1. Professional Confidence August 3rd 2018
Conan McKay, ASCCC Area B Representative
LaTonya Parker, ASCCC South Representative
2018 ASCCC Part Time Faculty Leadership Institute

2. Program Description
Confidence is an essential quality for faculty members. This session will examine ways to cultivate personal confidence and will discuss how this characteristic can lead to improved teaching.

3. Room Check
What brings you to this session? What is your background experience in the community college?

4. Professional Confidence (PC)
Very few people enter a new environment with confidence
Confidence is built upon years of training and experience to know that you will be able to adapt and adjust to the unknown
No matter what situation you will encounter, preparation is the key to overcoming nervousness and fear

5. Why is PC Important? Very few people were born to be a professor
Becoming an effective leader or educator will take a lot of work and dedication
Everyone has to teach their first class and no one is perfect the first time out

6. PC-Moving Beyond Your Comfort Zone
Self Affirmation Through Collaboration
It is often difficult for part time faculty to be involved beyond the classroom, but try to be engaged (i.e. Committee, Club Advisor, Academic Senate)
Be an active part of SLO assessment and offer suggestions if you have any
Give feedback on the curriculum and make suggestions for possible changes
Attend department meetings if you are able. When you are visible, you will get a better sense of what it is like to be a full time faculty member
Present Workshops
Conduct Faculty Flex Activities in Your Area of Expertise

7. PC is More Than Building Self-Esteem
Building professional confidence is intentional actions towards identified personal aspirations
Serve As a Mentor
Students, Staff and Colleagues
Create a Personal Mission Statement
Identify Areas to be Strengthened

8. Building PC in the Classroom
Each class is an opportunity to engage with your students
Students will disengage if you give the impression that you don’t want to be there, are nervous, or if you are not prepared
Be willing to seek feedback from students on new activities or assignments
Be professional and always be prepared for class! Whether you use prepared notes or not, plan out what you are hoping to cover that day. Don’t just wing it because they will know.

9. Classroom Cont. - Respect Your Students
Your students are there to learn and they need your help to get there
Be yourself and be prepared
Keep students engaged by asking them questions – make sure you learn their names because you expect them to learn yours
Arrive early enough to greet students and engage with them individually as they arrive for class; engage with them during breaks and after class as appropriate
Provide feedback throughout the semester
Return graded work as quickly as possible!

10. Build PC - Seek Help From Other Faculty
Other faculty members in your department are there to help
Ask for advice about the class that you are teaching
Are there topics where students struggle?
Are there some topics where you should spend more time?
Are there some topics that are essential for the next class?
Ask a faculty member you trust to come and observe your class.
Get classroom advice from an experienced teacher
Help with your natural anxiety about being observed
Ask to watch other faculty members teach their classes, including in disciplines very different than your own

11. Build PC – Innovation & Teaching
We all have classes that we love to teach, but if you only ever teach a single class you are less likely to get a full time position
Go to the department chair and make it clear that you are willing and wanting to teach any class
Teaching new classes every semester requires more work, but it forces you out of your comfort zone and expands your repertoire
Seek continual improvement of the classes you teach
Make adjustments to content, delivery, and assignments
Don’t let your class become static from semester to semester

12. Build PC-Professional Development
As academics, we are always trying to learn
Look for professional development opportunities in your discipline or around teaching
Many colleges offer opportunities to attend conferences to part time faculty – make sure to let your dean know that you would be interested
Whether you are seeking to be a full time faculty member or want to stay part time, we all have things that we can do better!

13. How Do You Measure PC? Feedback From Others Level of Engagement
College Involvement
Interpersonal Communication
How You Present?
Accomplishments

14. Any Questions? Thank You For Coming!
LaTonya Parker –
Conan McKay -