|
|
| |
|
|
Flex |
Antelope Valley College
Flex Committee
FLEX GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR FULL-TIME FACULTY
With approval from the Chancellor's office and the AVC Board of Trustees, we will be shortening instructional time by 10 days so that we can participate fully in a professional growth program. While the state's guidelines allow for each campus to create its own calendar and program, two provisions must be followed: 1) Flex time and activities are "in-lieu" of classroom time; and 2) Flex obligations must be met within a single academic year (i.e., no carry-overs). The total number of Flex hours for full-time faculty is 60, and these are broken down into two categories:
institutional - 20 hours
individual - 40 hoursFor the Flex calendar option to benefit faculty, students, and the overall campus community, it is important for faculty to plan their professional growth program carefully, dividing the total number of hours according to the guidelines listed below.
Institutional Flex
All full-time faculty should plan to devote a minimum of 20 hours to our institutionally-planned program, which has been approved by the Chancellor's office, set up by the Flex Committee, and is contained in this book. Institutional programs presented by faculty and staff must be tied directly to their primary duties and responsibilities, promote professional development, or be connected to the curriculum or activities of the college. One of the benefits of the institutional program, and one reason it was developed, is the opportunity it provides for faculty to interact, develop bonds with other faculty members, and share in the expertise and accomplishments of their colleagues. Institutionally-planned presentations are offered throughout the academic year, and faculty should feel free to choose from any of the planned workshops that are listed in this book. Faculty must sign the sign-in sheet of each presentation attended to receive Flex credit.Program Review
Program review of each division continues. Under the direction of Neal Weisenberger, our Program Review Coordinator, training sessions will be held for both the self-study and the peer review team. Three hours of institutional Flex credit will be granted for each type of training. Ten hours of institutional credit will be granted for members of peer review teams.Accreditation
Under the direction of Dorothy Williams, our accreditation coordinator, ten hours of institutional flex credit will be given to committee co-chairs. Members of accreditation committees will be given up to 20 hours of individual flex credit.Individual Flex
The remaining 40 hours of our professional growth program are truly flexible and can be scheduled throughout the year (July 1, 2003- June 30, 2004). Individual Flex credit can be granted for any activity or project which either promotes an individual's professional growth or addresses institutional needs but is clearly outside normally assigned duties, responsibilities, and working hours. A maximum of 20 hours can be claimed for any individual activity, thereby giving faculty the opportunity to explore and grow through a variety of institutional programs or individual projects. Faculty may fulfill these hours by attending more of the presentations offered through the institutionally planned program, developing a division activity, or arranging individual activities or projects according to their needs. (Please see pages 68 & 69 for some suggestions and ideas for individual activities.)Flex and Overload Hours
For faculty teaching on overload assignment, either institutionally planned activities or individual projects will fulfill your obligation. Please use the following formula for determining your overload Flex hours: The number of hours worked per week during a normal instructional week per semester equals the number of Flex hours required for that semester (i.e., three overload hours per week per semester equals three Flex hours per semester). If you are not sure about the number of hours required, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs.Non-Flex Activities
The following activities cannot be counted for Flex credit:TOP
- Activities or projects that are considered an on-going part of your normal teaching or workload responsibilities.
- Activities for which you receive compensation.
- Attendance at conferences or presentations during normal teaching or assigned working hours.
- Regularly scheduled division meetings.
- Travel time to and from conferences or meetings.
- Activities that contribute to advancement on the salary schedule.
Campus-Wide Committees and Flex Time
Since committee assignments are considered part of our professional responsibility, there are some limits on the amount and type of Flex credit that may be claimed:*If faculty members are "on load" for 20 or more teaching hours per week, they may request that service on one committee be counted toward Flex obligations. Please make this request in writing and submit it to the Flex Chair.
- A faculty member must be serving on more than one campus-wide committee.*
- No more than 20 Flex hours for committee work may be claimed.
- Flex credit for committee work can apply only to individual Flex hours.
- If a faculty member received compensation or reassigned time for service on a committee, Flex credit cannot be claimed.
Faculty Evaluations
For probationary full-time faculty evaluation committees, the chair may receive a maximum of 16 hours of Flex credit in the individual program if compensation is not received. Committee members may receive a maximum of 10 hours of Flex credit in the individual program.
Full-time faculty doing adjunct evaluations may receive a maximum of 8 hours of Flex credit in the individual program if compensation is not received.
Full-time faculty doing evaluations for tenured faculty do not receive any Flex credit.Accountability and Record Keeping
Faculty members are accountable to both the district and the Chancellor's office for their time. Complete and accurate records are crucial in the event of an audit from the Chancellor's office. If any district is found to be out of compliance--i.e., even one faculty member has failed to meet his or her Flex obligations--this could be cause for the Chancellor's office to "terminate approval of any Flexible Calendar Operation," or "withhold appropriate state aid" (CAC 55732). Please submit all forms as requested.Proposed Flex Plans
In accordance with the Chancellor's guidelines, full-time faculty must submit a proposal of planned professional growth activities. This plan needs to be submitted to the Flex Advisory Committee for approval by September 19, 2003.End-Of-Year Contracts
Once planned Flex obligations have been fulfilled, faculty must sign and return an end-of-the-year contract which will also include an evaluation form for the Flex calendar program. This form is due on May 17, 2004.Sign-In Sheets
It is important to "sign in" when attending a Flex presentation. If your signature does not appear on the sign-in sheet, you cannot claim Flex credit for that particular presentation. In order to ensure accountability, the Flex committee reviews all end-of-the-year contracts and compares them to Flex presentation sign-in sheets. Sign in sheets must be held on file in the Office of Academic Affairs in the event of a possible audit by the State.Failure to Fulfill Flex Obligations
If you fail to fulfill your Flex obligations, you will be subject to the same policies and procedures that apply to all working obligations under the present contract, which could include docking or withholding pay. If you miss a Flex presentation due to illness and cannot make it up, be sure to claim this as a sick day on your time card.Flex Hours for Presenters/Coordinators
The following formulas should be used to determine Flex credit for presenters/coordinators. Formula one should be used when the coordinator of a Flex program is also the presenter. It should also be used for multiple coordinators and presenters. Formula two should be used when a faculty person is a coordinator of a Flex presentation, but not a presenter. Formula three should be used for a coordinator of a film, music or similar event. If additional clarification is required, please contact the Flex Chair.
(1) Coordinator and presenter of presentations
Initial Presentation
EXAMPLE
Three hours of Flex credit per one hour of an initial campus presentation
(3 hours credit x 2 hours presentation session = 6 Flex credit hours)
Repeat Presentation
EXAMPLE Two hours of Flex credit for every one hour of a campus presentation
(2 hours credit x 2 hour presentation session = 4 Flex credit hours)
(2) Coordinator of a Flex presentation but not presenter
EXAMPLE Two hours of Flex credit for coordinating a film series, outside speaker, trip, panel, or similar event.
If the coordinator feels that additional Flex hours credit should be given, a written request detailing activity, time spent, and additional Flex hour credit should be submitted to the Flex Committee at least 30 working days before the scheduled event.
(3) Coordinator of film, athletic, music, or similar event
If a coordinator presents a film, athletic, music, or similar event, a 30 minute lecture will be required. Flex credit will be provided for the lecture presentation using the initial or repeat presentation formulas.
Initial Presentation
EXAMPLE (Triple credit x 30 minutes presentation session = 1.5 Flex credit hours)
Repeat Presentation
EXAMPLE (Double credit x 30 minutes presentation session = 1.0 Flex credit hour)
PLEASE NOTE: A maximum number of 10 hours can be applied to the institutional program for any one activity. The balance of the hours should be applied to the individual program with a maximum of 20 hours allowed for any one activity.
