Deadline: December 1, 2017
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) invites applications for its Career Development Grants. The AAUW Career Development Grants provide assistance to women who, through additional higher education, technical training, or participation in professional development institutes, are making career changes, seeking to advance in current careers, or reentering the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing credentials in nontraditional fields.
Grants provide support for coursework toward degree programs other than a doctorate or for specialized training in technical or professional fields.
Grant
Career Development Grant funds of between $2,000–12,000 are available for:
- Educational expenses
- Living expenses
- Dependent child care
- Travel to professional meetings, conferences, or seminars, as long as it does not exceed 10 percent of the fellowship
Eligibility
Career Development Grants are open to women who
- are U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
- hold an earned (not honorary) bachelor’s degree;
- received their bachelor’s degree on or before June 30, 2013;
- do not hold an earned (not honorary) graduate or professional degree;
- plan to enroll or are enrolled in courses/activities that are required for professional employment or advancement; and
- plan to enroll or are enrolled in one of the following:
- Bachelor’s or associate degree program that is different from the field of study of the previously earned bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree program
- Certification program
- Technical school
- Professional degree (e.g., law or medicine)
All courses of study must occur at a regionally accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States or at a technical school that is fully licensed and/or accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants must reside within the United States during the grant period.
Distance or online learning programs will be funded only if they are conducted through an accredited institution appearing on the U.S. Department of Education’s list of approved online/distance learning programs. Final decisions about what constitutes distance learning under these grants will be made by AAUW.
Applicants are required to indicate their matriculation status within the application. While applicants are not required to already be enrolled or accepted into their preferred institution of study in order to apply, preference is given to those who are able to demonstrate strong commitment or intent in following the proposed plan of study. Awardees must be able to show proof of admission when submitting their acceptance materials.
Selection Criteria
The following criteria apply to the selection of Career Development Grants:
- Demonstrated commitment to education and equity for women and girls
- Reason for seeking higher education or technical training
- Degree to which study plan is consistent with career objectives
- Potential for success in chosen field
- Documentation of opportunities in chosen field
- Feasibility of study plans and proposed time schedule
- Validity of proposed budget and budget narrative, including sufficient outside support
- Quality of written proposal
- Applicant is from an underrepresented racial/ethnic background
- Applicant is from an underrepresented area of the country and/or type of university other than a top-level research institution
- Applicant is seeking credentials in a nontraditional field
- Financial Need
Application
Start the application process by clicking on the link to access the application and create an account through our vendor site.
Timeline
- December 15, 2017, by 11:59 p.m. Central Time
Deadline for online submission of application and supporting documents. - April 15, 2018
Notification of decisions e-mailed to applicants. When April 15 falls on a weekend, notifications will be emailed on the next business day. AAUW is not able to honor requests for earlier notification. - July 1, 2018–June 30, 2019
Grant year
For more information, visit AAUW.
