Professional Development Plan (PDP): An Overview

The Faculty PDP should be a brief (one to two page), descriptive report of specific goals and objectives for each Handbook category. Goals and objectives are to be realistic and focused on those priorities that can reasonably be accomplished in the time frame described.

You may have noticed that the Handbook discusses the PDP (5.4) and Annual evaluation (5.5.2). The Annual evaluation due, “… no later than February 1st ,…will encompass the status of the individual's professional development and the summary of student evaluations of instruction …” CAS departments have typically combined these two evaluations into one annual PDP that includes an annual evaluation or “progress report”. Another acceptable option is to write a PDP with a scope of up to five years and simply provide a yearly review of progress. At minimum, each faculty member is required to have on file a current PDP with a scope of one to five years and is required to make an annual evaluation.

Whichever plan you choose, the following is meant to clarify the responsibilities for faculty and chairs and to streamline the procedure.

Content Categories for PDP for Faculty and Chairs: (Handbook 5.2)

• Character and Congruence with Mission (5.2.1)
• Teaching and advising (5.2.2.1)
• Scholarship (5.2.2.2)
• Service (5.2.2.3)

How is the PDP different from the Annual Assessment Report ( AAR )? Good question! The PDP is the individual's professional development plan. Both faculty and chairs respond as individual faculty members in their respective PDPs. The AAR, requested by the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs each June, is an assessment of the department's goals and objectives. The AAR can include strategic planning for the year, input on the President's Education Plan, changes in the major or minor, capital requests, etc.

Can you describe the Chair Response that goes to faculty colleagues and the CAS Dean?
Of course! The chair provides a one to two page critique for each colleague. Note progress made toward next summative review, how the colleague's individual goals meet or deviate from the department's and/or university's goals. Chairs need to be informed concerning the activities of their colleagues and colleagues need to be accountable to the department and the university. Do make specific suggestions concerning teaching, professional activity, and service. Help your colleagues keep balance in their lives by informing them of the duties that are most important to your department and your department's goals. The point is to foster self-reflection and collaboration. Our colleagues deserve to keep informed as to which activities can improve department excellence as well as individual professional excellence. Assist your colleagues in setting realistic priorities.

Suggestions and Examples for Faculty PDP

Character and Congruence with Mission

• participation in the life of local church
• Bible study, personal devotions and reading for spiritual growth
• readings, workshops or collaborations that contribute to understanding Christian higher education
• personal statements discussing insights to one's faith and how these insights have affected personal, academic, and/or professional life

Teaching and Advising

• course changes based on student course evaluations or suggestions from peers
• development of new class assignment(s) for a course requiring collaborative and/or service learning
• implementation of techniques learned in seminars, workshops or conventions
• advising for 30+ students; increased number of student applications for major status by first quarter of junior year

Scholarship

• submit article to professional journal for publication (note time frame for response)
• make presentation of scholarly/creative work
• participation in professional association
• serve as executive board member/officer for professional organization
• submit grant proposal to foundation
• submit proposal for faculty research grant/sabbatical
• work with chair on file preparation for Third-Year Review/ Tenure/ Promotion/ level 4 step increase

Service

• begin/continue service on university committee or task force
• serve department in particular roles (chair, curricular revisions, accreditation, faculty advisor for student organizations/honor societies)
• participate in SPU recruitment and development activities (faculty hiring, Premier Advising, Phonathon, Meet the Professors, etc.)
• lead CADRE, contribute to chapel or provide Faculty Senate devotions
• make presentation or lead workshop at faculty retreat, school retreats
• lead or teach in church activities/programs
• serve non-profit organization, local/regional/national ministries
• serve on board for church and/or community (state particular function)
• volunteer professional consultations

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