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Teaching and Learning Center
About Staff Development

Cabrillo College Staff Development, under the coordination of the Teaching & Learning Center offers faculty, staff and administrators activities and resources for professional development. The Staff Development Committee oversees Flex Week, the Classified Retreat and Conference and Travel Funding (AB1725)**.

** Due to the proposed elimination of statewide Staff Development programs, certain activities and resources may not be available 2002-2003

Section 87150-87154 of the Education Code authorizes professional development activities in the following areas:

(a) Improvement of teaching.
(b) Maintenance of current academic and technical knowledge and skills.
(c) In-service training for vocational education and employment preparation programs.
(d) Retraining to meet changing institutional needs.
(e) Intersegmental exchange programs.
(f) Development of innovations in instructional and administrative techniques and program effectiveness.
(g) Computer and technological proficiency programs.
(h) Courses and training implementing affirmative action and upward mobility programs.
(i) Other activities determined to be related to educational and professional development pursuant to criteria established by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, including, but not necessarily limited to, programs designed to develop self-esteem.

What is Flex Week?
The flex calendar affords faculty the time and format in which to examine instructional concerns outside the traditional classroom setting. It offers an appropriate prelude to the school year as well as a checkpoint between semesters to refresh our sense of educational mission. The flex calendar is posted online and distributed in print format.

Required flex time:
Faculty may fulfill their flex requirement by attending workshops on flex days, participating in advisement at registration, or performing individual projects on designated flex days. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by your division chair.

Full-time faculty have a minimum time commitment of 24 flexible hours per year plus two fall semester mandatory days and one spring semester mandatory day.

Partial contract faculty are required to participate in a specific number of days, which is prorated on a percentage basis of an individual's contract. Adjunct faculty are required to participate in at least one hour of flex activity per teaching unit each semester.

For more information, contact: Francine Van Meter, Director, Teaching & Learning Center - (831)479-5030

Professional Growth and Development Funds
Funding for conference attendance may be requested from two sources, your Division funds, and Staff Development.

Division Funds: All regular and contract unit members shall be entitled to $150 to cover the cost of all or a portion of the cost of attending professional meetings, conferences, or other activities approved by the appropriate administrator which directly relate to the unit member's assignment.

With prior approval of the appropriate administrator, unit members may assign their conference funds to another unit member and the District may add to the fund.

At the end of each fiscal year, unused Professional Growth and Development funds shall be carried over in the Division budget for allocation to Professional Growth and Development Funds activities defined in Section 9.3.1 the next fiscal year.
Article 9.3 of the CCFT Contract.

Guest Speaker, Special Event and Conference Funding — Updated 8/6/07

The State Chancellor’s Office has allocated funding in support of Staff Development programs through spring 2009. The Staff Development Advisory Committee met during the spring term to discuss campus professional development needs and assess the results of a campus-wide survey. The outcome is a directed effort to provide professional development opportunities across the entire campus community. The flexible calendar program, which is a component of the staff development program and the major vehicle for faculty participation in development activities, will continue in its current form.

The new funding will be used to bring in more guest speakers, trainers for workshops, and fund special events serving a department or the entire institution. (Classroom guest speakers do not qualify.) Requests should be submitted on a Staff Development Funding Request Form that includes a statement outlining how the funding will be used, intent of the event, the expected outcome, and if there are other funds to supplement the staff development money.

Conference funds will also be available to all faculty and managers who don’t have access to travel funds. Both full time and adjunct faculty may apply. Academic personnel must use division conference funds before applying for Staff Development travel augmentation funds. Staff Development travel augmentation funds are limited up to $500 reimbursement per person per year. Conference presenters/panelists will be given priority. Requests for these travel funds must be submitted on a Conference Attendance Request Form (with appropriate signatures and a copy of the conference brochure/application) to the Staff Development Committee for prior approval.

All funding recipients will be required to submit a single page summary of their experience to the Staff Development Committee. The submissions will be posted on the Staff Development website to benefit other potential conference/event attendees.

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