Professional Development Fund

2026-27

The Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development has established a Professional Development Fund to support both undergraduate and graduate Binghamton University students to pursue career- and academic-related professional development opportunities.

Applications are currently open

Award Funding Available:

Award amounts are varied and are generally up to $500, however additional funding may be considered based on demonstrated need and availability of funds.

Who is Eligible:

Currently matriculated  Binghamton University undergraduate and graduate students.

Examples of funding:

  • Community engagement volunteer and internship experiences
  • Requirements for internships/volunteer/employment such as fingerprinting, required training (ex. CPR), supplies, and transportation
  • Purchase of professional clothing for interviews, networking, etc (Additional support for professional clothing available here
  • Travel or lodging expenses for professional networking events or training that takes place off-campus (ex. Employer Treks)
  • Certifications/trainings
  • Graduate or professional school expenses (ex. application fees, admissions test fees, test preparation, and travel to Accepted Students Days)
  • Attend/present at conferences (virtual or in-person)
    • Due to the high volume of conference funding requests, preference will be given to students presenting at the conference. Limited funding, generally up to $100, may also be available for conference attendance without a presentation

Additional Information/Restrictions:

  • Funding is not available to be use towards:
    • Tuition, fees, or expenses related to course enrollments or education abroad.
    • Travel to experiences outside of the United States.
    • Political activity
    • If traveling less than a 100-mile radius, may not be eligible for overnight expenses
  • Students will only be awarded up to one request per academic year.
  • This is a competitive application process and not all requests will receive funding. Preference will be given to students with the highest financial need. Please indicate your financial need in your personal statement.
  • Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are likely to run out before the end of each academic year.

Application Process:

Required to apply

  • Resume
  • Personal statement of interest that includes information about the professional development opportunity and how it relates to future career goals; also indicate your financial need if applicable  (500 words maximum, check application form below)
  • Expenses Budget Worksheet (Note: You will need to download and complete the Expenses Budget Worksheet here and upload to the online application below.)

Deadline:

  • Applications are currently open and will be reviewed every month until the end of the academic year in June 2027 or until funding runs out.
  • You will be notified if your funds are approved within approximately 4 weeks of submitting your application. Please note that this is a competitive application process and not all applicants will receive funding.

Once funds are approved:

You will be notified if your funds are approved within approximately 4 weeks of submitting your application. Please note that this is a competitive application process and not all applicants will receive funding.Applications are currently open and will be revie

  • You will receive an email notification of your award status and will need to vist the Fleishman Career Center to provide a signature agreeing to the funding terms and to fill out a W-9
  • It takes approximately 1-2 weeks for the check to be processed
  • Students will visit the Fleishman Career Center to pick up their checks
  • Students will be responsible to turn in any receipts to intefund@binghamton.edu by December 5 in order to avoid tax implications

*Please Note: You need to sign in to careertools to view the application form. Sign in using the link on the top right corner of this page. Please complete all required information below and click submit. Once you submit the application a message will appear indicating that your application has been received.

Additional funding sources:

Thank you to our donors!

Please be aware that funding for this program is limited, as it is solely dependent on the contributions of our dedicated supporters. If you believe in the importance of investing in the future of our talented students, we invite you to contribute to the fund and help shape their success. Your donations can be made by visiting our section of the EXCELERATE campaign site. Thank you for your commitment to helping our students succeed!

How to apply

Please log in using your Binghamton credentials prior to submitting this form. You may do this using the button in the top right.