Professional Leave Policy

Professional development is a key priority for the Carleton College and is an important component of each individual’s work life at Carleton and beyond. The College actively supports wide-spread participation in professional development as part of Carleton’s culture of continuous learning. The College is committed to attracting, selecting, and retaining a talented/diverse workforce and is fortunate to have a pool of experienced diverse staff. Staff also bring a widely diverse educational background to the Carleton workforce. When deciding how to support individual professional development Carleton’s professional development policies need to take into account factors such as the individual’s time and nature of job; the department’s need for training in a specific skill or content area; the relationship of the professional development activity to an office or other colleagues; the benefit of the professional development proposal to the College; the benefit of the plan for one’s professional development; and the impact of personal development on life-long learning. Professional development consists of staff training to acquire and improve job-related skills and knowledge. It also involves staff development with personal growth, expansion of job duties, or preparation for promotion.

The relationship that staff has to the College and to their individual department need to be taken into account for the staff and their supervisors to fashion development plans that mutually fit and that provide some level of benefit to the individual and the College. It is understood that professional development plans change over the course of time and should be reviewed at the annual performance appraisal session. Each department funds the individual’s professional development plan. The College strives to maintain budget flexibility to meet department and individual needs.

Exempt Professional Development Leaves are encouraged by the College. This provides opportunities for exempt staff to explore new developments and trends in his or her area of responsibility and to acquire new skills and knowledge. Eligible exempt staff may apply for a professional development leave of up to three months duration after four years of continuous service. Exempt staff interested in applying are to complete the Professional Leave Application available through Human Resources. Applications must include a full description of the activities, the timetable and budget requested, how the leave will benefit the College, how the leave fits the employee’s short term and long term plans and the plan for coverage of employee’s responsibilities while on the leave. The supervisor and division head will need to approve the application and submit letters in support of the application. Applications are normally due to the President in December each year for the upcoming fiscal year. Usually two professional development leaves will be granted in any given budget year. Staff’s completing professional leaves are encouraged to share their experience at either the department level or campus wide.

Revised Professional and Exempt Professional Development Leave policy eff. 12/2004

Applications will normally be considered in January for the following fiscal year.

You may contact Human Resources at x4174 with your questions or comments.

(Adopted by Carleton Board of Trustees on April 19, 1990)