Grow Your Own Program

Park University’s Grow Your Own Program is designed for full-time faculty members who are seeking financial assistance to defray the costs associated with working toward completion of a terminal degree.

• Grown Your Own Application form

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply for the Grow Your Own Program?

• Applicants must be Park University full-time faculty.
• Applicants must have completed a minimum of one year of service as a full-time faculty member at Park University.
• Applicants must be accepted into, or already enrolled in, an accredited terminal degree program.

Selection criteria

What are the criteria for selection in the GYO program?

• Years of service to Park University
• Rationale presented by applicant
  • Relationship of request to faculty’s members Professional Development Plan
  • Value of request to faculty member and to Park University
• Perceived ability of faculty member to complete work in a timely manner
• Progress toward degree already made by faculty member
• Periodic Reviews of faculty members and faculty member’s performance to date
• Extent of support from faculty member’s Department Chair or Associate Dean
• Number of faculty in a given department already receiving assistance
• Available funds and number of applicants or current participants
• (Exceptional or unique circumstances may be considered at applicant’s request.)

Funding Questions

What is the maximum amount of funding a person can receive per year?

• Recipients may receive a maximum reimbursement of $300 per credit hour of tuition.
• Recipients are eligible to receive reimbursement for a maximum of 12 credits per academic year.
• Recipients may receive assistance for a maximum of four years, contingent upon satisfactory progress.

What expenses are covered?

1. Reimbursement will be for tuition only.

Application procedure

How do I apply for the program?

• Each applicant completes Grow Your Own Application Form.
• Applicant submits form and supporting material (including letter of support from Department Chair) to Provost.
• Provost forwards applications to review committee.
• Review group presents recommendation to Provost.
• Provost makes decision based upon the recommendations of the review group, deans, and department chairs. Provost informs applicant and those recommending applicants.

Application Timeline

What are the application deadlines?

Reimbursement procedure

How are approved participants reimbursed?

• Those accepted into the program will be asked to submit a statement indicating the tuition to be paid by the faculty member. The University will reimburse the faculty member upon receipt of this statement.
• At the completion of each term, the faculty member will be required to submit a grade report indicating that the faculty member has passed the course with either an A or B grade. Failure to submit this grade report, or failure to receive the requisite grade, will result in the faculty member having to reimburse the University for the amount received by the faculty member.
• At the conclusion of each year, recipients must complete a report indicating progress made toward degree completion.
• Faculty members who accept grants from the Grow Your Own Program will continue their employment for a minimum of one year after receipt of any award.

Criteria for continuance in program

If accepted, how do I remain eligible to continue in the GYO program?

• Once accepted, recipients in the program would retain their eligibility for tuition reimbursement provided that:
  • The faculty member is making significant progress toward degree completion (as determined by:the proposed plan of degree completion submitted at the time of applicationprogress reports completed by the recipient .
    • The faculty member receives satisfactory periodic reviews from Park University.
    • progress reports completed by the recipient
  • The faculty member receives satisfactory periodic reviews from Park University..

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