Professional Development

A learning organization must not only espouse a philosophy supportive of professional development, it must also apply its resources and creativity in ways that make it possible for all members of the organization to participate. Iowa State University offers an impressive array of opportunities that promote a life of learning for students, staff, and faculty. University, collegiate, and departmental conferences, workshops, lectures, performances, and exhibitions fill the University’s events calendar. Examples of opportunities for professional development and personal growth follow.

One impressive example of the University’s commitment to providing professional development and advancement opportunities for faculty and staff is the Shared Leadership for Institutional Change (SLIC) Project. This three-year project (2001-03) was designed to provide a yearlong leadership development opportunity to members of the University community who had not historically held leadership roles in the institution. The outcomes of the project included increasing leadership skill, practicing leadership skills, developing a network for support, creating a pool of available leaders, and promoting participants into leadership roles at institutions. A total of 100 people participated in the project. A three-year grant from the Kellogg Foundation and additional funding provided by the Office of the Provost supported the program. The funds provided by the grant have expired, but interest remains in re-establishing SLIC in the future.

Another example can be found in the administrative internships. The program goals are to provide senior faculty and staff with the opportunity to broaden their understanding of and experience in higher education administration and to diversify the administrative leadership on campus. Funding from the Provost’s office supports this program.

Faculty development opportunities funded by the Provost’s Office include:

• Big Ten Faculty Fellowship Program
• Faculty Professional Development Assignments
• Mentoring Programs for New Faculty
• Miller Faculty Fellowships

The office of the Vice Provost for Research is another source of internal grants, some of which support professional development.

To encourage international engagement and the professional development that comes from exposure to new ideas and new colleagues, a foreign travel grants program was established. This program provides partial support for international travel by faculty to conduct research, present papers, recruit graduate students, and engage in fundraising. Grants are awarded in October, February and April of each year. The average number of awards given annually over the last five years is 72.2.

The professional growth and development of professional and scientific employees is a major personnel goal of the University. Every employee is encouraged to participate in activities that contribute to his or her professional development. Twice annually, competitive grants are awarded to individual employees to help defray expenses of continuing education activities. Both Merit Development Grants and Professional Development Grants are available.

Human Resource Services offers a variety of on- and off-campus training opportunities for Iowa State faculty and staff, including regular workshops, web-based training (e.g. sexual harassment training), employee orientation, supervisory leadership training, and custom designed training.

The information in this section supplements Section 2.2.2 — Faculty and Staff Professional Development. Please refer to this section of the self-study for an explanation of specific programs development opportunities at the university.