P&S Professional Development

ISU Professional Development Philosophy

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. Due to the diverse nature of professional positions, the best source of advice on such activities is the employee's department or division.

Activities used to promote professional development have included off-campus workshops, seminars, conferences, and short courses; similar on-campus activities sponsored by the Center for Professional and Executive Development and other Business and Engineering Extension programs, the Personnel Office-Training and Development Office, the Computation Center, and others; exchange programs with other educational, research, and service institutions; academic course work; and individually constructed programs.

Each professional and scientific employee is also encouraged to become a member of appropriate professional organizations.

Travel

With administrative approval, time for travel to and participation in these activities can be counted as official duty. The time may vary from an hour seminar, to a few hours a week for academic courseware, to a few days or weeks for extensive activities; longer activities will require more extensive planning and coordination within the employee's department and higher administrative approval. Some activities may be directly funded by departments. Others may be funded by combinations of departmental, personal, or grant funds. Sources of grants include the continuing education and foreign travel grants sponsored by the Achievement Foundation, the Graduate College's minigrant program, and the tuition reimbursement program. Other sources of grants may be available to specific professions, including sources within related departments.

University Classes

Employees are encouraged to review educational opportunities at Iowa State University to maintain and extend their professional development. Full-time employees may be allowed to carry university instructional work in addition to their regular duties, subject to the approval of their supervisor and department executive officer, not to exceed 15 credits per calendar year, normally not to exceed six credits per semester and three per summer session. This policy does not apply to coursework taken outside of an employee's normally scheduled work period. Employees may receive partial support for their coursework expenses through the university's tuition reimbursement program.

Professional and scientific employees who wish to visit university classes informally or on a noncredit basis rather than enroll as auditors should obtain permission from the instructor in charge of the course.