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Faculty Handbook 2023-2024

Article IV: Faculty Development Committee

A. Purpose

This Committee will make programs available to the Academic Faculty to ensure the excellence of instruction. The programming may range from seminars of topical interest to a few colleagues to special events that may interest the entire academic community. The Committee may also serve to coordinate interdivisional efforts in faculty development programs if requested. The Committee will facilitate distribution of materials in order to keep the Academic Faculty apprised of current materials (funding sources, fellowships, etc.) which may come to the attention of individual Faculty members. The Committee will also serve as an advocate, in concert with the Faculty Liaison Committee, to increase opportunities for Faculty growth and development through sabbaticals and other programs for individuals, and will be the policy-formulating entity for these programs.

B. Composition

  1. The Faculty Development Committee shall consist of three Academic Faculty members elected for terms of three years with ex officio members as described above.
  2. The Committee shall deliberately establish a plan for operation, record-keeping, and continuity during annual membership and leadership transitions. The plan should designate which Committee members will be responsible for each of the following roles and functions. The same person may perform more than one task.
    1. Chair (Presiding Officer) functions
      1. Prepare meeting agendas
      2. Preside over Committee meetings
      3. Oversee distribution and completion of Committee tasks
      4. Serve as conduit of communication between the committee and other institutional components, such as the administration, the Faculty, the Registrar, and other standing committees
    2. Chair-Elect functions
      1. Prepare to take over the responsibilities of the Committee chair in the following academic year
      2. Assist the chair in overseeing Committee functions
      3. Preside over meetings in the absence of the chair
      4. Other specific functions appropriate to the Committee
    3. Secretarial functions

      The FDC Secretary will make the following documents available to the Faculty:

      1. Agenda of meetings
      2. Minutes of meetings
      3. Proposals of changes to Policies and Procedures that require Faculty action
      4. Other documents specifically relevant to the Committee, such as standard forms
  3. The Committee shall electronically communicate its plan regarding operation, record-keeping, and continuity to the Faculty Liaison Committee and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on or before June 15 (at the close of each academic year).

C. Responsibilities 

  1. To oversee and plan the following:
    1. Procedures and methods to enable the Academic Faculty to maintain and improve the quality of instruction
    2. New Faculty orientation
    3. Dispersal of funds for Faculty professional development and scholarship
    4. Recipients of Faculty development awards
    5. Speakers and other campus events, which are relevant to the academic mission of the institution
    6. Dissemination of current materials to the Academic Faculty, which may come to the attention of the individual Faculty
  2. Acting upon policies adopted by the Academic Faculty and the Board of Trustees, the Committee will make recommendations concerning leaves of absence and sabbatical leaves to the Provost and President for approval.
  3. To develop its procedures and present them to the Academic Faculty for approval.
  4. By March 15, the outgoing chair of the FDC will communicate with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to coordinate budget allocations for the following academic year.
  5. To submit an annual report to the Academic Faculty.

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