Funding Requests

Requests must advance the Cypress College Mission, comply with authorized uses of professional development funds as outlined in Section 87153 of the California Education Code, and support at least one of the five directions identified in the 2021-2024 Cypress College Strategic Plan.

Funding cycles are available only during the fall and spring semesters, while classes are in session.

To be considered for funding, Professional Development must receive your completed application — approved by your Dean or Immediate Management Supervisor (IMS) — along with all required supporting documentation, by one of the following deadlines.

Fall 2025 Deadlines:

• Deadline #1: Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
• Deadline #2: Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
• Deadline #3: Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Spring 2025 Deadlines:

• Deadline #4: Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Deadline #5: Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Deadline #6: Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Deadline #7: Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Please note: You may submit funding requests for summer and fall 2026 conferences by the May 8, 2026 deadline.

Apply Early: We strongly encourage you to apply well in advance of your conference or event — ideally at least two months prior — to allow time for processing and approvals. These deadlines are the dates when submitted applications are reviewed by the committee. Submitting close to the deadline may not allow sufficient time for follow-up or corrections if needed.

Important Policy Update:
As of January 1, 2025, the Professional Development Committee will no longer approve funding requests submitted after the event or activity has occurred. Please plan accordingly to meet submission deadlines in advance.

Note: All deadlines are subject to the availability of funds and may change without notice.

How to Submit a Professional Development Funding Request

To access the form, open the Professional Development Funding Request Form. You’ll be prompted to sign in to myGateway, after which you’ll be taken directly to the Dynamic Form.

After filling out all required sections, uploading your supporting documents, and signing the form, the process will continue as follows:

1. Routing to Your Supervisor
   You’ll be asked to enter your Division Dean or Immediate Management Supervisor’s (IMS) name and email address to route the form to them for review and approval.
2. Supervisor Notification
   Your supervisor will receive an automatic email from notify@ngwebsolutions.com letting them know your form is ready for their review.
3. Professional Development Review
   Once your supervisor has completed their section, the form will be sent to the Professional Development team to check for completeness and readiness for committee review.
4. Confirmation and Committee Review
   If your form is complete, you will receive a confirmation email (including a PDF copy of your submission) from notify@ngwebsolutions.com. Your request will then be placed on the agenda for the Professional Development Committee, which will review it and determine funding.
5. President’s Staff Review
   All requests recommended for funding by the committee are then forwarded to the President’s Staff for final review and approval.
6. Funding Notification
   If your request is approved, the Professional Development Coordinator will contact you directly with the funding decision and any next steps.

Helpful Tip:
We recommend submitting your application at least two months before your event or activity to allow time for approvals and processing.

If Corrections Are Needed
If your form is missing required information or documents, it will be returned to you with instructions for correction. Once updated, you’ll need to resubmit the form and re-route it to your supervisor, restarting the review process.

Your Role in the Process
Please ensure:

• Your form is complete and accurate
• All required documents are attached
• Your Dean or IMS has approved your request

Submitting early and following up if needed can help ensure your request is reviewed in a timely manner.

A Quick Note About Emails
Emails from notify@ngwebsolutions.com are sent automatically through the Dynamic Forms system and are not monitored.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the Professional Development team at conferencefunding@cypresscollege.edu — we’re here to help!

The funding approval process takes a minimum of two weeks following each funding request submission deadline. Please plan accordingly.

The Professional Development Committee meets only during the fall and spring semesters, while classes are in session, to evaluate submitted requests.

How the Approval Process Works:

1. Committee Review:
   Committee members are given approximately a week to review submitted funding requests before meeting as a group to develop funding recommendations.
2. Forwarding to President’s Staff:
   The Professional Development Coordinator submits the Committee’s funding recommendations to the President’s Staff for final review and approval.
3. Applicant Notification:
   Once funding decisions are finalized by President’s Staff, the Professional Development Coordinator will send email notifications to all applicants from that funding cycle.

Evaluation Criteria

The Professional Development Committee considers the following when reviewing funding requests:

✔️ Alignment with the college mission, strategic plan, and Education Code
✔️ Applicant’s prior PD funding history
✔️ Clear benefit to students, with well-defined outcomes
✔️ Contribution to the applicant’s professional growth or role
✔️ Plan to share knowledge with colleagues
✔️ For on-campus activities: target audience and proposed dates included
✔️ Whether the applicant is a presenter, student organization advisor, or required to attend for legal or accreditation reasons

Funding Amounts

• Funding is available up to $3,000 per activity, per employee

Important Travel Policy Reminder If your activity includes travel outside the United States, it must be approved by the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Board of Trustees.

The Professional Development Committee will only authorize reimbursement for expenses that were approved in advance by the Committee.

Additionally, the District requires that all receipts be in the name of the traveler or approved funding recipient in order to process reimbursements. Be sure to request and keep itemized receipts for any expenses covered by your funding award.

To Request Reimbursement for Travel or Activities:

Please complete the following steps within 30 days of your funded activity:

1. Submit a Professional Development Funding Activity Report
   This brief report outlines the benefit of the activity and how the experience will be applied or shared.
2. Email Your Documentation
   Send the following to: conferencefunding@cypresscollege.edu
   • All itemized expense receipts
   • The conference or activity agenda

The Professional Development staff will review your documents and prepare the necessary paperwork, including the Travel Expense Report (TER), for processing.

Important Year-End Deadline Reminder:
If your activity takes place in May or June, you must submit your TER and Activity Report immediately upon your return in order to meet fiscal year-end processing deadlines.

All travel and conference funding and reimbursements requests must comply with NOCCCD District policies and regulations. Please review the following resources for detailed information and guidelines:

• Transportation and Travel Procedures
• Administrative Procedure AP 7400: Travel and Conference Attendance
• Travel Expense Report (TER) Form and Instructions

Please ensure your funding requests and travel plans follow these guidelines. Professional Development will provide you with additional checklists and assist with finalizing your TER.