Purpose
Professional Development Scholarships
Professional development scholarships are designated for members who would benefit from the professional development opportunity of attending he UCDA Design Conference.

Elevating Black Design Voices Professional Development Scholarships
The UCDA Foundation is committed to supporting the work started by UCDA’s Elevating Black Design Voices panel discussions by providing professional/educational development scholarships specifically for Black designers, students, or faculty at educational institutions, to attend the UCDA Design Conference.

These scholarships are offered to help offset the expense of attending the annual UCDA Design Conference. Scholarships will be awarded based on the recipient(s) professional development potential. This is not a cash scholarship, but will go towards the recipient’s conference registration fee.

Eligibility Requirements
Professional Development Scholarships
• Applicant must be a UCDA member in good standing.
• Applicant must have been employed at least one year in his/her current position.

Elevating Black Design Voices Professional Development Scholarships
• Applicant must be an African American or Black design student, design faculty member, or graphic designer working for an educational institution.
• Applicant may, but is not required to be, a current UCDA member.

Restrictions
• Current UCDA Board of Directors and UCDA Foundation Board of Directors are not eligible to receive a scholarship.
• UCDA members at the same institution or company of a current UCDA Foundation Board of Director are not eligible to receive a scholarship.
• If a recipient is unable to attend the conference, the UCDA Foundation Board may select another recipient.
• Scholarships cover annual design conference registration costs only.
• Scholarships will not be awarded to the same recipient in consecutive years. Recipients are not eligible to apply for a scholarship the year immediately following their award.

Deadline
All applications must be submitted to the UCDA Home Office no later than August 30.

Selection Procedures
• All eligible applications will be reviewed by the UCDA Foundation Board of Directors, based on the applicant’s professional development benefit potential.
• Applications will be reviewed blind.
• Scholarship recipient(s) will be notified early September.
• All applicants will be anonymous when their applications are reviewed by the Board.
• All recipients of professional development scholarships will be publicly recognized during the annual design conference.