Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Bob Francis wants to breathe new life into a position targeted at supporting professional development for faculty members, the Faculty Professional Development Officer.

On Friday, Nov. 14, Francis posted this message to the faculty listserv:

Colleagues,

As part of the College’s renewed efforts to support faculty professional development, I am pleased to invite you to apply for the position of Professional Development Officer.  I hope those of you interested in helping to facilitate ongoing professional growth consider applying for this position.  The position offers 2/3 release time for remainder of the academic year and will work closely with faculty, division deans, students, and the VPASA to develop meaningful professional development opportunities.  I’ve attached the job description.  The application deadline is 8:00 am December 1, 2014.  

I look forward to working with the new ProD officer.

Best Regards,

Bob

Francis has acknowledged the concern that the announcement is coming at a time when some faculty members who might be interested in serving have already committed to teaching loads in winter and spring quarters that would preclude them from participating.

“I understand and agree the timing isn’t perfect,” Francis said. “However, we felt it would be better to put something out for the remainder of the year rather than wait for eight more months to go by without having a coordinated professional development program.”

The ProD officer announcement comes just one day after a college-wide announcement of an employee recognition program that will add $200 to the existing funds available to all full- and part-time faculty members for use on professional development. Administrative employees will also get the $200 professional-development allocation. Classified employees will receive $200 added to their paycheck before the end of the calendar year.

International Education Week is an annual celebration promoting international education and exchange and Shoreline will be celebrating Nov. 18-20. Everyone is invited to join the activities and presentations!

Here is the schedule of events:

Tuesday, Nov. 18

• International Fashion Show from Noon -1 p.m. in the Main Dining Room
• What the US has to Learn From the Late Great Mandela’s Actions by Dr. Ernest Johnson from 12:30 –1:30 p.m. in the Quiet Dining Room
• Integrating Chinese Students on Campus by International Education staff and current Chinese students from 1:40—3 p.m. in the Quiet Dining Room

Wednesday, Nov. 19

• Global Education and Engagement by Diana Sampson & Samira Pardanani from 11:30 am—12:30 p.m. in the Quiet Dining Room
• Globalization through Art by Keith Takechi from 12:45—1:45 pm in the Quiet Dining Room

Thursday, Nov. 20

• Study Abroad and U.S. Passport Fair from Noon -1 p.m. in the Main Dining Room

Shoreline Community College is recognizing the importance of its employees by investing in them.

“The faculty and staff are our No. 1 resource. They make this a great college,” President Cheryl Roberts said. “When there is an opportunity to help them, we should do it.”

In this case, the opportunity is in the form of lapsed, or unused, salaries. “This is one-time money, not the kind of thing that should be used for ongoing expenses,” Roberts said. “However, by using the funds to help our employees, the college and our students will continue to benefit in an ongoing way.”

As a result, most college employees will receive $200 either directly in their paychecks or as an allocation toward professional development. The difference depends on the employee category.

Classified staff members, both full- and part-time, will get a one-time payment of $200. That money will be added to gross earnings and paid no later than the Dec. 24, 2014, paycheck. Hourly employees are not eligible for the payment, but otherwise, all classified staff members who are in pay status for any portion of the period Nov. 16-30 will receive the money.

For faculty members and administrators, $200 will be allocated for use on professional development expenses.

“Before going ahead with this plan, we discussed it with both faculty and classified labor representatives,” Roberts said, adding that there was also significant discussion and work done with administrators. “Our thinking is that classified staff members may not always have the ability to utilize professional development funds and that cash would be more useful and appreciated.”

Read the plan details

Faculty members already have professional-development funds built into their contract. This $200 allocation will be in addition to the existing money available for each faculty member. Full-time, senior associate and associate faculty members are eligible for the additional allocation.

Administrative employees will also receive the $200 allocation to be used on professional development. While not generally part of their contracts, administrators may also have access to professional development opportunities that the allocation could augment.

[Read more…]

The amazing growth and accomplishments of distance education would not have been possible without the participation of teachers and students.  Just for this fall quarter, a total of 137 instructors are teaching fully online or hybrid classes at Shoreline.  At the beginning of the quarter, close to 4,500 users navigated Canvas and, as of today, over 5,700 students have access to their courses through Canvas.

In sum, to celebrate the National Distance Learning Week without reference to teachers and students would be a fallacy, to say the least.

Happy National Distance Learning Week to all faculty and students!

Help support the Shoreline Baseball team in their fundraiser!  Buy California premium navel oranges & Texas Rio Star Grapefruit provided by The Orange Guy in time for the holiday season. Boxes are $27 each.

Place your order here to have your purchase proceeds go to the baseball team.

Funds raised help the team buy needed equipment and pay for required travel. The sale ends December 1 with delivery mid-December in time for the holiday season.

If you would like to support the team but do not need the fruit, the team will donate the box to the local food bank.