The 3P PLAN: a long-term strategy of sustainable faculty development

Academic Affairs in cooperation with Faculty Development of Columbia Southern University (CSU) created a long-term strategy for personal and professional growth and development of its faculty. The 3P Plan involves three steps: the PLAN, the PATH, and the PARTNER. The success of the program relies on commitment from administration, buy-in from faculty, and support from administration, and management by Faculty Development for sustainability.   The program requires commitment from the administration to a long-term view of human development and the availability of resources necessary for success.   Faculty participation from step one ensures buy-in because that their input creates the plan—aan inventory. CSU solicited faculty to answer the question, "What are the attributes of a professional educator?." From their contributions, the faculty development team created an inventory that faculty then completed to measure their level of professionalism within three dimensions: communication, engagement, professionalism. From this self-evaluation, faculty, with assistance from faculty development, created a self-improvement plan for professional and personal development and growth. In the third step, faculty development encouraged faculty to select an accountability partner-one who would "walk with them on their path to the plan."   Throughout their journey, faculty are encouraged to relate their advancement to their professional and personal goals.