Individual Development Awards Program

Individual Development Awards Program is sponsored by Office of Employee Relations. The Individual Development Awards (IDA) Program provides funding to enhance employment opportunities by assisting employees in their professional development. The awards support various projects or activities determined by each Campus Professional Development Committee.

UUP Individual Development Award Applications Now Being Accepted - Administrative Services Gateway - University at Buffalo UUP Individual Development Award Applications Now Being Accepted Published January 6, 2026 The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and United University Professions (UUP) announced the allocation of funds for Individual Development Awards (IDA) for activity between July 2, 2025 and July 1, 2026 .

Applications for projects or activities outside this timeframe will NOT be accepted. This program is intended to assist eligible employees in the UUP bargaining unit in developing their full professional potential and in preparing for advancement by funding professional development activities. The 2025-2026 Individual Development Awards Programs each provide a maximum individual award of up to $2,000.

Employees may be funded for up to two projects or activities, not to exceed a total of $2000 for the period. The Individual Development Award Committee will review applications, taking into consideration whether proposed activities will enable applicants to meet one or more of the criteria specified in the following SUNY Policies of Board of Trustees: Title A. Evaluation of Academic Employees, §4.

Criteria (a)-(e); Title B. Promotion of Academic Employees, §2. Criteria (a)-(e); or Title C.

Evaluation and Promotion of Professional Employees, §5. Criteria (a)-(e), of Article XII Evaluation and Promotion of Academic and Professional Employees, of the Policies of the Board of Trustees. Application deadline is Friday, February 20, 2026 Employees may be funded for up to two projects or activities.

Separate applications are required for each submission. Full-time employees must be in the UUP bargaining unit at the time of the award and during the dates of the proposed project. Full-time employees who accrue annual leave will not be required to charge credits for any activities funded by Individual Development Awards.

Part-time employees who meet the eligibility requirements for 26-week coverage for health benefits will have the same eligibility for Individual Development Awards. Part-time employees who are eligible for health benefits during the summer also are eligible for funding for activities that occur during the summer, whether or not they are on the payroll.

The Individual Development Award Committee will give preference for a minimum of 15 percent of the available funds to employees holding part-time appointments at the time of their activity if sufficient applications are received. Part-time employees who accrue annual leave will not be required to charge credits for any activities funded by Individual Development Awards. Types of Support for Projects and Activities have been expanded.

Quotes *may* be required – see guidelines for more information. Links embedded in guidelines and application form may reflect old information. Please note the time frames and documents referenced on this site are current.

Types of Eligible Projects or Activities Projects or activities must fall within the following categories: Basic, applied or historical research. Curriculum or instructional material development. Workshop, seminar, internship, or coursework not covered by Contract Article 46, Program for Tuition Assistance or SUNY tuition waiver.

Conference participation or attendance. Preparation of material for publication. Grant proposal development.

Artistic or creative endeavors. Other work-related professional development projects or activities. Funding can only be awarded for: Registration fees for conferences or workshops.

Professional organization membership fees which are bundled with a free or reduced members-only rate for conference or workshop attendance expenses. Travel and related expenses (including lodging and meals). Tuition at the maximum allowable SUNY rate at the time of application, excluding associated fees.

Fees for licensing or certification exam prep courses (e.g., USMLE Step 3 exam, medical board exam, or bar exam prep course, etc.). For reimbursement of exam fees, go to https://oer. ny.

gov/nysuupclefr Fees for continuing education courses (e.g., CME or CLE courses). Entrance or access fees to institutions or archives that house materials which are related to, and the review or use of which is necessary, to complete the research or artistic endeavor.

Funds are available for expenses related to professional development projects or activities that are not provided by the employee’s campus, department, program, or through other funding sources, including research materials, short term use of specialized equipment, services for skills, and costs associated with publication.

Consumable artistic or research materials, which are necessary to complete the research or artistic endeavor (e.g., reagents, antibodies, dyes, art supplies, sheet music). Fees for short term use of specialized equipment or skills (e.g., sound mixing/engineering, recording studio fees, video recording and editing fees, performance space rentals, real time PCR testing, RNA sequencing).

The General Program Information document applies to all JLMC/UUP programs. Information that is useful to apllicants includes the Expenditure Limitations sections which lists the types of expenses ineligible to be reimbursed under this program. All funding requests must conform to the State Comptroller's Rules and Regulations and limitations contained therein.

Additional justification for specific items may be requested. Should an individual receive an award, it must be a direct payment to the award recipient and may no longer be processed through an Inter-Departmental Invoice (IDI) .

Application Procedure for Buffalo Center Chapter Employees ONLY Submit applications in the form of a single PDF File : Buffalo Center Chapter Employees : By Friday, February 20, 2026 Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: Buffalo Center Chapter Employees : ub-ida-committee@buffalo.

edu The UB UUP IDA Committee webpage enables the committee to share updated information about the award process including FAQs. Only complete applications will be considered. One application per project/activity.

2025 -2026 Guidelines and Award Application Since the IDA Application is submitted via UB Box using your @buffalo. edu email address, a signature is not required.

Along with the completed application (view the application instructions ), applicants must submit the following in a single PDF document in the following order : A description of the project or activity including: Type of event, event site and sponsor Whether the employee is presenting a paper or formally participating. If presenting a paper, the title of the paper and nature of the presentation must be provided.

Identify multiple people attending the same conference. Letter of acceptance of the paper, poster or other proposal. If acceptance is pending, please provide an explanation including timeframe estimations.

How this project or activity will further the employee’s professional development or otherwise assist in preparing for advancement. A brochure, announcement or other relevant material describing the project or activity. If material is not yet available, please provide an explanation including estimated material availability.

Details and justification for travel expenses including the type of travel, cost of travel and cost of lodging per night. Any other supporting documentation. Budget Summary (Part C of the application).

Provide expenditures to be incurred to complete the project or activity. Please refer to Part C: Budget Summary of the application instructions to complete this section. NOTE: “JLMC Funds” on the Budget Summary refers to the amount being requested from the Individual Development Awards Program.

If there will be a campus contribution or other sources of funding then applicant must explain in the appropriate box(es) under 'Campus Contribution' on the application or application may be rejected.

A justification of cost must be provided for funds to support projects or activities under 4(c) above, that are not provided by the employee’s campus, department, program or through other funding sources, that require research materials, fees for short term use of specialized equipment, or services for skills, and costs associated with publication Proof of cost from a vendor or firm.

A reliable vendor or firm should be selected, and services or items purchased should be at a reasonable cost. Internet quotes for purchases are acceptable. Whenever possible Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) vendor or firm should be used In instances where a single source vendor or firm has been selected, a justification and the process used to select the single source vendor or firm must be provided.

In addition to the above the following applies: When purchasing a single item or service of $250. 00 or more, or multiple items of the same whose total is $250. 00 or more but less than $500.

00, two different vendor or firm price quotes or a single source justification must be submitted. This applies if purchasing multiple items that cost less than $250. 00 each but due to the number of items total more than $250.

00 but less than $500. 00. When purchasing a single item or service of $500.

00 or more, or multiple items of the same, whose total is $500. 00 or more, three different vendor or firm price quotes or a single source justification must be submitted. This applies if purchasing multiple items that cost less than $500 each but due to the number of items purchased cost $500.

00 or more. Enter the lowest vendor or firm price quote in the budget summary. Shipping is an allowable expense.

IMPORTANT UB-Specific Requirement UB requires all IDA Applications to include a statement regarding the availability of campus contributions. If any other sources of funding are available, then this information needs to be added to the "Identify Other Sources" field on page 3 of the IDA application form.

If no other funding is available, then please write that "no other funding is available" in the "Identify Other Sources" field on page 3 of the IDA application form. Applicants are expected to be notified of award decisions late in the spring 2026 semester.