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Heinstadt Grant Fund

John P. Heinstadt Professional Development Grant Fund for Students

The John P. Heinstadt Professional Development Grant Fund for Students gives Wentworth students the ability to take advantage of career, leadership, social justice, and community development opportunities. It has been utilized to help students attend national conferences, present papers, compete in academic competitions, and other ways that help them develop. Submit all applications electronically. A committee will review the application and typically responds within three to five business days.

Those who have already received funding from the grant cannot reapply for the same event. This includes clubs, who are returning to the same conference, even if the membership is different from the previous trip or it is held in a different city. Clubs should budget for reoccurring trips and not rely on funding from the grant. Individuals and groups who have previously received funding are welcome to apply for different events, conferences, and opportunities.

What is the Professional Development Grant?

Professional development may occur on or off campus. On-campus activities that meet one of the above listed areas of professional development may be eligible for funding. Additionally, the grants aid student groups or individual students in attending various professional development opportunities, including workshops, symposia, conferences, competitions, lectures, networking events, or other activities which support students’ professional development. Funds are not available as part of a graded course activity. The grants are intended to assist students with some of the expenses, including travel, registration, and/or lodging, of the professional development activity. Grants do not cover meals during the professional development experience.

Eligibility

Students who wish to apply for a grant must be currently enrolled at Wentworth Institute of Technology, must be currently enrolled at the time of the professional development experience, and must be in good academic & disciplinary standing at the time of the experience. Student groups applying for a grant must be registered with the Center for Student Life or the Center for Diversity and Global Education or be a department-recognized student organization with an active LeopardSpot page.  The events/activities must relate to one of the professional development areas listed above. Students cannot seek a grant as reimbursement for any past event or activity.

Application Process Students must submit an application  at least one month prior to the event or activity. This request includes a substantial summary of the professional development opportunity and an estimated budget. When creating the budget, please note that the grant cannot be used for food/meals. Additionally, students are not permitted to use housing/room-sharing services (like AirBnB). All applications must be submitted via this form. If you are having difficulty with form, please contact Dr. Joseph Rios, Director of Student Engagement

The request will be reviewed by a committee of staff & faculty members. Students will be notified of the acceptance or non-acceptance of the grant application within three to five business days. Students should not assume that they are guaranteed funding when submitting an application. The committee may decide to fully fund the request, fund a portion of the request, or deny funding.

Grants awarded to student groups will be distributed through their Student Engagement or Diversity & Social Justice Advisor. Groups will complete a post-event assessment. An individual student who is not affiliated with a student group will meet with the Director of Student Engagement before and after the event.

The application includes the following:

  • Student’s name -or- name of student group
  • Current contact information, major, graduation year, and Wentworth ID#
  • Name and date of event/activity
  • Summary of the professional development activity
  • Amount being requested from grant
  • Indicate which of the four themes: career exploration, leadership development, promotion of social justice, service to the community is/are being met and how that theme will develop the student/group
  • A detailed budget, which includes a projected expense report, summary of organization and/or individual contributions, and a listing of all fundraising activities to date
  • If you are presenting research at a conference, please include confirmation that the faculty member who lead/supervised this research is aware and agrees to the research being presented

The grant committee may deny a request if the conference is deemed to be a predatory conference. Predatory conferences often charge a high fee and provide little to no content or services when the participants arrive and/or have a history of canceling parts or whole days of the conference.