FIELD Grant Funding – Faculty/Staff Request

The application form to request funding is at the very bottom of this page under the section “Contact Information.” Additionally, you may click here to access the form.

Program Overview

The Career Accelerator Fund is supported by generous donors to Dickinson College and administered by the Center for Career Development. In alignment with the Faculty for Integrated Experiential Learning and Development (FIELD) framework, this funding supports career‑connected, experiential learning opportunities for students that extend or complement academic coursework and faculty‑led initiatives.

FIELD grants focus on enabling faculty‑driven career development-related activities and skill enhancement for students. In general, professional development experiences should be utilized to complement coursework within the curriculum, not to supplant or replace it. Examples of faculty-led initiatives may include but are not limited to:

  • Professional or industry conferences tied to disciplinary or career pathways
  • Employer site visits
  • Employer or alumni networking events
  • Guest speakers from professional industries
  • Structured job shadowing or short‑term professional exposure experiences
  • Skills‑based certifications or trainings relevant to specific industries or fields

All requests are reviewed by the Center for Career Development and awarded on a rolling basis, subject to available funding and/or award limits.

Eligibility and Award Priorities

To ensure equitable access to funding opportunities:

  • Maximum award: $3,500 per faculty-sponsored activity per academic year (July 1 through June 30)
  • Grants are available each academic year until funds are exhausted.
  • Faculty members may receive a FIELD grant once every other academic year.
  • Some courses with substantial pre-existing career integration funding or programming may not be eligible for FIELD grants.
  • Priority is given to:
    1. First-time applicants
    2. Applications received earlier in the funding cycle

Funding Deadlines

FIELD grant applications are accepted between July 1 and March 15 of each academic year.

Please note:

  • Applications must be submitted at least 30 calendar days before the proposed activity.
  • Funding cannot be awarded retroactively.
  • Applications cannot be submitted between March 16 and June 30 due to institutional budget reconciliation and planning processes.

Faculty and staff coordinating summer activities are encouraged to consult with the Center for Career Development as early as possible.

Approved Expenses

Approved expenses may include but are not limited to:

  • Registration fees for professional or industry conferences
  • Transportation to and from an approved event when within a reasonable driving distance of the College
  • Lodging only when:
    • The event is located more than two hours from campus, and
    • The schedule prevents safe same‑day travel
    • Lodging expenses can be covered for guests who are invited to campus
  • Certification or training fees for industry‑relevant, career‑aligned learning

Expenses Not Covered

The following expenses are not eligible for funding (non‑exhaustive list):

  • Meals or food‑related costs (exceptions may apply for guests who are invited to campus)
  • Entertainment, merchandise, or optional conference activities
  • Travel should be within driving distance of the College; large-group airfare may not be eligible for funding
  • Research activities (including presentations), internships, or trainings that should be supported by an employer, department, or external sponsor

Questions about expense eligibility should be directed to the Center for Career Development (career@dickinson.edu) prior to application submission.

Application Components

The FIELD grant application will consist of the following:

  1. Requesting faculty/staff member information
  2. Event information and logistics (e.g., number of participating students, location of event, dates, etc.)
  3. Event alignment with the National Association for Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) Career Competencies
    • In order to ensure successful integration of professional development and career readiness into the academic curriculum, faculty must identify career competencies that will be supported as a result of their proposed activity. For more information on NACE’s career competencies, please click here.
  4. A concise summary of the proposed project/activity, which shall include the following:
    • Proposed Project Overview: Implementing a course‑embedded experiential learning initiative that builds students’ career readiness and transferable skills through applied, real‑world activities.
    • Student Outcomes: Developing practical skills (e.g., communication, reflection, professional articulation) and strengthen ability to connect academic work to career pathways.
    • Experiential Learning & Equity: Enhancing hands‑on learning while intentionally promoting access, inclusion, and equitable participation in project design and delivery.
    • Curriculum Integration: Embedding the experience directly within existing coursework to ensure alignment with learning objectives and consistent student engagement.
    • Assessment & Reflection: Evaluating effectiveness through feedback collection, learning outcome measurement, and documentation of results to inform continuous improvement.
  5. Estimated expenses for registration fees, transportation, lodging, certifications/subscriptions, etc., where applicable.
    • Applicants are asked to submit screenshots, documentation, etc. to corroborate estimated expenses.

Program Planning and Administration

Faculty are expected to lead the planning and coordination of funded activities, including:

  • Registration
  • Travel arrangements
  • Lodging coordination
  • Participant communication

The Center for Career Development is happy to provide guidance and support throughout the planning process when needed.

Approved applicants will work directly with Center staff regarding purchasing, reimbursement, and account reconciliation procedures.

Student Attendance Expectations

Receipt of FIELD funding does not excuse students from attendance requirements in other courses. If a funded activity conflicts with another academic obligation, students are responsible for obtaining approval from the appropriate faculty member in advance.

Post‑Event Requirements

Within two weeks of the activity, faculty must complete the Post-Event Submission Form.

Required materials include:

  • Student reflections on learning outcomes and career development (see next section for further information)
  • Final receipts for approved expenses
  • At least five (5) photos from the activity
  • Marketing consent forms from faculty and participating students

Student Reflection Activities

Faculty are encouraged to incorporate academically relevant reflection into existing course assignments whenever possible. Reflections may take a variety of forms that help students connect the experience to course learning outcomes and career readiness competencies. This approach gives faculty flexibility while reinforcing that reflection should explicitly connect the FIELD experience to both academic learning and career development.

Faculty may choose to integrate student reflection through:

  • Career Readiness Reflection Essay: Students identify and analyze the NACE Career Readiness Competencies they developed through the experience and provide specific examples demonstrating their growth
  • Reflective Discussion or Guided Debrief: Staff from the Center for Career Development, alongside faculty, will engage participating students in structured discussions that explore the relationship between academic learning, career readiness, and future professional goals.
  • Career Connection Reflection: Students explain how the experience influenced their understanding of potential career paths, industries, organizations, or professional roles related to their field of study.
  • LinkedIn or Professional Profile Update: Students translate their experience into professional accomplishment statements suitable for LinkedIn, résumés, portfolios, or graduate school applications.
  • Professional Networking Reflection: Students reflect on interactions with employers, alumni, guest speakers, or industry professionals and identify strategies for building and maintaining their professional network.
  • Career Action Plan: Students develop a plan outlining how they will apply what they learned to future coursework, internships, research opportunities, employment, or graduate education.
  • Post-Experience Presentation: Students present key takeaways, professional insights, and career-related lessons learned to classmates or faculty.

The Center for Career Development can also provide sample reflection prompts and assignments upon request.

FIELD Fellows Spotlight and Recognition

To amplify the impact of FIELD Grants and encourage broader faculty engagement, grant recipients will be recognized as FIELD Fellows and featured through College communications and student-facing career resources.

Participating faculty may be highlighted through:

  • Recognition on the Virtual Career Center as FIELD Fellows, including brief faculty profiles and examples of how their courses integrate career readiness and industry engagement
  • Faculty spotlight stories on institutional websites, newsletters, and social media channels (e.g., Instagram or LinkedIn)
  • Opportunities to share best practices through faculty panels, workshops, or professional development events

Cancellations

If a student(s) or faculty/staff member(s) can no longer attend an approved event:

  • The Center for Career Development must be notified within 24 hours
  • A reason for cancellation must be provided
  • The Center will work with students and faculty/staff to recover or reconcile costs when possible

Appeals and Policy Notice

There is currently no formal appeals process for funding decisions. All policies, eligibility criteria, deadlines, and funding levels are subject to change in alignment with institutional priorities and available resources.

Contact Information

Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Center for Career Development (career@dickinson.edu) prior to submitting an application, coordinating experiential learning opportunities, or seeking alignment between student funding and FIELD‑supported initiatives.