Career Development Program
The Career Development Program (CDP) is for employees who are represented by the AFT (membership not required) to gain support for their professional development. Open to librarians, tenure track and teaching faculty, and professional staff, this program supports employees in their career development.
Possible uses of career development funds include, but are not limited to, establishing new skills or areas of expertise through meetings, workshops, symposia, short courses, training programs, etc.
The application consists of a written proposal and a breakdown of requested budget items. It is recommended that applicants submit just one proposal, which may include a few elements that are tied together by a common theme.
Note: Career Development funds are not to be used to support conference presentations or fund research activities.
Eligibility
AFT-eligible employees are eligible for Career Development Funds, provided they will be fully employed by the university during the year in which the funds would be distributed.
Completion of the five-year self-assessment is a condition of eligibility for tenured faculty and librarians who are at five or more years post-tenure and thus are expected to complete their five-year self-assessment.
CDP Criteria
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Project Plan and Feasibility
The quality and clarity of the proposed project plan, including the extent to which it is well-designed, realistic, and sufficient to complete the project and achieve the stated outcomes. This criterion also considers the employee’s preparedness to carry out the plan, as demonstrated through the proposal and in alignment with the proposal guidelines.
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Impact
The extent to which the proposed project will meaningfully support the employee’s professional growth and career development in alignment with the employee’s role, office or department, and the University’s mission. Proposals should clearly articulate how the project aligns with the employee’s career goals and how it is relevant to, and will enhance, the employee’s role and contributions at Montclair State University.
Priorities
- Applications that are consistent with the expressed direction/mission and needs of the college/university;
- Applications to improve instruction; or
- Applications from full-time faculty, librarians, and professional staff who have experienced a reassignment.
CDP Application
To apply you will need to submit the following items:
- Completed Application
- The application asks tenured faculty and librarians to affirm that they have submitted a five-year self-assessment report.
- Resumé or CV
Application due March 2, 2026 by 4:30 PM
Qualtrics Link
Proposal Components
Please write a proposal (up to 3 pages) answering the following questions. Your proposal will be uploaded into the survey. Note that projects for this application cycle must be conducted during the period 07/01/2026- 06/30/2027.
Indicate the value of the project to your professional career, as well as to the University and other faculty, librarians, and/or professional staff (e.g., follow-up, in-house seminars), and outline your anticipated outcomes. Explain how your project is aligned with the Program’s criteria and priorities, including how your project relates to 1) areas for improvement identified in previous assessments such as reappointment or performance evaluations, or 2) a five-year self-assessment report.
Detail your timeline and budget. As you detail your budget, provide an estimated cost of the project and explain how the costs were estimated. Since you will be asked to enter specific dollar amounts by category later in the survey, in this section, you can simply provide a narrative to guide readers.
The University Career Development Committee will review and evaluate your application based on these guidelines and requirements. Be sure your proposal is clear and concise.
Tips:
- For travel, explain with details the mode(s) of travel, dates, meals, lodging, etc. All amounts should be in US dollars only. Travel regulations established by the Government Service Administration (GSA) limit travel expenses. See Montclair Travel Regulations for further travel guidance.
- For equipment/ supplies, describe the materials specifically and state why existing university equipment does not suffice.
Application Timeline
Applications Due: March 2, 2026 by 4:30 PM
University Career Development Committee Recommendations on April 15, 2026 by 4:30 PM
Award Notifications sent to applicants on May 15, 2026 by 4:30 PM
Funds available from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Please review the directions and complete the downloadable application before beginning the submission via Qualtrics.