Application (DOCX)

Purpose

The purpose of the PRIME Grant is to recognize, encourage and award resources to individuals in the College of Engineering who wish to pursue professional development activities that will contribute to achieving career goals. The PRIME Grant is a means to investing in CoE staff. 

• Eligibility: The grant is open to all administrative & operational support, skilled trades, professional, and management staff in the College of Engineering with at least a half-time appointment and at least one year of continuous service to the College of Engineering as a permanent employee. Staff members who provide at least 75% of their effort in service to the College of Engineering are eligible for the PRIME Grant. Grant recipients must be employees of the College of Engineering at the time the grant is announced. Applicants should consistently receive at least “meets expectations” performance rating on performance reviews, and must have endorsement from their supervisor. The following criteria should be considered when submitting the application for the grant:

Criteria

• The degree to which the professional development will lead to greater operational efficiencies in the staff member's unit, school and college.
• Overall thoroughness of application and resume/CV

Procedures

• In 2026, the first call for applications will be sent by February 2nd and will be due by March 13th. Awards will be announced by April 24th. A second call for applications will follow in the fall.
• Eligible staff complete application for the PRIME Grant, obtaining the necessary signatures.
• Up to fifteen (15) individuals in the College may be awarded in an award cycle (up to a total of 30 grants may be awarded by the College each year).
• A grant may not be given to the same individual more than once a year.
• Staff will submit their application with the appropriate signatures by March 13th to PrimeGrant@purdue.edu. 
• The Dean’s Staff Affairs Committee (DSAC) will review all applications and forward their recommendations to the Dean by April 17th. Recipients will be notified by April 24th. 
• DSAC members are not eligible to receive a grant while they serve on the committee.
• Any professional development activity for staff that involves overnight travel is required to use a PRIME Grant. 
• Funds for the grant come from the College of Engineering ($750) and the employee’s unit ($750). Employees and their supervisor agree upon when time is taken to pursue this activity. If the total cost of the professional development exceeds $1,500, the employee's unit is responsible for covering the appropriate expenses above that amount. 
• Once the grant has been used, the individual will submit a brief summary describing how the grant was used, how it professionally benefitted them, as well as how it improved the operational efficiencies of their unit.
• Up to 15 PRIME Grant Awards will be awarded in April and an additional 15 awards in August. 

Materials to be submitted in the application

A completed application form, with the appropriate signatures, along with updated resume/CV should be submitted to: PrimeGrant@purdue.edu. 

Questions should be sent to Will Sondgerath, Senior Assistant Dean for Staff & Administration, at wsondger@purdue.edu.