Policy: 5.5 Professional Growth, Development, Training and Meetings

Policy: 5.5 Professional Growth, Development, Training and Meetings

Adoption Date: June 26, 2023

NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION

All new employees are required to attend.  Two (2) orientations are held each fiscal year.  Each new employee will be scheduled to attend the next orientation following his/her date of hire.

ANNUAL REQUIREMENT

Howard College recognizes the need for the continued professional growth and development of all employees. Changes in educational, business practices, expectations of governing and regulating bodies, technology and institutional procedures require continued updating of knowledge and skills.  Individual employees must take the initiative in promoting their own growth and development. While some institutional funds are available for these activities, all employees are responsible for their own continued professional development. Application for institutional funds is made through the appropriate site administrator. Additional professional development opportunities throughout the year are announced via email to college employees and are also available in the online training platform.  All employees are required to complete four (4) hours of professional development annually as well as completing required training each year.   Documentation of this professional growth must be submitted to the appropriate supervisor.   Forms are available in the Hawk Hub.

Additional professional growth activities may include but are not limited to:

• Teleconferences or telecourses.
• Workshops, seminars, and/or short courses to develop new skills (see Policy 5.4).
• Scholarly papers presented at the local, regional, state, and/or national level. A paper is defined as any work of original thesis or proposition that may or may not involve extensive research.
• Publication of books, articles, and papers.
• Active participation in professional associations and organizations at the local, regional, state, and national level.
• Service to the college - providing programs or workshops for students, staff, or faculty or development of new instructional materials and/or courses.
• Service to the community - providing programs or workshops to organizations or civic groups.
• Writing and submitting a grant or assistance with writing and submitting a grant unless it is part of the employee’s job description.
• Completion of approved college courses (see Policy 5.4).
• Occupational/work experience - must pertain to the employee’s immediate area or related field. Work experience, excluding Howard College appointments, shall include but not be limited to outside instruction, summer or part-time employment, salaried/non-salaried, or contract work. Since the goal of occupational/work experience is to refine, develop, or update skills, diversification in work experience shall be encouraged (see Policies 6.1, 7.1, 8.1).

The continued professional growth and development of faculty is necessary for institutions of higher education to continue to provide educational programs that include new developments and knowledge in academic disciplines, reflect new instructional programs and public service techniques and strategies, and meet changing needs and expectations of students. Individual faculty members must take the initiative in promoting their own growth as teachers, scholars, and, especially in professional and occupational fields, practitioners.

SUPERVISOR TRAINING

New supervisors are required to attend.  Trainings are held each fiscal year.  Each new supervisor will be scheduled to attend the trainings following his/her date of hire or promotion. 

REQUIREMENT FOR FACULTY TEACHING INTERACTIVE TELEVISION COURSES

Faculty teaching via interactive television (ITV) for the first time must attend a training orientation prior to the course start date. Training for faculty teaching via interactive television (ITV) will include training in the use of ITV equipment as well as teaching techniques appropriate to the ITV classroom.

MEETINGS

General convocations are called by the area administrator or president.  Attendance at meetings and professional development meetings is required. Employees may be convened by their respective administrators.