Writing Professional Development Reports: a Workshop for New Faculty

1. Writing Professional Development Reports: a Workshop for New Faculty Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

2. Workshop Overview • Introductions and progress reports • Taking note of progress • Mid-year progress and evidence audit • Pre-writing 1: connecting progress to department and University missions and goals • Pre-writing 2: collecting and organizing evidence • Strategizing for the second semester

3. IFO/MnSCU Contract, Article 22: Professional Development & Evaluation “As the primary professionals in the teaching/ learning process of the university, faculty place continuous emphasis on the development and improvement of their professional competence and productivity. Professional growth occurs in areas such as effective teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and active involvement in the university community and professional organizations. Faculty scholarship and current knowledge of the discipline, together with a desire to improve pedagogy, are instrumental to good teaching.”

4. Article 22: Professional Development & Evaluation cont’d “Section A. Purpose. The purpose of professional development is to provide for continuing improvement in teaching, in other student interactions, in the quality of scholarly activity and other service to the university and community. The purpose of evaluation is to provide faculty with information which will contribute to their professional development. The evaluation processes are intended to be supportive of a faculty member’s desire for continuing professional growth and academic excellence. This process contributes to various personnel activities and supports the interest of each faculty member to achieve continuing professional growth and to pursue the highest possible level of academic excellence.”

5. Article 22, Section B. Criteria • Demonstrated ability to teach effectively and/or perform effectively in other current assignments. • Scholarly or creative achievement or research. • Evidence of continuing preparation and study. • Contribution to student growth and development. • Service to the university and community.

6. Rights and Responsibilities • Department comments on PDPs and PDRs (may form a committee to respond to PDPs and PDRs) • Deans incorporate requests for comments on PDPs and PDRs in their published processes • Any written comments given to Deans or Department Chairs must be give to the faculty member for response; comments must be limited to the five criteria and must be signed and dated. All comments with responses from the faculty member will be placed in the faculty member’s personnel file.

7. Eleven Step Process I: Professional Development Plan • Consult with your Dean or Supervisor • Submit your PDP to your Department via your Chairperson • Department, colleagues, Chair’s comments will be given to you • Your PDP with comments will be sent forward to the Dean or your supervisor • Your Dean or supervisor will send you and Human Resources her/his comments on your PDP • You may provide a written response to your Dean or supervisor’s comments

8. Eleven Step Process II:Professional Development Report • Provide your Professional Development Report with documentation to your Department via your Department Chair • Department will send on Department, Chair, and colleague comments to Dean or Supervisor • You will meet with your Dean or supervisor to discuss your PDR and next PDP • Your Dean or supervisor will send written assessment to you, the Provost, and Human Resources • You may send written responses to your Dean’s assessment to the Provost or Human Resources

9. Refresher: Professional Development Plans • Use five contractual criteria as an organizing tool • Make sure the achievement of your goals can be documented • Write your goals in succinct, direct prose and in active voice • Write a few goals for each criteria (remember you can stress one contractual area over others in a given year, but you must demonstrate some progress in all areas

10. Writing Professional Development Reports • Use your PDP as an outline for your Report. • Connect your achievements to Department, College, and University Mission, Goals, Strategic Plans. • Provide documentation for every achievement.

11. Writing Professional Development Reports • If you fail to meet a goal, write about why you failed, what you learned, and what you plan to do differently next year. • Do not minimize your successes. • Solicit feedback on preliminary drafts of your report from both Probationary and Senior Faculty colleagues.

12. Writing Professional Development Reports • Use your PDP and PDR as a tool for organizing your priorities and time. • Remember that your PDP and PDR are public documents. Write them with an evaluative audience in mind. • Be honest. If you have questions about appropriate language, ask your Chair or a trusted Senior colleague.

13. Writing Professional Development Reports • Sign, date, and keep electronic and hard copies of all documents pertaining to your PDP and PDR. • Check your personnel file through the Human Resources Office once a year to make sure you have been given access and an opportunity to respond to every set of comments.

14. Sample Department Mission Statements • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/biology/ • http://cob.stcloudstate.edu/acctweb/General_Information.htm • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/english/ • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/history/ • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/cim/ • http://www.stcloudstate.edu/hurl/

15. Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning: Resources for New Faculty • Faculty Consultants Program • Mentoring • CETL Resource Room • Memberships in the Professional Organizational Development association and the Collaboration (reduced conference rates) • CETL Advisory Board