Professional Development - Classified Staff

Professional Development is geared toward advancing your professional future. While there can be some crossover between Job Enrichment and Professional Development, Professional Development is not a requirement of your job and does not necessarily relate to the current position you hold within the Library. Therefore, Professional Development may or may not be considered as a part of your goals during evaluations.

Professional Development Fund Usage

In all cases, professional development (PD) funds are expensed to the fiscal year (FY) the opportunity is being held. For example, if you register for something in April 2025 that takes place in August of 2025, the expense will be applied to your FY26 professional development funds, not your FY25 funds. This ensures you do not miss an early registration special by waiting for your FY25 funds to become available. 

Once your PD opportunity is approved by your supervisor, it is your responsibility to work with Lissa Martin or Donna Richardson to make the purchases with the PCard.

A presentation is not required to attend a conference.

Eligible Uses for Professional Development Funds

• Registration
• Travel costs like airfare, car rental, train tickets, cab/Uber fares, parking fees, mileage
  • There are some tricky parts in booking airfare. NOTE that if you are booking using multiple airlines, you may need to do them in separate transactions.
• Meals not provided through the event or hotel (The university offers a per diem for overnight trips where meals are not provided. Information can be found below at Per Diem Rates and Policy.)
• Lodging (In compliance with the University Travel Policy linked below)

Ineligible Uses for Professional Development Funds

• Meals on same day trips
• Offset of carbon footprint
• Travel Insurance
• Books (see Book Purchase Requests link below)
• Personal subscriptions to professional publications
• Professional Organization membership dues

* Items not included on this list are at the discretion of Senior Leadership

What is paid up front

• Registration

What is reimbursed/reimbursable

Reimbursement requests over 60 days old will be considered taxable income per University policy

• Transportation Expenses (In compliance with the University Travel Policy)
  • Please be sure to review policy 6.00
• Lodging Expenses (In compliance with the University Travel Policy)
  • Please be sure to review policies 7.01, 7.02, 7.03
• Airbnb is covered in non-traditional lodging and requires additional steps for permission
• Meals (In compliance with the University Travel Policy)
  • Please be sure to review policies 7.04, 7.05, 7.06
• Airfare which can be booked through the Miami University Travel Portal.
  • Booking air travel through different airlines may need to be booked in multiple transactions.
• Baggage fees

* Items not included on this list are at the discretion of Senior Leadership or may be outlined in the University Travel Policy.