College of Communication and Fine Arts
Professional Development Assignment
A Professional Development Assignment (PDA) is an academic sabbatical that serves
as an intentional intellectual retreat, allowing faculty members to renew, refocus,
and advance their scholarly, creative, and instructional work.
PDAs are mutually beneficial to faculty and the College of Communication and Fine
Arts (CCFA). By supporting sustained research, creative activity, and professional
renewal, PDAs strengthen teaching, enhance student learning, and advance the College’s
mission as a public R1 institution.
Objectives
The Professional Development Assignment program is designed to:
- Encourage in-depth artistic and scholarly activity
- Increase the national visibility of CCFA faculty
- Advance faculty expertise and innovation in teaching and instruction
- Support faculty contributions to departmental, college, and university missions
Eligibility and Appointment
Faculty may apply for one of the following PDA options:
- PDA Appointment Options
- One Semester at Full Pay
- One Academic Year at Half Pay
- Eligibility Requirements
- One-Semester PDA: Minimum of seven (7) years of full-time service since initial appointment or since a previously granted professional leave
- One-Year PDA: Minimum of five (5) years of full-time service since initial appointment or since a previously granted professional leave
- Post-Assignment Commitment
Faculty awarded a PDA must agree to remain at the ÌÇÐÄvlogÃÛÌÒ for at least one full year following completion of the assignment. - Faculty members receiving a PDA must submit a report of activities to the dean's office no later than three months after their PDA.
Proposal Format
The proposal should include:
- Coversheet for PDA.
- A description of the nature and scope of the project to be undertaken during the leave time; its relationship to the departmental mission; its relation to university and CCFA objectives for PDA's; and its benefits to the faculty member, department/school, and college.
- A current curriculum vitae (University CV or standard academic CV).
- Supporting documentation (as appropriate).
- Faculty applying for a PDA must submit the above documents as a single pdf file directly to their chair/director by the 2nd Friday in October as an email attachment.
- Unit chairs/directors must submit their letters and the faculty member’s application file via email to the Dean’s administrative associate by the 2nd Friday in November.
- Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.
Evaluation Process and Criteria
- Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the faculty member’s unit chair or director.
- The unit chair or director will write a letter addressing the proposal’s potential to advance the faculty member’s creative work, traditional or engaged scholarship, and/or teaching and to contribute to the mission and values of the department, school, CCFA, and/or the University. The letter will also address the unit’s ability to support the proposed leave based on the unit’s budgetary and staffing needs/capacity.
- First priority will be given to proposals that advance the faculty member's creative work, traditional or engaged scholarship, and/or teaching and that show clear potential to enhance the faculty member's contribution to the mission and values of the department or school, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, and the University.
- Priority will be given to proposals that clearly specify the plan for work during the leave period.
- Priority will be given to faculty members who have not received a previous Assignment. At the same time, those who have received an earlier Assignment are encouraged to apply and those with strong proposals will be supported when possible.