From Spoon and Eggs to Beyonce: The Evolution of a Professional Development Center

1. From Spoon and Eggs to Beyonce:The Evolution of a Professional Development Center Dr. “Beez” Schell, Founding Director Mrs. Lisa Melohusky, Instructional Designer Mrs. Dawn Eckenrode, Reference & Instruction librarian, PDC Board Chair

2. Session Objectives • Determine your Center’s timeline • Why is this important? • Discuss strategies and examples related to tackling three common obstacles: • Staff, money, space • Offer advice for new directors • Brainstorm “take home” strategies to implement in your own Center

3. Disclaimers • Every center and story is unique • Different challenges and opportunities • SUNY Fredonia • 5,000 students • 200 faculty • Rural and isolated

4. Poll Everywhere • How “old” is your Center? • Your Center staff? • Your Center budget? • Your Center space? • What is one question you hope to get answered today? • Your Center timeline worksheet

5. Poll: How old is your center?

6. Poll: What is your center budget?

7. Poll: What kind of space is dedicated to yo...

8. Poll: How many people staff your center?

9. The Hourglass/Pyramid

10. Early Fall (‘08) of Year 1

11. Early Spring (‘09) of Year 1 • Beyonce@ the Rudimentary Movement Stage

12. Re-Think Your Timeline

13. Why Important? • Identify your current strengths and challenges • Re-think your strategies and try something new (or dump) • Pilot projects to sustained programs • Know when/where/how to put your energies

14. Our Timeline • Lisa & Dawn

15. Who the PDC Serves • ALL SUNY Fredonia employees: • Faculty (new and veteran) • Adjunct faculty • Department chairs • Professionals • Clerical • Keyboard specialists • Resident Directors • Maintenance

16. Our Programs • Workshops (50+) • ANGEL • PDC Associates • New Faculty and Staff Orientation • New Faculty Workshops • “Chairs Leadership Circle” • “Write Now Hour” • “Office Conversations” • “Connections” mentoring • Rengas (L.C.s) • Work/life balance • Service learning • Tenure-track faculty

17. Annual Teaching & Learning Conference • Secretary Retreats (fall & spring) • All-Campus Kick-Off Event • “In Brief” newsletter • Grant programs

18. Strategies & Examples Small staff Small budget No space

19. Small Staff? Your staff? • SUNY Fredonia PDC • Full-Time Director • Full-Time Instructional Designer • Strategies • PDC Board • 14 members • PDC Associates • 6 Associates • Befriend secretaries

20. PDC Board Membership: • One faculty member from each of the five teaching areas: Arts, Education, Humanities, Natural Science, and Social Sciences • One professional staff member from each of the following areas: Administration, Student Affairs, University Advancement and the Faculty Student Association • One classified staff member • One member of the library faculty (ex-officio) • One educational technologist (ex-officio)

21. Key Functions: • Review grant and award applications • Develop T&L Conference theme, suggest speaker, reviewed proposals, and served as volunteers and presenters • Provide support to the PDC Associates • Raise campus awareness of the PDC and encourage participation in programming

22. Tips and Considerations for a Happy Board: • Is the membership representative of the constituencies you are serving? • Are the functions representative of the interests of your constituencies? • Use technology to communicate and manage workflow in-between meetings • Establish clear expectations for participation and goals • Raise visibility of Board members and periodically review accomplishments • Rotate membership/leadership on a consistent basis

23. Example: Associates Program • Based on ‘my’ needs • Applications and Board selects • $750 per semester – 1 year commitment • 2 workshops • 1 learning community • Representative of PDC • Given high profile on campus • Website, campus meetings, etc.

24. Associates • Scholarship of Teaching and Learning • Research & Creative Activities • Technologies • Online Teaching • Learning Communities (Rengas) • Professional Staff

25. Small Budget? Your Budget? • SUNY Fredonia PDC • $10,000 • $4,500 Associates • Equipment, webinars, travel • $5,000 • Food, on campus supplies • Strategies • Collaborate • HR; President; Library; Administration Division • Go Green • Campus expertise • “No Frills” • Offer beverages only • Free stuff

26. Examples • Teaching & Learning Conference • Free speaker & lunch: SUNY Chancellor • Few paper copies of program • “No Frills” • Connections/Mentoring Program • 20 pairs & 13 pairs • Gift cards (amount based on participants) • Refreshments for orientation and graduation

27. No Space? Your Space? • SUNY Fredonia • Two offices in library

30. Strategies • Befriend secretaries • One useable room in each academic building • “Mobile” office space • Meet in their office • Create a virtual center

31. Examples • The “Mobile Office” • Hold office hours in various buildings • The “Tower Lounge” • Habitual use of space • The PDC Website • http://www.fredonia.edu/pdc/

32. Advice for directors

33. Check your ego at the door • Secretary; food delivery; accountant; PR; webmaster • Learn the culture • Avoid taking on too much too early, but… • Be everywhere • Be everything to everyone • Find campus “champions” • Carefully select/hire your staff, board, etc.

34. Other considerations?

35. Beyonce @Fundamental movement stage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbjR5HVKkWc&feature=related

36. Our Plans for Year 2 • Evaluate the “pilot” programs • “one-hit-wonder” workshops • Thematic = Rengas • Webinars • Go Green Initiative • Better assessments • Survey monkey

37. Three Strategies brainstorming