Professional development at Sinclair Community College is a process for gaining the knowledge, skills, and competencies which contribute to the mission of the College. It is a process involving change which improves learning. There are three levels of development:
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staff development – programs and activities designed to enhance the attitudes, skills, knowledge, and performance related to individuals within the College;
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program development – programs and activities designed to enhance the attitudes, skills, knowledge and performance related to systems within the College; and
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organizational development – programs and activities designed to enhance the attitudes, skills, knowledge, and performance related to institutional effectiveness.
Professional development is a means to an end. The means involves the knowledge, skills, and competencies of individuals participating in the three levels of development outlined above. The end involves the answer to two questions:
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Does this professional development program or activity improve or expand learning?
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How do we know?
History
When the professional development initiative was created at Sinclair Community College early in the 1970’s, the President and Board of Trustees felt it was important to extend learning to all elements of the college—faculty, administration, staff and students. These learning opportunities extended well beyond the classroom and supported growth for all employment categories. This remains the guiding tenet of professional development at Sinclair -- learning opportunities for ALL people.
For over thirty years, the Staff Development and Innovation Committee (SDIC), composed of representatives from all employee categories, has been the vehicle for planning professional development. Today, this group meets monthly to design, present, and oversee a variety of events and training sessions along with providing funding for other activities such as sabbatical and mini-sabbatical leaves, fitness registrations, career seminars, faculty institutes, and a variety of leadership development opportunities.
