Professional Development Committee

Cosumnes River College's Professional Development Committee seeks to actively engage all members of the college community in continuous professional growth that contributes to a culture of inquiry, fosters innovation, and increases the success of all students. Through an environment of collegiality and collaboration, all employees will have diverse opportunities to increase knowledge, achieve higher levels of excellence, and improve their ability to serve students.

Professional Development is defined as an activity that has as its goals the development of skills, competencies and personal qualities that will enhance student success and employee satisfaction. The CRC Professional Development Committee plans, coordinates and provides financial support for a variety of activities that engage faculty, staff and administrators in an active and creative intellectual life. The activities of the Professional Development Committee are aligned with the goals of the District and College as well as with the guidelines of external funding agencies.

Most directly, the Professional Development Committee supports the development of skills, knowledge, and attitudes in these areas:

• Teaching and Learning Excellence – by providing learning opportunities to support the development and implementation of best practices in the areas of teaching, student services, and assessment of student learning
• Cultural Competence – by providing learning opportunities and cultural experiences that enhance participants’ value and respect for diversity and their understanding of culture and its impact
• Technological Competence – by providing learning opportunities that enhance participants’ effectiveness in implementing technology
• Health and Wellness – by providing learning opportunities that encourage and promote emotional and physical well-being of faculty, staff and students
• Professional Competence – by providing learning opportunities to support collegiality and collaboration and enhance understanding of the college’s processes and services
• Community Awareness – by providing activities that foster communication and collaboration between the college and greater community

The Professional Development Committee is responsible for providing a variety of professional development opportunities. The Professional Development Committee nurtures a climate where continued personal and professional growth is valued. Toward this end, areas of committee responsibility include the following:

• coordinate and plan activities (including FLEX) that lead to enhanced employee and student success
• provide feedback to the Faculty Professional Development (PD) Coordinator on Convocation plans, Wednesday FLEX-week Institute ideas, and other PD Coordinator efforts
• provide a forum for exploration and open discussion
• advise and assist in planning, evaluating and improving The Center for Professional Development
• support technology innovation and training
• disseminate information on workshops, seminars and available resources related to professional development
• support activities that link the college to external entities and organizations
• allocate budgeted funds for individual and group proposals
• develop, implement, and evaluate a strategic professional development plan
• fulfill committee obligations to college strategic planning

Whenever possible, up to eight faculty from all areas/units shall be represented. The faculty tri-chair shall be appointed by the Academic Senate President, in consultation with the College President. Ideally, the PD Coordinator serves as the faculty tri-chair of the PD Committee. The faculty chair of any shared governance committee shall serve as a fully participating member of the Cosumnes River College Academic Senate. Responsibilities of the faculty tri-chair to the Senate include, but are not limited to, attending all Senate meetings; presenting a fall semester planning report; a spring semester progress report, and an end-of-year summary of all shared governance committee recommendations. The faculty tri-chair is also responsible for communicating Committee issues to the attention of the Senate and to appropriate college and district groups for review, assistance, research and possible recommendation.

Whenever possible, up to five members, and a classified tri-chair, shall be designated by the Classified Senate, in consultation with the College President.

Whenever possible, up to four administrators, and an administrative tri-chair, shall be designated by the College President.

Whenever possible, up to three members shall be designated by the Associated Student Government, in consultation with the College President.

• February 8, 2019 Agenda and Minutes (PDF)
• March 8, 2019 Agenda and Minutes (PDF)