Professional Development Award Overview

The Professional Development Award is a competitive award designed to financially assist Northeastern University’s current Seattle Campus graduate students in attending co-curricular professional development such as academic conferences, workshops, etc.

Professional Development Award Overview

The application opens May 1st 2024.

  1. Students could be awarded up to $650 in funds per academic year (May to May).
  2. Student Affairs will cover the professional development using staff credit cards. However, if a student pays for the Professional Development before being awarded, they can be reimbursed but must follow the NU reimbursement protocol.
  3. Any misuse of funding will be followed up with through the conduct process AND/or reimbursement of funding from the student back to the university.
  4. This is a competitive annual award. 

*The information on this handout is subject to change at any time. Please review the professional development webpage information/requirements. All nominations must be submitted electronically through qualtrics 

Contact Shatera Davis at sea.sa@northeastern.edu for more information.

To be eligible for funding, you must be:

    1. A current graduate student at the Seattle Campus,
    2. Active and enrolled during the term in which the conference/event occurs OR enrolled in the previous term and intending to enroll in the following term, AND must not be on any academic or university probation and have no holds on NU account.
  • Name of Professional Development
  • Type of professional development (i.e conference, boot camp, workshop, etc.)
  • Date of Professional Development (mm/dd/yyyy)
  • Please provide an informational website for professional development (if possible). 
  • Short essay: Please summarize your proposed professional development or training enrichment activities. The statement should explain why this is a unique opportunity and how it will advance your degree completion and/or career goals. ( 550  characters (120 to 150 words).
  • Short essay: Please provide a brief statement on how this professional development will contribute to your understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion  550  characters (120 to 150 words). 
  • Resume (pdf.)
  • Recommendation Letter (see separate requirements)
  • The total cost of registration for the conference/event. (Do not include supplemental expenses such as travel or lodging.)
  • Are you receiving funding from any other Northeastern office/department/college?

 

 

  • Eligible applicants must fully complete this funding application. 
  • The applications opens May 1st and close June 26th.
  • If awarded, the funding will only be available for the academic year the award was approved unless professional development is postponed. 

 

Applications submitted will be subject to panel review and evaluated holistically for completion of the two major components: accuracy of the application and anticipated benefit of the program.
If awarded the professional development award, students will be notified via their Northeastern student email address. The email will include the next steps required for successful awarding.
Any errors or amendments must be communicated to NU-Seattle Student Affairs staff before payment of the award.

Please keep in mind that this is a competitive award. 

  1. The following types of expenses are eligible for reimbursement 
    1. Certification training if applicable. 
    2. Conference registration fees 
    3. Online webinars or training modules 
  2. Examples of costs not eligible for reimbursement include 
    1. Academic work for NU credit 
    2. Travel 
    3. Lodging, or food expenses –
    4. Editing services 
    5. Professional Coaching
    6. any research activities, training, or certifications that are part of or required by the degree program
Recommendation Letters should be in a pdf format with company letterhead but should be submitted electronically via a Qualtrics form.  The link will be released on May 1st 
Recommendation Overview
Please explain how the opportunity will complement the degree program and contribute to the student’s professional preparedness. The letter of recommendation should be on official letterhead with a handwritten or e-signature. An application is not considered complete until a recommendation letter is submitted. Strong recommendation letters will  cover one or more of the following topics:
 
  • How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
  • How does the professional development opportunity align with the applicant’s career path? 
  • How do you think the applicant will benefit from the Professional Development Award?
  • Anything else we should know about the applicant?
The recommendation letter is due by Monday, June 24th, 2023 11:59 pm.

Types of Professional Development 

Students on Seattle Campus

Contact Us

If you have questions please email sea.sa@northeastern.edu