Professional development is crucial to faculty and staff success in higher education. Connecticut State Community College (CSCC) developed a dynamic professional development program that addresses the unique challenges of higher education. Discover five critical lessons from their approach to help your institution stay ahead.

1. Understand Your Institution's Needs For Professional Development In Higher Education

The Connecticut State Community College (CSCC) system includes 12 primary campuses and 22 locations. Each faces unique challenges, making professional development a priority. To create a unified approach, CSCC leaders worked to understand the organizational structure and the people they served. By listening to faculty and staff, program coordinators identified the areas where professional development was most needed.

Best Practice:
Survey your institution's faculty and staff to understand their demographics, challenges, and needs. Tailoring your program based on this foundational knowledge ensures its relevance and impact.

2. Develop A Theory Of Change For Faculty Training Success

A guiding principle introduced by CSCC is the concept of a "theory of change." This theory starts with "Question Zero"—the big "why" behind the professional development initiative. For example, CSCC asked, "How can we make CSCC a college-ready institution?" Drawing inspiration from the "student-ready institution" concept, they aimed to create a system where faculty and staff were fully prepared to support students from day one.

Best Practice:
Establish a straightforward "why" for your professional development program. Develop a theory of change with specific, measurable goals and outcomes. Align these goals with the needs of your employees and your institution's strategic plan. Create "if-then" statements to define desired outcomes: If we train faculty on student retention strategies, retention rates will improve.

3. Leverage Data-Driven Decision-Making In Professional Development

Data was crucial to the success of CSCC's professional development initiatives. They regularly collected participant feedback, tracked attendance, and measured the impact of professional development on outcomes like student retention and faculty engagement. Using data, CSCC could make informed decisions, adjust programs, and demonstrate the value of professional development to senior leadership.

Additionally, building relationships with institutional research teams was essential. These teams provided valuable insights into student outcomes, faculty performance, and other key metrics.

Best Practice:
Use both qualitative and quantitative data to assess your professional development programs. This data-driven approach helps demonstrate impact and guides decisions on improving or expanding initiatives. Institutional research teams can offer powerful insights into performance metrics that shape your strategy.

4. Build A Multi-Channel Communication Strategy For Professional Development

Effective communication is critical to the success of any professional development program. CSCC established multiple channels to engage with faculty and staff, including newsletters, campus visits, and virtual drop-in hours. They also shared the successes of their professional development program through college meetings, newsletters, and informal conversations.

Best Practice:
Develop a multi-channel communication strategy to inform faculty and staff about professional development opportunities. Share information through email newsletters, internal websites, and in-person visits. Make success stories visible to foster a culture of continuous learning.

5. Ensure Accessible, Flexible Professional Development For Faculty & Staff

One of the biggest challenges many institutions face is engaging part-time faculty and staff in professional development. CSCC worked with Innovative Educators to create an online platform that allows faculty and staff to complete training at their own pace. This flexibility tripled participation within a year, as faculty and staff could now earn micro-credentials and complete training whenever it suited their schedule.

Best Practice:
Ensure professional development opportunities are accessible to all employees. Offer flexible, self-paced online options to accommodate diverse schedules, particularly for part-time employees. This increases engagement and participation, allowing a broader range of employees to benefit from the training.

Conclusion

Creating a successful professional development program in higher education requires a clear mission, a focus on people, and a willingness to adapt to the institution's and its employees' needs. By understanding your institution's unique challenges, leveraging internal expertise, using data to drive decision-making, and ensuring accessibility, you can create a program that not only meets institutional goals but also empowers faculty and staff to succeed.

Want to learn more about successful professional development strategies? Explore CSCC's full webinar on innovative approaches and Innovative Educators' range of online resources designed to boost faculty engagement and retention.

How does your institution approach professional development? Share your experience in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest tips on professional development in higher education.

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By Meg Foster, Online Learning & Design Specialist - Consultant & Wendy Archer,  Web Content Coordinator 
September 18, 2024