How Can Employees Make the Case for Professional Development Without Funding?

In this Ask the Expert episode, Dr. Yi Hao and Dr. Mallory Neil respond to a listener’s question about requesting support to attend a professional conference when funding is limited. They discuss how to frame the conversation around shared goals, prepare a clear and realistic proposal, and think through alternatives when travel is not an option. Yi and Mallory also explore options such as presenting, volunteering, virtual attendance, regional events, and external funding. The episode also considers the issue from a supervisor’s perspective, including transparency, equity, retention, and the role professional development plays in long-term growth within higher education.