LAHC FLEX Frequently Asked Questions

The term “flex” is derived from the flexible calendar concept. The State of California recognized that faculty need dedicated time toward upgrading teaching skills, completion of special projects and taking classes related to their discipline.

Who must complete Flex/Professional Development Flex Hours?

Flex/Professional Development Flex is required of all faculty, both full-time and part-time. Faculty have a contractual agreement to meet the Professional Development/Flex obligation. The District is required by provision of the Educational Code to account for the hours of “in lieu of” instruction for which ADA apportionment will be claimed. In order to assure that the “in lieu of” activities will meet the criteria set forth in the regulations and can be defended in an audit, it is necessary to approve those activities before they take place.

How Many Hours Are Required?

For full-time faculty 27.5 hours of Professional Development/Flex are needed, including 6 mandatory hours from Opening Day, which totals 33.5. These hours may be completed during Intersession or throughout the instructional year, July 1-June 30.

For part-time faculty, you will need to complete and report one half of the one’s total annual hourly assignment.

For full-time faculty with additional hourly loads, you must complete and report 27.5 hours of Flex, 6 hours from Opening Day, in addition, to completing and reporting one half of one’s total annual hourly assignment.

Faculty with release time assignments must complete Flex/Professional Development Flex on a pro-rata basis. For example, a 60% teaching assignment must complete 60% of 27.5 hours or 16.5 hours of Flex/Professional Development Flex hours.

When Must The Professional Development/Flex Hours Be Completed?

The Professional Development/Flex Year runs July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007.

The additional 27.5 hours of Professional Development/Flex for full-time faculty must be submitted by May 18, 2007. Part-time faculty must also have all paperwork completed by May 18, 2007.

Processing of Professional Development/Flex Agreements and Contract Completion Forms is on an open filing basis and may be submitted continuously throughout the Professional Development/Flex year for approval.

What is Intersession?

Classroom faculty “will participate in staff, student and instructional improvement activities in lieu of part of regular classroom instruction” for four (4) Professional Development/Flex days as specified below. Non-classroom faculty are not required to participate in Professional Development activities, but are encouraged to participate in such activities as part of their regular assignment. For the convenience of classroom faculty, there shall be four (4) Professional Development/Flex days during intersession. Faculty shall have the option of banking up to all four (4) of the Professional Development Days. Counselors and Instructor Advisors shall provide counseling to students during Professional Development week except for holidays. Their Professional Development/Flex days and unpaid D basis days shall be scheduled only during any non-full staffing period.

The activities for the Professional Development/Flex days will be determined by the Staff Development and Flex committees.

How May Professional Development/Flex Hours Be Accumulated?

In addition to Intersession, faculty may attend programs offered throughout the Professional Development/Flex year right on campus. These programs are announced through email or on the website followed by a flier placed into faculty mailboxes.

Professional Development/Flex hours may also be accumulated by taking courses from accredited institutions of higher education, attending seminars and conferences. Professional Development/Flex credit is awarded to presenters of workshops and includes preparation time. For every hour of presentation, the presenter receives three hours Professional Development/Flex credit. Presenters who repeat presentations will receive two hours Professional Development/Flex credit for a one hour workshop. Departments may plan activities inside the campus or district wide. Professional Development/Flex hours may be earned during times other than class or office hour times. Six hours of participation in instructional improvement activities is equivalent to one Professional Development/Flex day. The maximum of six hours Professional Development/Flex credit may be earned per day (unless a presenter). Refer to Professional Development/Flex Guidelines 2006-2007 for further details.

What Paperwork Is Required?

The basic document required is the Professional Development Flex Contract Completion Form. For those wishing to do a special project, a Professional Development/Flex Individual Project Proposal form must be completed prior to beginning the project. For those wishing to receive Professional Development/ Flex credit as a presenter, a Request to Present a Professional Development/Flex Activity form is needed.

Where Are The Forms Located?

All Professional Development/Flex forms can be accessed through the website. Click on the form needed. You may also ask your Division Chairperson for the forms needed.

Who Receives The Paperwork?

Send all completed forms to Carmen Carrillo (box 44) for processing. The Professional Development/Flex committee reviews forms on a monthly basis.

What Will Not Count Toward Professional Development/Flex?

Professional Development/Flex activities cannot include tasks that are an ongoing part of the regular teaching responsibilities such as grading papers, choosing textbooks, reading in your discipline, writing lesson plans or syllabus guides. Travel time and meal time at a conference do not qualify for Professional Development/Flex hours. Credit is given for actual presentation time at the conference. Professional Development/Flex cannot be “banked” toward the next Professional Development/Flex year.

How can I sponsor or present my own activity for Flex credit?

To allow any one FLEX credit for any on campus activity, please adhere to the following procedures.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor an activity for FLEX credit must send a request to the FLEX committee. You may do so via email to carrilc@lahc.edu We do meet at the end of each month, but if you need a response before then, I will submit your request to the committee by email.

Once the committee approves your request for FLEX credit, please make sure that the instructors sign on the “new” sign-in sheet (see attached) and then send to Box 44. Please attach a copy of the flyer of the workshop or meeting to the sheet.

At the end of your workshop/meeting, please make enough copies for your attendees to complete an evaluation form. This helps both the FLEX and Staff Development committees to address the needs of faculty/staff in the development of workshops for the year. Please attach the evaluation forms with the sign in sheet.

If you wish to complete an individual project (a project that lies outside of any of the credited activities), please complete the IPP form PRIOR to the project you wish for credit. The committee will review and send you confirmation.

Any activity not confirmed by the committee will not be credited for FLEX hours.

What Happens If Professional Development/Flex Hours Are Not Met?

Your agreed-upon Professional Development/Flex activities are considered contractual obligation. If you are absent from your Professional Development/ Flex obligation, you have the same options available to you as when you are unable to meet your class, i.e. illness, personal necessity, bereavement. If you are unable to attend Intersession due to any of these reasons, then the Office of Academic Affairs needs to be notified and the appropriate cards need to be filed upon your return to campus. Because Professional Development/Flex days are included in your salary and negotiated by the AFT, non-submission of a completed Contract will result in loss of pay as mandated by the Educational Code.

Goals of Professional Development/Flex Days

To provide faculty the opportunity to participate in instructional improvement activities that will enhance the learning experiences of our students.

Who Should Be Contacted For More Information?

Should you have further questions or need more information, contact Carmen Carrillo at 310-233-4250 or by email at carrilc@lahc.edu. You may also drop a note in my mailbox, Box 44.