Valencia's Individualized Learning Plan for Faculty
Valencia’s Individualized Learning Plan process for tenure-track faculty, as supported by the Teaching/Learning Academy, reflects Valencia’s MISSION, “Valencia Community College provides outcomes-oriented, quality learning
opportunities” in the following ways:
An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is a tenure candidate's professional development
plan. The ILP is written by the candidate, in collaboration with the dean. The plan
spells out what the faculty member wants to learn, achieve, or accomplish during the
pre-tenure process. The plan should be based on genuine need and desire to
improve teaching, counseling or librarianship, keeping in mind departmental needs.
The learning outcomes (LO’s) should be directly connected to the candidate’s
professional practice, considering both pedagogy and discipline. The LO’s must be
learning-centered, assessable, specific to the individual, and related to the Essential
Competencies of a Valencia Educator. They must also be demonstrable in a product
or performance that can be judged according to explicit criteria. Most ILPs also
include Action Research Projects that measure specific student learning outcomes.
The Teaching/Learning Academy, sometimes confused with the ILP process itself, is
actually one of the tenure candidate’s faculty development support systems. TLA
provides support on pedagogy, course design, development of student learning, and
professional portfolio development.
Specifically, the ILP process and the TLA address the Valencia MISSION
Indicators, in the following ways:
-
“Achieving, measuring, and applying the results of learning.”
- Through the portfolio and peer review processes
- “Emphasizing critical and creative thinking, effective communication,
collaboration, and workplace skills.”
- Through the development of the Essential Competencies of a Valencia Educator, TLA seminars and roundtables
- “Maintaining an open-minded, nurturing, and collaborative environment.”
- Through the seminar, roundtable series
- Through the ongoing TLA feedback for improvement loop
- “Reaching out to potential students (Faculty learners, in this case) and
providing affordable, accessible learning opportunities.”
- Through TLA seminars that are open to the entire full- and part-time academic
community
- “Fostering enthusiasm for lifelong learning.”
- Through the TLA book support program
- Through the Individualized plan for pre-tenure learning
- “Motivating learners to define and achieve their goals.”
- Through the individualized learning program designed primarily by the
candidate and based on the candidate’s professional need
- “Respecting uniqueness and appreciating diversity.”
- Through the multiple delivery methods of seminars (face-to-face, online),
modeling multiple teaching methods and techniques, and customized support,
based on the need of the candidate (individualized, small group, discipline groups)
- “Encouraging faculty and staff to continue professional growth.”
- Through the post-TLA recognition and support program (COPPER, Exemplary
Action Research Projects, Exemplary LifeMap, Model Portfolio, Campus
Facilitators, Destinations, Achieve the Dream, Title 3 Grant)
- “Partnering with businesses, industries, public agencies, civic groups, and
educational institutions that support learning* and promote the economic
development of Central Florida.”
- Through partnerships with UCF; Middlesex Community College, Massachusetts; and nationally recognized consultants*
You may look at the complete document “How Valencia’s Individualized Learning Plan Process and the Teaching and Learning Academy support Valencia Community College’s Vision, Mission, and Values” by visiting the link below.
ILP Plan Process
Entry submitted by Mayra Holzer, VCC