Professional development for faculty members

Professional development is relevant at all stages of your career, and is not (necessarily) remedial. We encourage all faculty to check out the resources listed here.

PD workshops and courses are also a great way to meet people and create networks across campus, which in turn can further your professional development!

Where to find information (and opportunities)

Campus units and programs offering workshops and courses

Centre for Teaching Excellence: an annual conference, one-on-one guidance, workshops, a course design retreat, grants for research on teaching and learning, and more
Writing and Communication Centre: support for faculty as both instructors and writers, including one-on-one consultations and a weekly Faculty Writing Café (Wednesdays from 2:00pm to 4:30pm in SCH 228F)
FAUW: an annual tenure and promotion workshop series, new faculty events, and more
Academic Leadership Program: training for Academic Chairs and Directors, Associate Chairs/Directors, and Associate Deans
Organizational & Human Development: workshops in leadership development, business communication, inclusivity, and more
Information Systems & Technology: Skills for the Academic e-Workplace and Skills for the Electronic Workplace workshops
Equity Office: Customized sessions and workshops, including the Making Spaces for LGBTQ+ persons program and the new online Sexual Violence Awareness, Referral and Support training
Sustainability Office: The Sustainability Certificate is a seven-part series that provides UWaterloo employees with a basic understanding of key local and global sustainability issues, as well as efforts underway to address them.
Centre for Extended Learning: Professional Development courses ranging from languages to project management to MS Office
Waterloo International: funding opportunities, and grants to help you internationalize your course content
Centre for Career Action: workshops for employees on career values, work permits, retirement, and more

Other resources

Policy 4 – Benefits to Faculty and Staff Undertaking Part-time Educational Programs (free tuition for up to two courses per term)
Teaching Fellows in each Faculty provide mentoring and resources to all instructors
Mandatory training for all employees is available through myHRinfo
You can take any course on Lynda.com by logging in with your Waterloo ID
Your disciplinary and professional organizations

What you need to know

Most of these opportunities for professional development on campus are free and short-term commitments.
FPER (the Faculty Professional Expense Reimbursement Plan) can cover expenses related to professional development, including conference attendance, workshop costs, materials, etc.
Professional development can be very helpful when you’re ready to take on an administrative role.

Who to talk to

Other faculty members, about opportunities they may have accessed on campus.
Your chair/director and dean, about gaps in your performance review and what would be appropriate for you; opportunities specific to your department/school and faculty.
Monica Vesely at the Centre for Teaching Excellence, about personalized development planning.
FAUW staff, if you see a gap in available PD that needs filling—especially if you’d like to fill it yourself! Professional development can be something you design and deliver, not just something you take, and we’re happy to help you make that happen.