Professional Development Funds

What is the Professional Development Fund?

The purpose of the Professional Development Fund (PDF) is to defray some of the travel and other expenses incurred by students for participation in internships, conferences or GSPIA-approved study abroad programs; doctoral students may also request funding to support dissertation research. In making its allocations, the PDF committee considers the quality of the student’s academic record, financial need, and the merit of the proposed activity. 

When is the application due?

There are three rounds of funding - October, March, and May. Applications are typically due on the 10th of the month of each round. The application is completed online through GSPIA Connections. An email announcement will be made when each round's application period opens.

How much funding can I apply for?

The amount of funds granted will typically represent only part of total expenses and students should expect to receive no more than $500 to support a U.S. conference trip, $1000 to support a U.S. internship, $2000 to support an international conference/study trip or internship, $2000 to support U.S. dissertation research, and $5000 to support international dissertation research.

*Please note doctoral candidates can only apply in the October Round for dissertation research funding.

What are some basic guidelines for the application?

The PDF is a competitive process for students to apply for funding. You need to make sure you follow the directions provided. Consideration for your application is based on academic merit, financial need, completeness of application, and how you prepare your budget. Therefore, you need to pay close attention to the funding maximum for the eligible funding expenses. Funding is not guaranteed.

What are the endowments?

Depending the round for which you are applying, there are several endowments available for students to apply. Endowments are made of monies donated to GSPIA for specific purposes. If you are considering applying for funding, please carefully read the endowment guidelines. You will need to submit additional materials.

What are the budget details?

All expenses must be budgeted for in the original application and accompanied by an original receipt per the University of Pittsburgh policy. The award letter will indicate the expenses approved for reimbursement. In the event of a destination or purpose change, a revised application and budget must be submitted for review and approval. Below is a guide of allowable and unallowable expenses. This is not all-inclusive.

*Note: Expenses can only be reimbursed for after the trip/event has occurred per University policy. Students are required to complete a Travel and Business Expense Report Form for reimbursement (University-approved form).

What are generally allowable items on the PDF?

These items must be included in your budget and accompanied by an original receipt.

• Airfare (require receipt and Boarding Passes)

• Lodging (only outside Pittsburgh lodging)

• Transportation

• Registration Fees

• Program Fees

• Enrollment Fees

• Mileage on a personal vehicle in lieu of gas reimbursement. Gas receipts are required as the form of back-up. When a personal car is used (per the application), mileage will be reimbursed at the approved rates.

What are items NOT allowed on the PDF?

These items are NOT allowed in your budget for the PDF.

• Any items that are NOT accompanied by an original receipt

• Per Diem (Receipts are required for reimbursement)

• Clothing

• Food/Meals (includes drinks and groceries)

• Entertainment/Excursion costs (i.e. city tours)

• Passport Fees

• Health Insurance

• Cell phone, internet, or personal communication bills

• Pittsburgh (hometown) rent & utilities while away (also includes if the trip/internship was also in the city)

• Emergency funds, miscellaneous, or spending money categories will not be funded. A detailed description is required.

What is the time frame for the reimbursement?

Generally speaking, the University’s Payment Processing Department takes on average 3-4 weeks to process a payment. There is no guarantee on the time frame; however, it could take less or more time depending on their workload.

If you have any questions on the Professional Development Fund, you can contact Career Services.

LinkedIn 101

LinkedIn is an excellent tool for all professionals to build their network and maintain professional connections. Today, there are over 90 million users and staying active is important. So if you do not have a LinkedIn account (it’s free!) or are not active, follow these tips on getting started!

Profile

The first place you need to start is your profile. You should fill out as much information as possible. Think of your profile as your online resume so it needs to be complete and up to date. Here are the things you need to include on your profile:

•  Professional looking photo

• Professional Headline

• Summary

• Your current position

• Past experience

• Your education (both undergraduate and graduate)

• Skills or Expertise

When updating your profile, you can add as much information as you like. LinkedIn allows you to customize your profile with information including coursework, projects, and more.

Customize Your URL

Now that you have updated your profile with all of your experience and skills, you should consider creating a customized URL. Having your name in your LinkedIn URL will make employers and potential connections able to find you easier. To customize your URL, you will need to do the following:

• Click “Edit Profile” when you’re on profile

• Look at the bottom of your basic information, click “Edit” next to the URL

• On the right toolbar, click “Customize Your Public Profile”

• Then set your custom URL

Use the LinkedIn App

Stay up to date with LinkedIn by downloading the free app for your phone. It is available on  Apple and Android phones.

Recommendations

Often employers use LinkedIn to research potential employees to find out about their previous and current experience. Having positive recommendations from your past experiences is excellent way to stand out to employers.

You should take the time to reach out to your previous and current employers to seek recommendations. Sending a personalized message to employers asking them to recommend your work is the first step. Ask them to be specific and highlight certain attributes you would like highlighted. You can also drop key words you would like to be included in your recommendation. The more recommendations you have the more likely employers will believe you are the best candidate for the position.

Active Participation

You should join the professional groups on LinkedIn. These groups often have discussion boards and job postings. Actively participating in the group discussion by starting conversations, commenting on postings, and liking posts is a great way to get noticed by potential employers. The more you put into the group the more you will get out of it. The groups are an excellent way to keep in contact with other professionals and keep up to date on your field.

If you have any question on LinkedIn, you contact us by setting up an appointment on Connections!

*The links provided are helpful tips to enhance your LinkedIn experience!