The LACUNY Professional Development Committee is accepting applications for the Spring 2025 LACUNY Professional Development Travel Grant: 

• Three grants of up to $600 each will be awarded to LACUNY members with Full Membership for the purpose of attending library-related conferences, meetings, or events that take place during Spring 2025 or after.

• Proposals will be blind-reviewed.

• This is not a PSC-CUNY Research Awards travel grant. It is separate from any funds which may be available through a particular college or department for faculty travel—the availability of such funds plays no role in the roundtable's decision-making.

• Deadline for submission is March 27, 2025 (11:59 PM EST). 

• Please carefully read the Grant Award Guidelines below before applying.

Please submit to the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjmiDqqk70asixt8svR3G8MscTO0s6T3yzJYqEOWLwCu1ovA/viewform

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:  

1. Proposals should be no longer than 500 words (applications submitted with more than 500 words will not be considered), explaining how presenting or participating in a particular contributing role, other than as audience, can benefit the applicant in his/her professional development, and will be evaluated according to these categories*:

* The rubric is based on 21 points: categories 1 through 4 are 5 points each (where 1 is the lowest score and 5 is the best score) and category 5 will receive either a 1 for yes or 0 for no.

o   Category 1: How does attendance further LACUNY's mission?

o   Category 2: Are the objectives of the proposal clearly communicated?

o   Category 3: How does attendance contribute to areas of special focus within CUNY libraries?

o   Category 4: How does attendance help the participant explore new trends in the field?

o   Category 5: Is the candidate selected as a speaker/presenter in Conference (formal acceptance letter/proof of invitation, or email correspondence, from the organization sponsoring the conference/meeting mandatory)? 

2.      Budget: The inclusion of a detailed budget indicating the following

o   Estimation of travel expenses (by most economical method) 

o   Air

o   Train

o   Car

o   Other

o   Meals

o   Lodging

o   Registration fee

Local travel (to/from the destination train/bus station or airport, or between venues)

Rules and Eligibility: 

o   Three grants of up to $600 each will be awarded to LACUNY members with Full Membership for the purpose of attending library-related conferences, meetings, or events that take place during Spring 2025 or after.  Applicants must be LACUNY Members with Full Membership at the time of application submission (PayPal or checks should be received prior to the submission deadline, not postmarked). Applications which do not meet membership requirements will not be considered.

o   LACUNY Full Membership is open to anyone on the staff of the City University of New York Libraries holding a master's degree in library science from an accredited institution, and to anyone holding a Master's degree in educational technology or a Master's degree in computer science.  Learn more about LACUNY Membership. 

o   Proposals will be blind-reviewed.

o   Awards will not be given to more than one person from each institution.

o   Past grant awardees are eligible to apply two full years after they have won.

o   Availability—or lack of availability—of travel funds at local colleges or library departments are not considered.

o   This is not a PSC-CUNY Research Awards travel grant. It is separate from any funds which may be available through a particular college or department for faculty travel—the availability of such funds plays no role in the roundtable's decision-making.  

Important Information:

o   It is advised that you have a draft of your proposal reviewed for input by a supportive senior colleague prior to submitting.

o   It is important that you demonstrate the impact the conference/event will have on your work when you return.

o   Awardees will need to submit a summary report soon after returning from the conference to co-chairs of the Professional Development Roundtable.

o   Awardees will receive detailed instructions regarding reimbursement of expenses with their notification.    

Nandi Prince, Chair
LACUNY Professional Development Committee
NPrince@citytech.cuny.edu