Professional Experience Grants (PEGs)

PEGs will be awarded based on this rubric. Aim for 100% in your application!

How much will you need? How will you spend the money? You will need to create and submit a budget with your application. Luckily we have a model budget for you! All you have to do is save it and fill it in!

Why do you want to do have this experience? What do you hope to learn/accomplish? You'll need to submit a learning goals essay with your application using the learning goals worksheet that will help focus your thoughts.

You must select up to three learning goals and describe how each goal and the experience you are choosing align with the your academic/career plan. Keep the essay between 1,000 and 1,500 words. 

Need help? The Writing Center can assist!

Once you begin your application submission, you will be asked to submit the name and email of a professor that will advise you during your career experience and write a letter of recommendation for your PEG application.  It is a good idea to speak with your professor before beginning your application and have their name and email ready when you begin.

Resumes are harder than they look, and an up-to-date resume is required on your PEG application.

But there is good news! You can seek assistance from a career coach in the Office of Alumni & Professional Engagement or attend a resume lab via Zoom! Find both on Handshake.

When you are ready to submit

• Mansfield and Lock Haven students, click here. 
• Bloom students, visit Scholarship Manager site and click "apply or log in". There is a timer, so after 45 minutes of inactivity, you will be logged out.  Have all your information handy and ready to go when you begin your application. Once you are logged in, you should see all scholarships and grants for which you are eligible under "My Tasks". A PEG grant should be listed there. Click on "Start Application" next to the "Professional Experience Grant" listing and follow the prompts. Enter all required information and upload all your completed documents.
  
  When your application is successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.

What if I missed the application deadline?
Funds are limited, so you have the best chance of receiving a PEG if you submit by the preferred deadline of March 1 for summer and fall experiences and October 1 for winter and spring experiences. If your experience became available after the application deadline, please email professionalu@commonwealthu.edu to determine if a late application will get full consideration. You will need to provide a justification for the lateness of your application.

What if I am still waiting to receive a confirmation on my experience?
You can still apply, if your experience plans change please notify Amanda Kern, Financial Aid Office, at akern@commonwealthu.edu or 570-389-4439 for access to update your application.

Does the experience have to be for credit or required by my program?
Experiences do not need to be for credit or required by your program of study however they should be relevant to your career path.

Can I receive PEG funding for an experience that occurs after graduation?
No, you must be a current student to receive funding.

What if I am no longer going to complete my experience or my experience plans have changed?
Notify Amanda Kern, Financial Aid Office, at akern@commonwealthu.edu or 570-389-4439 to have your application updated or removed. Your award will be canceled and funds must be returned if you decide not to complete your experience.

Will the full cost of my experience be covered?
Funding is provided to reduce the financial burden of an experience not to cover the full cost. The award amount is determined based on the quality of the application and the type of experience.

Can my funds be released early?
Funding is typically disbursed the 2nd week of the semester in which the experience occurs. Summer funding is not available until the 2nd week of July due to the fiscal year. Any expenses due prior to the start of the semester must be paid out of pocket. (For internships with The Washington Center please see the Financial Aid office, due dates are often extended as part of the consortium agreement)

Can my funds be applied to study abroad program fees?
Program fees must be paid through the marketplace based on the payment schedule.

Can I get financial aid for my experience?
If your experience is for credit you may be eligible for financial aid, please contact the financial aid office as we may require additional information or a consortium agreement before your aid can be processed. If your experience requires a financial aid agreement to defer payment please bring any forms to the financial aid office to be completed.

Will my PEG award affect my financial aid package?
Possibly, there is a limit to the amount of financial aid a student is eligible to receive in a year called the cost of attendance. This includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. The financial aid office may contact you for documentation of any extraordinary expenses due to the experience.

Can I appeal a decision?
Awards are final, and the PEG committee reviews each application thoroughly, taking all information provided into consideration.

What if I didn’t receive an award notification email by the notification date listed?
Please contact William Gower, BU Foundation, at wgower@bloomufdn.org or 570-389-5438.

I am a faculty/staff member in charge of an experience, how do I make sure my students get funding?
Each student will need to submit a PEG application by the due date. Award amounts may vary by student based on the quality of each student’s application.

I am a faculty/staff member and have been asked to submit a recommendation, where do I submit it?
Bloomsburg students: You must follow the unique link that was emailed to you from buaid@bloomu.edu to upload your recommendation. If you need the link sent to you again please contact Amanda Kern, Financial Aid Office, at akern@commonwealthu.edu or 570-389-4439. Mansfield and Lock Haven students: All recommendations should be submitted directly from the recommender to professionalu@commonwealthu.edu 

Group Professional Experience Grants, or GPEGs, partially fund faculty-led professional experiences for a group of five or more students. This grant supports experiences in which students learn and grow relevant skills which can include interacting with peers, alumni, employers, and other professionals related to career paths available to the major.

Examples of professional experience activities include:

• attending an academic or professional conference (not required to be a presenter)
• presenting a group research project,
• competing, performing, or exhibiting as a group
• experiences with career-related technology (excludes capital expenditures such as equipment, software, raw materials, etc.)
• group cultural or immersive experience
• inviting a speaker or hosting a residential professional to work with students

Preferential consideration is given to applicants who involve alumni and/or employers.

A GPEG is supplemental support and is not intended to cover all expenses related to the experience. Faculty are encouraged to apply for other grant funding via the department, college, and other available sources.

GPEG Application

A complete application includes:

• Name and contact information for applicant(s)
• Proposal Title
• Significance of the project
• Methodology including alumni and/or employers involved
• Expected outcomes and relevance to professional development
• A time frame and schedule of activities
• Detailed budget
• Estimated number of students participating
• Evaluation and Assessment methods to be used
• Supplemental materials such as contracts, resume of speaker, website addresses for site of the experience

All applications will be reviewed and approved by the department chair and dean prior to review by the GPEG Committee.

If awarded a GPEG the faculty member is responsible for:

• Coordinating all travel within prescribed University Guidelines for Student and Employee Travel
• Ensuring appropriate supervision and safety of students during the GPEG experience
• Appropriate budgeting and expenditure of GPEG funding following all University Guidelines including submitting receipts to document expenses
• A post-experience report of actual expenses, educational outcomes and reflection of professional growth experienced by participants as well as a list of students, alumni, and employers involved uploaded to Info Ready within one month of experience.
• IRB Approval if applicable