A Descriptive Profile of Faculty Development at Community Colleges: Recommendations for Use and Improvement

The preparation of faculty at the community college level is paramount to student success and learning. However, many faculty are not adequately prepared to teach such a diverse student population which includes adult learners, international students, and basic skills students. This study aimed to produce a descriptive profile of faculty development methods used in different community colleges. This information was used to better understand what these institutions are doing to prepare faculty to teach their students which in turn affects student success. A survey was distributed to administration, faculty and staff of various community colleges to learn common and best practices with regards to professional development. In addition, in depth interviews were conducted to gain further insight on how faculty use development opportunities. Recommendations for improvement of community college faculty development were advanced.