Conferences

 

Important Information 
Eligibility
Current Funding Level
Current Mileage Rate
Conference Checklist 
Before the Conference
During the Conference
After the Conference
Professional Development Coordinator
Senior Administrative Assistant 
Professional Development Funding Deadlines
FAQ 

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Important Information

Everyone MUST complete a Conference request form and obtain approval from your supervisor(s) BEFORE attending any conference outside of the district. Even if you don’t anticipate asking for reimbursement, there are liability issues that could arise if LPC employees travel outside of the district without first obtaining the necessary approval.

Eligibility

Full-Time Faculty and Staff may apply for Professional Development Funds after obtaining their supervisor's approval.  Part-Time Faculty applying for Professional Development funding must meet the minimum requirements of both a 40% workload (6 CAH) and 2 consecutive years with LPC in order to be eligible for PDC funding.

Current Funding Level

The institutional budget for the Professional Development General Fund for the 2017-2018 Academic Year is $15,000.  Faculty are eligible for up to $500 in annual reimbursement for the Spring 2018 semester.  Prior to applying for the PD General Fund, please consult the Funding webpage to determine if you are eligible for grant or initiative funds.  In the event that you are eligible, please apply for those funds in order to free up general fund money for other faculty who might not be eligible for such funds.  

Should you be approved for grant/initiative funding, you will not be eligible to apply for funds via the Professional Development General Fund.  

Please also note that the PDC cannot authorize travel to states mentioned in AB 1887.

Current Mileage Rate

The 2018 mileage reimbursement rate is 54.5 cents per mile according to the IRS.

Conference Checklist

Please download an updated conference checklist for your convenience. This checklist contains everything you need to know from start to finish before submitting your conference paperwork. In the event that you wish to apply for grant funding, please consult the Funding webpage and follow the instructions for applying for grant/initiative funds. In this case, you do not need to fill out the Professional Development Activity Proposal Form unless specifically requested to do so, as you will not be eligible for Professional Development Funding in the event your request is approved. Instead, you will complete the grant/funding application through the appropriate grant/fund administrator.

Before the Conference

1. Download, complete, and print out the Professional Development Activity Proposal Form. Fill out the form completely and print it out.
2. To determine if you are eligible for grant funding, please consult the Funding webpage and follow the instructions for applying for grant/initiative funds.   In this case, you do not need to fill out the Professional Development Activity Proposal Form unless specifically requested to do so, as you will not be eligible for Professional Development Funding in the event your request is approved. Instead, you will complete the grant/funding application through the appropriate grant/fund administrator.
3. Attach all supporting materials, conference brochures, schedules, and registration forms.
4. Download, complete, and print out the District Conference Request Form.
5. Submit the Professional Development Activity Proposal Form, documentation, and the district conference request form to your Dean or Immediate Supervisor for approval. If you are applying for additional grant funding, please submit both forms to the Grant Administrator prior to submitting to your Dean or Immediate Supervisor.
6. Submit the signed and approved forms & documentation to Rifka Several by the deadline (5:00 PM on the 1st Monday of each month.) (Note: Sometimes your dean or supervisor will take care of submitting the signed forms to the coordinator, so make sure to touch base with them to find out if this is the case).  
7. Proposers will be notified about the status of their proposal within one week of the Professional Development Committee meeting. Please check the Professional Development Meeting Minutes to see if your proposal was approved or denied.
8. Please keep in mind that out-of-state travel requires Chancellor approval and international travel requires Board of Trustees approval.  The PDC cannot authorize the use of funds without these prior approvals.
   
   

During the Conference

1. Collect all original receipts (photocopies are not accepted) including conference registration, hotel & travel expenses, and your allotted food & beverage expenses (up to $15 per meal and $30 per day).
2. Collect all relevant conference related material, including programs, flyers, and other documents.
3. Make sure you are in attendance for all relevant conference activities and events.
4. Take copious and meaningful notes at the sessions and events you attend.
   
   

After the Conference

1. Download, complete, and print out a Conference Expense Claim Form.   Indicate "Approved for Professional Development Funds" on there.  Make certain your signature is on the form before proceeding to step #2. 
2. Attach all original receipts and the one page summary (described below) to your claim form  Submit the completed and signed forms to your Academic Dean or direct supervisor for approval and signature within 30 days of your attendance at the conference.  Then your Dean or direct supervisor will forward it to the appropriate Vice President for signature.  
3. The one page summary should detail how your attendance at the conference relates to the California Education Code 87153 guidelines, the LPC Mission and Vision Statement, and your Discipline or Service Area goals. Describe what you felt were the most meaningful aspects of the event and how you specifically plan on sharing what you learned with the campus community.  
   
   

Senior Administrative Assistant to the Foundation/Academic Senate

Rifka Several
925.424.1014
Office 1681H

Professional Development Funding Deadlines

Professional Development Deadlines for 2017-18
Due Dates for Submitting Conference Proposals	Committee Meeting/Approval Dates (for conferences occurring after these dates)
September 4, 2017	September 11, 2017
October 2, 2017	October 9, 2017
November 6, 2017	November 13, 2017
December 4, 2017	December 11, 2017
No January Meeting
February 5, 2018	February 12, 2018
March 5, 2018	March 12, 2018
April 2, 2018	April 9, 2018
May 7, 2018	May 14, 2018
First Monday of the Month	No retroactive proposals will be accepted
The end of the fiscal year is June 30, 2018

 

FAQ

• What can Professional Development Funds be used for?
  
  Section 87153 of California Education Code specifies the type of Professional Development activities that may be funded by the Community College Professional Development Program. They are as follows:
  • Improvement of teaching.
  • Maintenance of current academic and technical knowledge and skills.
  • In-service training for vocational education and employment preparation.
  • Retraining to meet changing institutional needs.
  • Intersegmental exchange programs.
  • Development of innovations in instructional and adminstrative techniques and program effectiveness.
  • Computer and technological proficiency programs.
  • Courses and training implementing affirmative action and upward mobility.
  • Other activities determined to be related to educational and professional development pursuant to criteria established by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, including, but not necessarily limited to, programs designed to develop self-esteem.
    
    
• What types of Conference Activities can be used toward Variable FLEX credit and what types cannot?

If you attend a conference during your normal work week and the hours of the activities fall out during your regular work hours, you may not use that time towards Variable FLEX credit. The rationale for this is that you are carrying out “alternate duties” during a regular workday.

On the other hand, if you were to attend activities that fall out OUTSIDE of your normal working hours, then you can count that time. For instance, say you went to a conference that had activities from 8-4 and you normally work from 8-2 (assigned hours). Then the talks you attended from 2-4 could be used toward Variable FLEX. 

The best conferences to attend to obtain Variable FLEX credit are the ones that fall out on a weekend or over a school break.