United University Professions New Paltz Chapter

2025-2026 Individual Development Awards 

Deadline for Submitting Applications: March 1, 2026. 

Submit your application here: SUBMIT 2025-2026 UUP IDA Application Here  

The application process for the Individual Development Awards — a benefit negotiated as part of our statewide Agreement — is now open!! 

New Paltz has been allocated $51,949.88 through the statewide Joint Labor-Management Committee (JLMC) for distribution in the current cycle. This IDA cycle covers activities from July 2, 2025 to July 1, 2026.   All activities and purchases must have occurred during that time period.   

The maximum grant for the IDA program for the entire 2025-2026 cycle is $2,000. Individuals may submit up to two (2) applications for a maximum of $2,000 in total. (Given the number of applications in recent years, most grants have been awarded less than the maximum amount.) 

If you are proposing two projects, please submit them in separate applications, via two (2) responses to the IDA submission link. 

For more information on all UUP/New York State grant opportunities visit this webpage: https://oer.ny.gov/grant-opportunities 

There are new guidelines for this cycle.  Please read the guidelines carefully. To go directly to the IDA guidelines, click here: 2025-2026 UUP IDA guidelines.pdf 

For the application form that you will need to submit, click here: 2025-2026 UUP IDA Application 

For a current list of the 2025-26 IDA Categories and Exclusions, click here. This list summarizes some of the major changes in the guidelines for this UUP IDA cycle. 

Submit your application and required materials here: Submit 2025-2026 UUP IDA Application. Be sure to name your file LASTname FIRSTname UUP IDA Application (for example, Wilson Beth UUP IDA application). 

Complete the requested information. You will be asked to upload a single file that includes: the application, a brief project description, a brief CV, and supporting documents (such as a conference acceptance letter, workshop brochure, quotes, or announcement). All of this information must be in ONE pdf or word doc file. Please consult the 2025-2026 Categories and Exclusions list for additional information regarding IDA-reimbursable expenses and expenses that are excluded. 

Funds are intended to assist eligible employees to develop their full professional potential and to prepare for advancement. Funding may be provided to enhance teaching, research capabilities, professional knowledge, and skills. The deadline for receipt of completed applications is March 1, 2026 –no exceptions. 

The activity period for this cycle of IDA awards runs from July 2, 2025 to July 1, 2026. All projects/proposals must occur within that time frame. Part-timers are encouraged to apply, as 15% of the pool of funding available is initially earmarked for them; any funds left unused by part-time employee applications are swept into the remaining pool for full-timers.   

The SUNY New Paltz Campus Professional Development Committee, a joint labor-management committee that reviews applications and decides on funding priorities and award amounts, includes:  

For UUP:  

Ken Nystrom, Anthropology, IDA Committee Chair 

Maryalice Citera, Psychology  

Mark Rumnit, Scholar’s Mentorship Program 

For the Administration:  

Anneliese Kniffen, HRDI  

Devon Duhaney, Teaching and Learning 

Jennifer Palen, Records and Registration 

As in recent years, all decisions made by the local IDA committee will be reviewed by the NYS/UUP Joint Labor-Management Committee (aka OER) prior to awarding grants.  

If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Mary Thompson at thompsom@newpaltz.edu or Ken Nystrom at nystromk@newpaltz.edu. 

Activity Year 2024-25

This report reflects the awards made by our local Joint Labor-Management Committee for the most recent round of Individual Development Awards. The Committee was made up of Maryalice Citera (chair), Ken Nystrom, and Mark Rumnit for UUP, and Devon Duhaney, Anneliese Kniffen-Savchak, and James Burns for the Administration.

There was a total of $51,753.54 available for distribution in the activity period of July 2, 2024 – July 1, 2025. The committee reviewed a total of 79 separate applications (some members submitted applications for 2 projects) making 55 awards for these reimbursement grants. The IDA guidelines stipulate that the maximum award to any individual member can be up to $2,000, and that the first 15% of funds be earmarked for part-time members; the committee decided to set maximums of $1,200 for pre-tenure/non-tenure track members, and $825 for tenured applicants. Awards under these amounts reflect actual amounts applied for specific projects.

The IDA committee had to make very difficult decisions because the amount of funding did come close to covering all of the requests received. The priorities of the committee were to fund activities and endeavors that were directly involved in supporting original research and creative activities. We also prioritized presenting at conferences that involved the dissemination of research and creative activities. Coursework, workshops, and specialized training were also prioritized.

Attending conferences was given a low priority. Individuals attending a conference for a first time were prioritized. Individuals who had received prior year funding (especially over repeated years) were given the lowest priority. If funding to attend an annual conference had been repeatedly requested over several years by several members of a department, the committee felt that support for attendance should be provided by the university or the department itself. This was a matter of trying to support the most diverse individual development activities with the limited funding we were given.

We have received notice that we will have $51,949.88 available for distribution in the July 2, 2025-July 1, 2026 activity cycle, including $5,679.54 rolled forward that was left unspent from awards made in 2024-25. (This rollover amount is consistent with recent years, the result of members who change their plans after the awards are made.) We will be announcing an application process for the 2025-26 awards soon, so stay tuned!!