Staff Dream Fund Application Deadline Extended to March 10

Dreams really can come true!

There is still time to vie for the financial assistance and leave available through the Staff Dream Fund. The deadline for submitting proposals for the 2014 Staff Dream Fund has been extended until Monday, March 10.

This program is intended to assist deserving employees in realizing a long-held dream. First launched in 2008, this program, which is privately funded through an endowment, will provide monetary awards and up to five days of paid time off each year for a staff member to fulfill a long-held dream - for example to pursue studies in an area unrelated to work, travel to another country or visit family far away. The awards are not intended to address personal hardship situations, emergencies or job-related professional development.

Dream Fund proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee that includes representatives from the President's Office, each vice presidential area, HACE and AUA. Human Resources will serve as a non-voting coordinator for the selection process. (In the event that a proposal is submitted from the HR department, an employee from another department will be appointed to coordinate the selection process that year.)

Award recipients will be selected based on the merits of their proposal, their past service and promise of future service to the university. The selection committee will consider:

The quality and detail of the description of the dream;

The detail and explanation of the budget/cost for the dream;

The strength and detail provided in the supervisor's support document;

The strength and detail provided in the colleague's support document;

The steps the employee has taken toward realizing the dream; and

The employee's contributions to the university.

The winner will be announced in April and funding will be made available in July. Full-time classified employees and full-time administrative and professional faculty who have worked at the university for a minimum of five years are eligible. Applicants must also have satisfactory or higher performance evaluations and no formal disciplinary actions issued within the past 12 months.

Applicants must submit a proposal package that includes:

A letter stating the dream, the reasons for it and a budget;

A statement of support from a direct supervisor indicating the candidate is a valuable and meritorious employee.

A statement of support from an Old Dominion colleague;

A brief resume; and

A statement of intent to remain at Old Dominion for the foreseeable future.

Proposals for the 2014 Dream Fund Award must be received in Human Resources not later than close of business on Monday, March 10. Contact Tony Belk at jbelk@odu.edu or 683-3046 if you have questions or need assistance completing a proposal packet. The nomination form is available on the Human Resources' website at http://www.odu.edu//facultystaff/awards-recognition/staff-dream-fund.