Flex Days Information
What Is Flex?
The Board of Governors through the Chancellor’s Office is required by the California Code of Regulations to oversee the Flexible Calendar program for the California Community Colleges. The Flexible (Flex) program consists of professional development activities “in-lieu-of” regular instruction.
Flex activities (CCR, Title 5, division 6, chapter 6, subchapter 8, article 2, section 55724, item a-4) can be, but are not limited to, training programs, group retreats, field experiences, and workshops in activities such as course and program development and revision, staff development activities, development of new instructional materials, and other instruction-related activities.
When Is Flex?
The academic calendar, consisting of 175 instructional days, is negotiated between the Peralta Community College District and the Peralta Federation of Teachers for a three-year period. Six days per academic year are designated as district and college flex days for the purposes of professional development. The district organizes two Flex days per academic year, offered prior to the start day of each academic semester. Merritt College PDC organizes 2 Flex Days per semester one at the beginning and one in the middle of the semester.
If you are interested in organizing or offering a PD workshop for Flex Days, please fill this form and send to fmoy@peralta.edu
Merritt College Flex Days Information:
CLICK THIS LINK FOR OUR JANUARY 2025 FLEX DAY PROGRAM
Flex Days Information 2016-2022 Click Here!
Funding Requests
Professional development funding
The Professional Development Committee (PDC) is responsible for reviewing and making advisory recommendations to the President on individual requests for professional development funding. Per Article 25 of the PFT contract, the district shall allocate $120,000 annually for faculty professional development activities. Merritt’s portion of this allocation, based on the number of full-time equivalent faculty, is about $24,000. These funds may be used to pay for membership dues and conference registration fees, as well as lodging, meal, and travel expenses incurred to attend a conference.
How to Apply for Funding
Process
To be considered for professional development funding, you must submit an application to the PDC. It is imperative to allow for proper processing time to have your funding request reviewed. Funding for in-state travel should be requested at least 50-60 days prior to the desired date of travel. Funding for out-of-state travel should be requested at least 60-80 days prior to the desired date of travel, as Board Policy 7400 requires that out-of-state travel be pre-approved by the Board of Trustees. No funding requests shall be approved retroactively.
The PDC is scheduled to meet to review funding requests on the meeting dates.
Materials
The following items should be submitted to the PDC Chair:
- Individual application for Professional Development Funding (individual training or PD requests)
- Conference announcement with registration fees and related expenses
- Check if your conference or training destination is restricted by the California law AB1887 before submitting your application. See list of banned states and details.
- If the request is for PDC to organize a group or college-wide training during Flex or other days, please fill out this Group workshop or training request form for PDC approval and coordination.
Sabbaticals
Sabbaticals
Professional development is an essential component of institutions of higher education, as they continue to evolve to serve students more effectively. The sabbatical leave provides seasoned faculty the opportunity to advance or modify their skill sets in order to serve the college in a greater capacity. For each academic year, either one year-long sabbatical or two semester-long sabbaticals shall be granted. Any full-time (contract) faculty member, who has completed at least six consecutive years of regular service, may apply for a sabbatical leave.
For further information about the application procedures, timeline, and guidelines, please read the Sabbatical Handbook (Application Year 2024-2025) and look out for an email from the Professional Development Chair about the Sabbatical Orientation Workshop held in October. You may also prefer to watch the pre-recorded Sabbatical Orientation Workshop for more information.
See previously awarded sabbatical proposals:
Professional Development Obligation and Column Advancement FAQs
What is my professional development obligation?
Everyone in our College (faculty, non-teaching faculty, classified, confidential, management) is invited to participate as much as possible in our professional development activities.
All faculty with a teaching assignment have a staff development responsibility. “The total flex day obligation for the academic year shall equal the total teaching obligation (or equated load assignment) from which the instructor is released plus those out of classroom hours of responsibilities which will no longer need to be performed as the result of being released from classroom instruction.” In addition, “at least 40% of such hours will be in attendance at regularly scheduled workshops on the designated Professional Days…” PFT Contract, Appendix A.5.B
“Part-time temporary faculty shall participate in flex-day activities on the same basis as their weekly teaching assignments. For example, if the instructor has an assignment of teaching three hours in-class and Professional Days on that day, he/she shall participate and report 3 hours of flex activities…. The remaining obligation may be satisfied either by participation in additional scheduled workshops or by independent staff development projects approved by the faculty member’s assistant dean.”
For column advancement requirements and requests go the District Staff Development Office page
External Professional Development Resources
PDC Documents and Forms
Committee Members
