UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Non-tenure-line clinical, teaching, research, and professors of practice faculty can now apply to the Opportunity Grant Professional Development Program.  

Applications, which can be found here, are due Dec. 9 for funding in the 2025-26 academic year.

To be eligible, faculty must have reached second rank or higher, have worked full-time at Penn State for five consecutive years or more, and have the support of their academic unit head. The proposal should encompass activity that is above and beyond what the applicant is normally contracted to do. Course and time buyouts are available. A five-year waiting period will begin for those who receive funding. 

Research faculty will also be included for consideration thanks to a financial contribution from the Office of the Senior Vice President of Research. 

A committee will review applications in December, and successful applicants will be notified in January about the funding of their projects, including any course buyouts, for the following academic year. 

Applications for the pilot program opened earlier this semester to provide funding for spring 2025. Awardees will be announced later in November. Applications for the 2026-2027 cycle will open in early fall 2025. 

The Opportunity Grant Professional Development Program is supported financially by the Office of the President and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. It is administered by Penn State Office of Faculty Affairs.