professional-development-fund-for-salaried-lecturers-and-instructors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/excellence\/programs-services\/faculty-development\/professional-development-fund-for-salaried-lecturers-and-instructors\/","title":{"rendered":"Salaried Lecturers and Instructors Professional Development Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 2018, as part of the bargaining agreement between Boston University Trustees and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU, Local 509), a professional development fund was created for salaried lecturers and instructors. The fund provides opportunities for salaried lecturers and instructors to extend their professional development through attending conferences, training programs, and other opportunities or resources related to their teaching at Boston University.<\/p>\n

Initially, the annual amount available for the fund was set at $50,000; with the new bargaining agreement for 2021-2025, the professional development fund makes $75,000 available for applications for professional development each year.<\/p>\n

If the full $75,000 is not disbursed each fiscal year (July-June), rollover of funds may occur (the fund will not exceed $100,000). If you would like to know more about the details of this agreement, please refer to the\u00a0<\/span>2021-2025 contract.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Now Accepting Applications for AY26-27.<\/h3>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n

Who can apply?<\/h3>
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Applications are welcome from those covered by the agreement: all non-tenured or non-tenure-track lecturers, senior lecturers, master lecturers, and instructors who are salaried (whether full-time, part-time, or half-time), and who teach at least one credit-bearing course on the Charles River Campus of Boston University, including the Metropolitan College Prison Program.<\/p>\n

See\u00a0<\/span>the Human Resources website<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>for a list of folks who are not part of this bargaining unit and are therefore not covered by the agreement.<\/p>\n

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How much can I apply for?<\/h3>
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You may apply for up to $1,200 each fiscal year (July-June) in the general fund.<\/span><\/p>\n

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May I apply more than once?<\/h3>
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Typically, you may only apply once to the general professional development fund each fiscal year. However, if there are additional funds available by May of each fiscal year, you may apply for a supplementary amount.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How do I apply?<\/h3>
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Complete the application <\/span>at least\u00a0<\/span>one month<\/em>\u00a0before the proposed professional development activity. You will need to provide details of the proposed professional development activity or resource, including how it will benefit your teaching, and all expected costs. You also need to provide a letter of support from the Chair or Director of your department or unit and a recent CV. Please note that you will be reimbursed\u00a0<\/span>after<\/em>\u00a0costs have been incurred, when you submit your receipts to your unit or department business office.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When do applications close each fiscal year?<\/h3>
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Applications typically close in mid-June for end-of-fiscal year processing and will re-open in mid-July. However, if the total fund has been committed prior to mid-June, we may need to close the fund to applications earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What's the process?<\/h3>
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Once your application has been received, it will be processed and reviewed through the Boston University Info Ready Review system. You will receive notifications from this system when your application is submitted and if your application is approved or rejected. If approved, you will also receive an email from our office with further information on how to access the funding and where you should submit your receipts for reimbursement. Once your activity is complete, you must also complete a short activity report documenting your experience and its applicability to teaching and learning.<\/p>\n

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How long does the approval process take?<\/h3>
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You should expect to hear from the Institute for Excellence in Teaching & Learning within four to six weeks of submitting your application. If you do not hear back within this time period, please email excellence@bu.edu<\/a> to ask about the status of your application.<\/p>\n

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Are there other funds covered by the agreement that I may apply for?<\/h3>
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Salaried lecturers and instructors may also apply to the Supplementary Technology Fund<\/a> once every three years.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What else do I need to know about using these funds?<\/h3>
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