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Scholarships

UCDA recognizes the importance of lifelong learning and, as a result, proudly supports members through the dedicated funding of the UCDA Foundation professional development scholarship program. This program provides opportunities for members to attend the UCDA Design Conference or the UCDA Design Education Summit.

The UCDA Foundation currently has three scholarship opportunities:

NOW OPEN: Professional Development Scholarship covers the registration cost for the UCDA Design Conference.
See complete information below.

NOW OPEN: Elevating Black Design Voices Professional Development Scholarship covers the registration cost for the UCDA Design Conference.
See complete information below.

Design Education Scholarship is offered to help offset the expense of attending the UCDA Design Education Summit.
See complete information below.

See past scholarship winners.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

PURPOSE
Professional development scholarships are designated for members who would benefit from the professional development opportunity of attending 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 benefit potential. This is not a cash scholarship, but will go towards the recipient’s conference registration fee.

PROCEDURES

Eligibility

  • Applicant must be a UCDA member in good standing.

  • Applicant must have been employed at least one year in his/her current position.


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 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.


APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete the Professional Development Scholarship Application and return to the UCDA Home Office. You will need to answer the following questions:

1) What are your current work responsibilities?
2) What are your future professional plans and goals?
3) What professional areas do you feel you most need to develop?
4) How will attending the conference benefit your professional growth?
 
Deadline
All applications must be returned to the UCDA Home Office no later than August 25.
 
Selection Process
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 recipients of professional development scholarships will be publicly recognized during the annual conference.

Deadline: August 30

ELEVATING BLACK DESIGN VOICES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

PURPOSE
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/educational goals. This is not a cash scholarship, but will go towards the recipient’s conference registration fee.

PROCEDURES

Eligibility

  • 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.
  • If a recipient is unable to attend the conference, the UCDA Foundation Board may select another recipient.
  • Scholarships cover annual conference registration costs only.


APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete the Elevating Black Design Voices Professional Development Scholarship Application and return to the UCDA Home Office. You will need to answer the following questions:

1) What are your current work responsibilities and/or educational pursuits?
2) What are your future professional/educational goals?
3) What professional areas do you feel you most need to develop?
4) How will attending the conference benefit your professional/educational growth?
 
Deadline
All applications must be completed by August 25.
 
Selection Process 
All eligible applications will be reviewed anonymously by the UCDA Foundation Board of Directors and considered based on the applicant’s professional/educational goals.

Applications will be reviewed blind.

Scholarship recipient(s) will be notified early September.

All recipients of the UCDA Elevating Black Design Voices Scholarships will be recognized during the annual conference.

Deadline: August 30

UCDA FOUNDATION DESIGN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

PURPOSE
UCDA recognizes the importance of lifelong learning and is excited to be able to provide scholarship opportunities to our design eductors, a vital and important segment of our overall membership. With support from kynamatrix Research Network, the UCDA Foundation is able to expand professional development opportunities for the UCDA Design Education Summit. The UCDA Design Education Summit is a program dedicated to helping the design education community to work together in advancing the quality and scope of design education.

This scholarship is offered to help offset the expense of attending the UCDA Design Education Summit. Scholarships will be awarded based on the recipients professional development benefit potential. This is not a cash scholarship, but will cover the summit registration fee; up to two nights lodging at the host hotel (if needed); and up to $300 that can be used towards travel.

PROCEDURES

Eligibility Guidelines

  • Applicant must be a UCDA member in good standing (Faculty, Associate, Professional, or Student member)
  • Applicant must be actively involved in design education.
  • Applicant must complete the application and submit it along with narrative before the deadline.

Restrictions

  • Current UCDA Board of Directors and UCDA Foundation Board of Directors are not eligible to receive a scholarship.

  • If a recipient is unable to attend the summit, UCDA may select another recipient.
  • This is not a cash scholarship, but will cover the summit registration fee; up to two nights lodging at the host hotel (if needed); and up to $300 that can be used towards travel.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Download a Design Education Scholarship and return to the UCDA Home Office. You will need to answer the following questions:

1) What are your current work responsibilities?
2) What are your future professional plans and goals?
3) What professional areas do you feel you most need to develop?
4) How will attending the conference benefit your professional growth?
 
Deadline
Not currently accepting applications.
All applications must be returned to the UCDA Home Office no later than March 1.
 
Selection Process
All eligible applications will be reviewed by the UCDA Foundation Board of Directors, based on the applicant's professional development benefit potential.
 
Scholarship recipient(s) will be notified by March 15.
 
All recipients of professional development scholarships will be publicly recognized during the summit.