Committees

Professional Development Committee

Develops, coordinates, supports, and monitors the institutional and individual non-sabbatical professional development activities of faculty. To further collegiality and make good use of resources, this committee coordinates with both classified and administrative professional development committees.

 

Spring Professional Development Day 2026 Schedule


Faculty Forum Professional Development Workshops

If there is something you would like to see - please reach out with the Give a workshop/Want a workshop button above!

Faculty Forums are designed to engage faculty in key issues and challenges facing our college, a place to learn and share equity and pedagogical practices and a place to build community with fellow faculty.  

  • We encourage our speakers to record the event for maximum accessibility. When the events are recorded, the recordings will be posted shortly after each meeting.
  • Recording of previous Faculty Forums are posted below. 
Faculty Forum meeting date Speakers & Topic

May 21, 2026

1:00 - 2:00 pm

 

On Zoom only

 

Title: Free Expression and Academic Freedom in the Classroom and Beyond

Presenter: Michelle Deutchman

The PDC thanks Academic Senate's Professional Ethics & Responsibilities Committee for organizing this workshop with Michelle.

Michelle is the inaugural executive director of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement (Center)

Description:

The facilitated workshop will focus on the difference between free expression and academic freedom — reviewing the underlying principles of both. It will then use case studies as a vehicle for discussing the thorny issues that can arise when faculty members engage in speech that might be upsetting to some members of the community.  Participants will need to consider legal rights and communal norms.

Join Faculty Forum: The Free Expression and Academic Freedom in the Classroom and Beyond

May 12, 2026

3:00 - 4:00 pm

 

On Zoom only

Title: ASCCC visit debrief: Participatory Governance

Presenter: Dr. Vicenta Arrizon 

Description:

On April 28th, Santa Monica College hosted its first Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) site visit in over a decade. We were joined by Austin Webster, former ASCCC Interim Executive Director, and Erik Reese, ASCCC Treasurer, for a series of high-level discussions with the Senate Executive Committee and a full Senate meeting appearance. 
 
This workshop serves as a debrief on that visit. We will share key insights provided by the ASCCC representatives and discuss actionable strategies to strengthen participatory governance at SMC. Most importantly, we will explore the Senate’s vital role in navigating our current budget crisis and how faculty leadership can effectively advocate for the institution’s future.
 
The recording of this session will be posted shortly. 

November 3, 2025 

2:00 - 3:00 pm

 

On Zoom only

 

Title:  OER/ZTC: Burden-Free Access to Instructional Materials.

Presenters:

M. Roxana Cruz, Reference & Instruction Librarian 

Description:
A new regulation has been added to Title 5 requiring that all faculty provide access to required course materials on the first day of class. By January 2026, all California Community Colleges must update their policies to reflect this mandate. 
 
Attend this workshop to explore practical strategies for meeting this requirement, removing financial barriers, and increasing student success. You’ll walk away with actionable steps to ensure your course is compliant—and your students are set up to thrive from day one. 
 
 
 

October 6, 2025 

3:00 - 4:00 pm

 

On Zoom only

 

Title: Level Up Your Canvas Shell: A Faculty Panel Shares Secrets to an Engaging Canvas Learning Experience.

Presenters:

Ciarán Brewster (Earth Science), Sarah Leinen (English) and Wenise Wong (Physical Science)

Description:
Please join this panel discussion where faculty with excellent examples of Canvas shells will share highlights of those Canvas shells with an emphasis on course design and pedagogy. 
 
 
 
 
 

 

September 8, 2025 

3:00 - 4:00 pm

 

On Zoom only

 

 

 

Title: Academic Senate Town Hall​ & You

Presenters: Senate President, Dr. Vicenta Arrizon
Description: Curious about the Academic Senate? Join us for a Faculty Senate Town Hall where we’ll talk about what the Senate does, how you can get involved, and why it matters for faculty and students. We’ll also open the floor for you to share the issues and ideas you’d like the Senate to explore this year.
 
 
 

 

 

 

Past Faculty Forum Events and Recordings

Previous Faculty Forum resources and recordings. 


 

Faculty Professional Development Funding

Guidelines for Professional Development Conference Request for Faculty

Information

  • PDC Conference Request Applications are accepted for in-person and virtual funding opportunities
  • Full-time and adjunct faculty may apply for PDC Conference Requests.
  • To ensure a greater distribution of funds, SMC faculty are eligible to apply once per academic year. 
  • NOTE: Starting with applications submitted on October 14, 2024 or later the funding amounts will increase to $1500 for full-time faculty and $1700 for part-time faculty.  Please note that these amounts may be reevaluated and change for the following fiscal year.  Be sure to check this page for any updates.   This video explains the changes to the funding. 
  • Funds will be allotted on a first-come, first served basis. Once the PDC Conference Request funds are depleted, applications will not be accepted until the next fiscal year.
  • The PDC is an Academic Senate Joint Committee that only meets during the fall and spring semester and does not meet during the intersessions. The PDC can receive conference funding applications dated before the start of the academic year, but since the committee does not officially meet until the fall semester, applications will not be reviewed or approved during the summer months.

Steps to Request Funding

Please read the form carefully to be sure that your proposed activity meets the guidelines established in AB1725. The application requires the approval of five signatures in total: the Department Chair, Vice President of Academic Affairs, PDC Chair, Vice President Human Resources, and the President/Superintendent. Therefore, we ask that the form be turned in at least 30 days in advance of the event.

 This 7-minute video demonstrates how to fill out the funding request form from start to finish.

Step 1: CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FACULTY FUNDING REQUEST FORM

Procedures for Claiming Reimbursement of Conference Expenses

  • Step 2: To request reimbursement of expenses, submit the Conference Reimbursement Claim Form
    • Reimbursement requests must be accompanied with original detailed receipts.
    • Submit the claim form with original itemized receipts to Accounts Payable (accountspayable@smc.edu) for all reimbursement items. The subject line of the email requesting reimbursement should read: “PDC Reimbursement Request.”

Policies

      • Arizona

Committee Members

  • Chair, Lea Hald
  • Vice-Chair, Kiersten Elliott
  • Ciarán Brewster
  • Jessica Krug
  • Llanet Martín
  • Esmeralda Martinez
  • Brian Rodas

Email Address

AcadSenProfDev@smc.edu

Current Meetings

Time: Tuesdays - 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. (Fall and Spring semesters only)

Location: Senate office - HSS 261 or the EpiCenter - M104 or (please see agenda), public participants can also join via Zoom, Zoom link is in agenda.

2025-2026 Academic year

Agendas will be made available prior to each meeting. Minutes posted after the meeting.

Meeting Date

Documents

September 9, 2025

September 9 - Agenda

September 9 - Minutes

September 23, 2025

September 23 - Agenda

September 23 - Minutes

October 7, 2025

October 7 - Agenda

October 7 - Minutes

October 21, 2025

October 21 - Agenda

October 21 - Minutes

Novemeber 4, 2025 Meeting was cancelled due to illness. 
November 18, 2025

November 18 - Agenda

November 18 - Minutes

December 2, 2025

December 2 - Agenda

December 2 - Minutes

February 24, 2026

February 24 - Agenda

February 24 - Minutes

March 10, 2026

March 10 - Agenda

March 10 - Minutes

March 24, 2026 Meeting was cancelled. 
April 7, 2026

April 7 - Agenda

April 7 - Minutes

April 21, 2026 April 21 - Agenda
May 5, 2026 May 5 - Agenda
May 19, 2026  
June 2, 2026  

Past Meetings

Meeting Archive

Agendas, Minutes, and Information