Professional Development Task Force December 16, 2004

What We Found A wide variety of professional development activities are being performed by all units A wide variety of professional development activities are being performed by all units Significant University resources are expended on professional development by individual units Significant University resources are expended on professional development by individual units There is no coordinated scheduling or centralized tracking/monitoring for professional development There is no coordinated scheduling or centralized tracking/monitoring for professional development There is demand for both unit specific (internal) and more centralized professional development activities There is demand for both unit specific (internal) and more centralized professional development activities

What We Found Barriers exist that reduce participation in professional development activities: Barriers exist that reduce participation in professional development activities: Cost Cost Time Time Not valued Not valued Adjunct faculty need more professional development opportunities Adjunct faculty need more professional development opportunities Employees are not aware of some professional development opportunities or do not realize they can participate in them Employees are not aware of some professional development opportunities or do not realize they can participate in them Lack of incentive Lack of incentive Schedule/coverage Schedule/coverage Access Access

Internal Best Practices Student Services/Residential Life professional development for internal staff Student Services/Residential Life professional development for internal staff AFSCME/FSU Dining Services and Custodial Training AFSCME/FSU Dining Services and Custodial Training Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning Ferris Employee Leadership Development Program Ferris Employee Leadership Development Program

External Best Practices Efforts are underway to identify best practices of professional development programs within our peer higher education institutions in Michigan Efforts are underway to identify best practices of professional development programs within our peer higher education institutions in Michigan This information will be available to project teams who continue our efforts This information will be available to project teams who continue our efforts

Global Recommendation Develop a culture that encourages professional development Develop a culture that encourages professional development Encourage all employees to participate Encourage all employees to participate Broaden participation in existing programs Broaden participation in existing programs Identify recognition/incentive practices for participation Identify recognition/incentive practices for participation Use flexible scheduling Use flexible scheduling Remove barriers which prevent participation Remove barriers which prevent participation

Recommendation 1 Develop professional development mission statement Develop professional development mission statement Define professional development more broadly Define professional development more broadly Job Specific Development Job Specific Development Professional Tracks Professional Tracks Continue to develop an understanding and appreciation of diversity Continue to develop an understanding and appreciation of diversity What is diversity at Ferris? What is diversity at Ferris? Holistic Approach Holistic Approach Develop a healthy workplace Develop a healthy workplace

Recommendation 2 Define responsibility for support of professional development University wide Define responsibility for support of professional development University wide Make Human Resources a center for coordinating professional development for non-academic employees Make Human Resources a center for coordinating professional development for non-academic employees Work in partnership with Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) Work in partnership with Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) Develop other professional development resource centers as needed Develop other professional development resource centers as needed

Recommendation 3 Develop University-wide professional development planning process that is tied to budget Develop University-wide professional development planning process that is tied to budget Each unit would develop an annual plan and budget that includes all employees in the unit Each unit would develop an annual plan and budget that includes all employees in the unit

Recommendation 4 Develop assessment process to determine Develop assessment process to determine What employees believe they need to improve their abilities and effectiveness What employees believe they need to improve their abilities and effectiveness What motivates employees to participate in professional development activities What motivates employees to participate in professional development activities What keeps employees from participating in professional development What keeps employees from participating in professional development What professional tracks need to be developed What professional tracks need to be developed Utilize feedback from assessment to determine future professional development activities Utilize feedback from assessment to determine future professional development activities

Recommendation 5 Develop logistical plan Develop logistical plan Centralized scheduling Centralized scheduling within/outside of semester within/outside of semester flexible flexible alternate delivery methods alternate delivery methods Communication plan Communication plan send professional development information to targeted audiences send professional development information to targeted audiences develop a portal for accessing information develop a portal for accessing information Tracking Tracking purchase/develop software purchase/develop software

Recommendation 6 Establish academic leadership development program for faculty Establish academic leadership development program for faculty Consider best practices revealed through the Ferris Employee Leadership Development Program Consider best practices revealed through the Ferris Employee Leadership Development Program

Recommendation 7 Establish professional development program for adjunct faculty Establish professional development program for adjunct faculty Support adjunct faculty roles in fulfilling the University mission Support adjunct faculty roles in fulfilling the University mission

Outcomes Improving professional development by creating a more supportive culture can lead to Improving professional development by creating a more supportive culture can lead to Opportunities for employees to improve themselves and/or advance in their career Opportunities for employees to improve themselves and/or advance in their career Expanded numbers of employees utilizing professional development opportunities Expanded numbers of employees utilizing professional development opportunities Increased cross-functional collegiality Increased cross-functional collegiality A learning-centered environment A learning-centered environment An engaged workforce An engaged workforce

Thank You Sue Cherry – Technology Assistance Center Sue Cherry – Technology Assistance Center Anne Kelly – FLITE Anne Kelly – FLITE Cindy Konrad – Allied Health Sciences Cindy Konrad – Allied Health Sciences Fonda Kuzee – Physical Plant Fonda Kuzee – Physical Plant Ed Muccio – College of Technology Ed Muccio – College of Technology Tom Oldfield – Academic Affairs Tom Oldfield – Academic Affairs Jonathan Taylor – College of Arts/Sciences Jonathan Taylor – College of Arts/Sciences John Vermeer – College of Business John Vermeer – College of Business Chris Vodry – College of Business Chris Vodry – College of Business LeRoy Wright – Residential Life LeRoy Wright – Residential Life Louise Yowtz – Employee Relations Louise Yowtz – Employee Relations