Professional Development

Mission Statement of the Professional Development Office

It is the Mission of the Professional Development Office to promote the College's goal of excellence in education and to assist college employees to achieve that goal through on-going development and training.

The PD Office recognizes that every College employee contributes to the learning environment and to the total learning experience of our students. We recognize, too, that the continued efforts of our employees to improve in their workplace sets an excellent and appropriate example for our students, encouraging them to continue their education and training as they move forward into their lives 'after college'.

We believe that by supporting on-going development and training of our employees and by recognizing their efforts to improve continually, we achieve more than the direct productivity and efficiency gains intended. Our support and recognition also promotes employee satisfaction, empowerment, a sense of self-worth, and a commitment to quality and accountability. These in turn develop a strong commitment to the College, its goals and objectives, and to the creation of a supportive learning environment which will ultimately and positively affect our students and our community clients.

Services

The Professional Development Department provides support to teachers both as they begin their teaching employment with Conestoga and throughout their career here.

As part of the College's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), there is Customer Service Training for faculty, support staff and administrators. For more information please read our page about how to register and complete the AODA modules.
As well, to assist staff and faculty in their work with people of varying abilities, we have developed a Teaching Tips handout (pdf) and a Customer Service guide (pdf).

The "Orientation to Conestoga" (pdf) is offered twice each year to help initiate newcomers to the expectations, standards, and operations of our own college. As well, we have developed a New Faculty Handbook (pdf) that includes answers to many of the questions new faculty have about working at Conestoga (e.g. office and campus logistics; computer technology; etc). As well, PD and the LRC have collaborated to create a Teaching Resources Guide (pdf) that includes links to articles and guides on more than 40 teaching topics that range from academic integrity to voice care for instructors.

In 2009, we interviewed three previous Aubrey Hagar Distinguished Teaching Award winners to learn more about practices they have used to increase student engagement and learning in their classes. Articles about the interviews are collected as Conestoga Faculty Practice Profiles.

The College Educator Development Program, offered through a consortium of the Western Region Colleges, provides an intensive 3 phase training for college teaching.

The annual "Employees for Excellence in Education" Conference is an in-house offering of various workshops, seminars, and learning experiences that are available to all employees. Many of these are also taught by our own employees as a way to share the wealth of talent and expertise available within our own organization.

The Professional Development Office also provides specific and college wide training on issues of interest or concern throughout the year.

Professional Development Funds (pdf) are provided for off-site training for any employees who require it, given the approval of the supervisor and the PD Manager and the availability of funds. Training plans are filed for all employees at the time of their performance reviews to assist in planning for this training and college wide training.

Limited Tuition Assistance Funds are also provided for employees seeking to complete their degrees or special diploma programs at the university level.

The Professional Development Office also manages the Professional Development Leave Plan for academic and administrative employees and the Developmental Leave Plan for support staff and the Aubrey Hagar Award for Excellence in Teaching for the college for academic employees.

For information, contact

Jeff Fila, Professional Development Manager

Telephone: 519-748-5220 ext. 3381
Email: jfila@conestogac.on.ca
Fax: 519-748-3505

How to Register online (pdf)