Introduction

University Standing Committees

Policy Descriptions Alphabetical List Reporting List Members Annual Reports

Administrative and Professional Staff Development Committee

Annual Report for 2004 - 2005

Members

The members of the 2004-2005 Administrative and Professional Staff Development Committee are

Professional Staff representative of the Presidential area - Ms. Kristen Deiter (Chair)
Professional Staff representative of the Academic Affairs area - Mr. James W. Hart
Professional Staff representative of the Business Affairs area - Ms. Wendy Yankelitis
Professional Staff representative of the Student Life area - Mr. Michael S. Hertel
Professional Staff representative of the University Advancement area - Mr. John J. Coval
Representative at large of the University directors - Ms. Susan Hennemuth
Representative at large of the Professional Staff - Ms. Juneann Greco

Meetings

The Administrative and Professional Staff Development Committee met in person five times this fiscal year. Other meetings were held online as needed.

Accomplishments

We received a record number of proposals: 26, nearly double the number submitted in 2003-2004, and nearly triple the number typically submitted in previous years. Twenty-two proposals were recommended for funding, with an average award of $336.40. The Administrative and Professional Staff Development Fund was increased to cover this year's awards; we acknowledge Leo Danylak's support in securing the additional funding.

The Committee submitted a proposal for an increase in the Fund for 2005-2006, and the President of the University has generously approved a 50% increase.

Six of the seven Committee members' terms were scheduled to expire in 2006. To provide for staggered terms among the membership, with the approval of the Vice President for Business Affairs and agreement of the two members involved, one member's term was extended to four years; another member's term was reduced to two years and then renewed for another three years.

We clarified the Committee's relationship to the Professional Staff Senate. According to the Description of the Committee, this is a University Standing Committee, reporting to the Vice President for Business Affairs, and not a Senate committee. While the Committee will consider any suggestions the Senate might have, the Senate's relationship to the Committee is advisory only. The Professional Staff Senate website has been revised to reflect this correction, and corresponding changes to the Bylaws of the Professional Staff Senate have been formally proposed.

Throughout the year we evaluated and updated the Committee's policies and procedures, which is one of the Committee's major responsibilities. The following revisions took place:

Whereas the Committee previously held online meetings to evaluate individual proposals on a rolling basis, this year we met quarterly, in person, to evaluate groups of proposals. These meetings promoted more active and more thorough discussion before any voting took place. Evaluating multiple proposals in a single session made the application process more competitive, enabling us to consider the relative merit of each proposal and the effect of each award on the balance of the Fund. For the first time, members rotated the role of Secretary and took minutes, enhancing the Committee's organization, recordkeeping, and communication. As a result of these improvements, the Committee has decided to schedule monthly deadlines for proposals and to meet monthly in 2005-2006. 

In order for a proposal to be complete, the applicant's current job description must be attached, as requested in the proposal instructions.

Starting in 2005-2006, award recipients will notify the Committee Chair as to whether they accept or reject award offers.

The Committee has negotiated more standard cost-sharing from applicants. As a condition of receiving funding, applicants agree to contribute some personal funds, generally at least $90, to their professional development expenses.

Due to the increasing number of proposals for a limited amount of funding, the following proposal submission and evaluation guidelines are now in place. Each one has been approved by the President of the University and/or the Vice President for Business Affairs.

• Starting in FY 2005-2006, proposals will be evaluated monthly; therefore, they must be received by monthly deadlines. The first two deadlines are July 8 and August 5, 2005. Subsequent deadlines will be published in the Academic Calendar.
  
  
• Proposals from multiple staff members from the same department for the same professional development activity will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Approval will depend upon the strength of the proposals and demonstrated opportunities for the applicants to attend separate tracks at the conference or event.
  
  
• Staff members who attend the same conference or event each year or every other year should request the funds as part of their overall departmental budgets. This directive was included in the President of the University's January 10, 2005, memo to Officers, Chairpersons, Directors, and Managers, regarding 2005-2006 Budget Requests.
  
  
• $500 is ordinarily the cap for awards from this Fund. However, as an incentive for more active professional development, larger amounts will be considered for applicants who will take an active role in the event; that is, those who serve on the board of the sponsoring organization, or who will present, moderate a panel, receive or compete for an award, or otherwise bring positive attention to Marywood University, rather than merely attend.

Submitted by

Kristen Deiter, Chair
Director of Records Management and Archives

June 23, 2005