Our Expectation for Professional Development

Our desire is that 100% of our employees will engage in ongoing professional development every year. As an institution of higher education, it is our mission to provide opportunities for students to explore, learn, and succeed through quality educational experiences and workforce training. We expect the same for our employees and work diligently to provide a variety of opportunities for learning.

Mandatory Employee Training

Employees are required to complete Mandatory Employee Training annually, which includes FERPA, Title IX, Campus Security and Security Awareness for End Users (cybersecurity).

Faculty Professional Development

The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) supports faculty and staff design instruction in all delivery modes. It offers relevant, engaging workshops as well as individual consultations related to instructional design, accessibility, research-based instructional methods, and academic technologies. It funds innovation opportunities for individual faculty to explore and experiment with new educational technology. The CAI sponsors and coordinates professional development events, such as the Fall Inservice Faculty Retreat and the Sara Varnum Institute for Instructional Excellence. It also provides new faculty orientation services, a lending library, and course review opportunities. Finally, the CAI coordinates the Difference, Power and Responsibility (DPR) instructor seminar.

Staff Professional Development

The Employee Development Department provides workshops, resources and training opportunities for all employees. It also provides professional development options through Chemeketa’s employee learning management system, Percipio.

Cultural Competency Certificate

The Cultural Competence Certificate Program provides recognition for Chemeketa employees who engage in cultural awareness professional development. The activities under this program promote awareness of self and others, while building skills to respond effectively to people from all cultures, economic statuses, language backgrounds, races, ethnic backgrounds, disabilities, religions, genders, gender identifications, sexual orientations, veteran statuses and other characteristics in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values their worth, and preserves the dignity of individuals, families and communities.

Funding Options for Professional Development

Chemeketa provides funds to classified, exempt and faculty employees specifically for professional development-

• Classified: All classified employees who are at least .50 FTE are eligible for professional development funding. A classified employee working 1.0 FTE may receive up to $500 per academic year. Employees working less than 1.0 FTE are eligible for prorated funding. Complete an application on the Human Resources Dashboard site at least two weeks prior to the activity.
• Faculty: Each full-time faculty is allotted $500 each year for ongoing professional development. To request funds, complete a professional activities fund request. More information can be found on the Full-time Faculty Professional Development site. 
• Part-time Faculty: A maximum amount of $500 is available for any part-time faculty member on a first come, first serve basis from the part-time professional development fund disbursed through Academic and Student Affairs. Application for these funds can be made anytime during a faculty member’s employment.  
• Exempt: Exempt employees have varied amounts of professional development funds allotted in their general fund budgets. Requests for funding should be made to the exempt employee's supervisor.