3.7.3  

The institution provides evidence of ongoing professional development of faculty as teachers, scholars, and practitioners.

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Policy on Professional Development [1] recognizes the importance of continuous professional development for faculty members and directs campuses to provide structured opportunities for professional development for their faculty.  The Nashville State Faculty and Staff Handbook [2] affirms the importance of ongoing professional improvement and development with this language:  "The intent of professional development at Nashville State is to encourage and provide opportunities ... that will extend knowledge..., improve instructional effectiveness, and enrich the Nashville State Work environment....  All faculty are encouraged to participate in a variety of scholarly and academic activities which enhance their instructional effectiveness."

 NSCC provides opportunities through multiple programs, including.

(1)    During the two weeks prior to the beginning of classes for both the fall and spring semesters, faculty members are involved in division meetings, class preparation, and in-service opportunities on a variety of topics. The schedule of programs offered for spring semester 2006 [3] and for fall semester 2006 [4] illustrate these professional development opportunities.  In-service sessions are evaluated periodically for purposes of scheduling and improving future offerings.  In a fall 2004 survey to which 41 faculty members responded, 58% agreed that the on-campus in-services “helped me to better perform my job.”  In January 2006 a survey completed by full-time faculty indicated that they like attending in-services prior to the beginning of classes and that the topics scheduled in January 2006 were appropriate.  Based on that feedback, extensive offerings were planned for fall 2006 [4].  Faculty members evaluated every session offered in fall 2006 [5] and aggregated results were made available to presenters.

(2)    Nashville State also offers some on-campus in-service and training during the year.  The schedule is available on the College website [6].  Participants are invited, in most cases, to complete short evaluations of these sessions.  During 2006-2007, most on-campus training is related to the college's conversion to Banner financial, human resources, and student information systems.  The initial conversion to these three systems will be completed fall 2007.

(3)    NSCC provides funds to support professional development opportunities for faculty to participate in off-campus travel activities and/or to bring experts to the campus to provide professional development.  The amount available was $90,000 for several years, but has been increased to $100,000 for 2006-07. At the beginning of the fiscal year, the Academic Affairs staff looks at all requests for financial support for professional development [7] and recommends funding based on established campus priorities [8]. 

(4)    All NSCC faculty members can use a fee waiver to take one credit course each semester at any Tennessee Board of Regents or University of Tennessee institution [9].  Funds are budgeted to allow adjunct faculty to take one course at Nashville State.   A significant number of NSCC faculty members take advantage of this professional development opportunity.  For example, in 2005-06, 30 full-time and adjunct faculty members used the fee waiver opportunity. 

(5)    Professional development opportunities are also available through the Regents Online Degree Program (RODP) for faculty members who develop and deliver online courses.  Several NSCC faculty members participate in these sessions each year [10].

(6)    Each year NSCC sends one individual to the Regents Academic Leadership Institute (RALI) [11].  This Institute is for faculty members who aspire to positions of academic leadership.  A Computer Information Systems faculty member who attended spring 2006 assumed the role of Program Coordinator in fall 2006.

(7)   NSCC also provides resources for adjunct faculty members.  Orientations to the college are held at the beginning of each academic year and adjuncts are invited to all campus inservices.  Professional development funds pay the fees of adjunct faculty members who want to take a course at NSCC that is related to their teaching responsibilities.  An Adjunct Academy has been developed as an online course and is available to all adjuncts.  The adjunct faculty website provides information and also modules on Develop a Course, Manage a Course, a Dreamweaver course, and access to the Adjunct Academy [13]. 

 Participation in professional development activities is one of the factors considered in the annual performance review for all full-time faculty members (criterion 5, page 9).  Each spring the faculty member submits a list of professional development opportunities in which he or she has participated during the past year [12].