Article 23 - Professional Development
23.1 Definition. Professional development
provides means for faculty to accommodate changes in
disciplines, technology, pedagogy and expectations of
students, faculty and the community.
23.2 Funding. A general professional development
fund of $172,689 shall be established for the purpose of
funding professional development projects and activities as
defined in Section 23.1. Of these funds, a minimum of
$40,000 shall be "set aside' for short-term professional
development. The Faculty Professional Development Committee
shall administer these funds and resources purchased by the
fund. The General Professional Fund shall increase annually
at the same percentage as the full-time faculty salary.
23.3 Committee and Subcommittees. The committee
shall consist of a minimum of eight (8) members representing
diverse faculty interests, and appointed by the Association.
In addition, a Vice President for Instruction or designee
shall serve as an ex-officio member without voting
rights.
There will be a standing subcommittee to administer
short-term leave funds and a standing subcommittee to
administer long-term leaves. Subcommittees will appoint
their own chairs who also serve as members of the Faculty
Professional Development Committee. The Faculty Professional
Development Committee may create additional
subcommittees.
23.4 Rules. The committee and subcommittees shall
develop rules and procedures as they deem appropriate,
including an appeals process ending with the Association's
Executive Board.
23.5 Faculty Professional Development Coordinator.
A contracted faculty person shall be designated to
coordinate faculty professional development activities and
chair the Faculty Professional Development committee. The
committee will advertise in-house and select the
coordinator, subject to approval by the Instructional Vice
President or designee and the association. The appointment
will be for a term of two (2) years, and a person may fill
the position for no more than two (2) terms consecutively.
The coordinator's seniority will continue to accrue in
his/her regular faculty position. Funding of this position
at 0.2 FTE shall be by the professional development
fund.
23.6 Transfer of Funds. The committee may
transfer general professional development funds into the
short-term and/or long-term leave accounts with consensus of
the committee chair and subcommittee chairs.
23.7 Carry Over. Professional development funds
not spent during a fiscal year will be carried over to the
following fiscal year and added to the general professional
development fund amount designated in Article 23.2.
23.8 Long-term Leaves.
23.8.1 Purpose. To provide faculty with
professional development leave of one or more academic
terms that will better fit the employee for service to
Lane Community College.
23.8.2 Eligibility. A contracted employee will
be eligible to apply for professional development leave
of up to one (1) term after completion of two (2) years
of service, two (2) terms after four (4) years, and three
(3) terms after six (6) years. After a leave has
commenced, a new eligibility period, as defined above,
must be completed before the employee becomes eligible to
apply for another leave.
23.8.3 Application for Leave. The Long Term
Leave Subcommittee shall determine the deadline(s) for
application and the numbers of leaves to be awarded
following each deadline. Applicants must be informed by
the committee within one month of the application
deadline regarding the disposition of their applications.
The application for leave shall contain a statement of
the plan for activities to be undertaken. Each
application may include an impact statement from the
department chair. Application is made to the Faculty
Professional Development Committee.
23.8.4 Compensation. An employee on leave
shall receive seventy-five percent (75%) of annual salary
for a three (3) term leave, eighty-seven percent (87%) of
annual salary for a two (2) term leave, and one hundred
percent (100%) of salary for a one (1) term leave.
23.8.5 Insurance/Step Eligibility. Insurance
benefits shall continue during the leave. The leave shall
not be construed as a break in service for any purpose,
and the employee shall be returned to the position
formerly occupied if that position is still funded. Upon
return from leave, the member shall be eligible for a
salary step increase for the year of leave pending
satisfactory review of the completed program by the
Faculty Professional Development Committee.
23.8.6 Subcommittee. The Long-term Leave
Subcommittee shall consist of five (5) members. The
members shall be appointed annually by the Association.
In addition, a Vice President for instruction or designee
shall serve as an ex-officio member without voting
rights. The committee shall develop specific application
procedures and criteria for approval. The acceptability
of proposals for professional development leave will be
determined by the Long-term leave Subcommittee.
23.8.7 Rules. The following rules will
apply:
23.8.7.1 As a general rule, not more than two (2)
leaves per department may be granted for any one (1)
term. When more than one (1) acceptable application in
a department is made, precedence is given by order of
greater number of years served since last long-term
leave granted, or if no leave was granted, the number
of years of service.
23.8.7.2 In the application for leave, each member
agrees to return to Lane Community College upon the
completion of the leave for a period of one (1) term's
service for each term of leave. The College shall be
reimbursed for costs incurred for such leave if the
employee does not return as agreed. This provision
shall not be enforceable if an employee is laid off
while on leave and does not return to Lane Community
College.
23.8.7.3 Upon completion of leave, the faculty
member will submit a report of the accomplishments and
benefits resulting from the leave. Copies of this
report shall be filed with the Long-term Leave
Subcommittee and the appropriate Vice President.
23.8.8 Number of Leaves. The Long-term Leave
Subcommittee will grant at least nine (9) terms of
professional development leave each year of the
Agreement. In the event the year's minimum number of
leaves are not granted, the number below the minimum will
be added to the minimum the following year.
23.8.9 Charges. For long-term professional
development leaves, the fund shall be charged the percent
of annual salary and OPE relevant to such leaves. Other
costs, if any, directly associated with the approved
leave shall be charged to the general professional
development fund.
23.9 Short-term Leaves.
23.9.1 Definition of Activities. Short-term
professional development activities are off campus and
usually of less than one (1) term. Short-term activities
may include professional conferences, workshops,
visitations or other activities which will benefit the
employee and the College.
23.9.2 Funds Available. The Faculty
Professional Development Committee shall provide a fund
of $40,000 each year which will be administered by the
Short-term Leave Subcommittee.
23.9.3 Subcommittee. The Short-term Leave
Subcommittee shall consist of five (5) members. The
members shall be appointed annually by the Association.
In addition, a Vice President for Instruction or designee
shall serve as an ex-officio member without voting
rights. The committee shall develop specific application
procedures and criteria for approval. The acceptability
of proposals for professional development leave will be
determined by the Short-term Leave Subcommittee.
23.9.4 Personnel Costs. Personnel costs
charged against the fund shall be limited to salary
costs, if any, of the substitute.
23.9.5 Eligible Expenses. Short-term
professional development funds may be used for
transportation costs, expenses, tuition and fees.
Expenses shall be charged to the fiscal year fund in
which the activity occurs.
23.9.6 Compensation. Faculty requests shall be
granted without reduction in salary and benefits.
23.9.7 Laid-off Employee Eligibility.
Employees who have received a lay off notice shall be
eligible to apply for short-term leaves.
23.9.8 Employee Obligation. Employees that
have been granted short-term leave funds shall not be
required to return to employment at Lane Community
College.
23.9.9 Priority. Each employee shall be
eligible to be granted one (1) request per term. However,
the Short-term Leave Subcommittee will develop a priority
system that will give preference to employees who have
never received funds.
23.9.10 Notification. The Faculty Professional
Development Coordinator will notify the applicant in
writing whether their request has been approved or denied
prior to the commencement of the activity.
23.9.11 Carry Over. Any remaining short-term
professional development funds not spent during the
current fiscal year will be carried over to the following
fiscal year and added to the amount provided in Section
23.9.2 of this Article.
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