Professor’s Professional Development Policy

Professor’s Professional Development Policy

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, STRATEGIC PLANNING, & ONLINE EDUCATION OFFICE
Introduction
The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS) is an institution of higher education that offers master’s and doctoral degrees. IATS specializes in the theological education of missional leaders in a creative and scholarly environment for the church, primarily in the Americas. The Seminary serves an ethnically and culturally diverse community, learning in their own cultural and national contexts.
Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary Faculty Profile

Philosophical foundations of education and religious influence.

  • Manifests a total commitment to God, His Word, and the beliefs and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
  • Conducts him/herself ethically and morally to be a positive influence on students and colleagues.
  • Implements professional practices based on a clear Christian philosophy that promotes the mission and philosophy of the institution.
  • Effectively integrates faith into the teaching-learning process
  • Provides all students with the opportunity to fully develop their faculties and abilities.
  • Establishes, models, and protects the highest standards of professional performance and conduct.
  • Takes an interest and participates in the life of the educational institution in which he/she works and the community in which he/she lives
  • Shows modesty and simplicity in personal appearance.
  • Fosters an educational context that encourages the pursuit of truth and the free exchange of ideas.
  • Maintains the highest standards of integrity in research, procedures and communication of results.
Effective teaching and learning skills
  • Designs rigorous courses and learning experiences that reflect his or her mastery of the knowledge and discipline he or she teaches.
  • Delivers organized courses that motivate students to actively pursue knowledge in their discipline through the use of varied and appropriate approaches to teaching.
  • Reviews and updates course plans, incorporating updated knowledge and innovative methodologies.
  • Regularly assesses student learning to improve the teaching process and provide relevant data for decision making and improvement of academic programs.
  • Applies creative, critical thinking techniques and skills related to effective decision making.
Mastery and broad understanding of the core knowledge in their teaching area
  • Keeps abreast of new knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to their discipline.
  • Makes recommendations to update and improve academic programs, as well as to develop new programs.
  • Contributes to knowledge in his/her discipline through research and publication.
Integration of technology in the teaching-learning process
  • Is able to effectively and critically use and evaluate information in the digital world, accessing, managing and producing information through electronic media.
  • Effectively uses and integrates appropriate technology in teaching.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

IATS offers the following Development Plan for full-time, part-time, and contract faculty to provide tools to meet the IATS Faculty Profile. This plan includes the following requirements, to be completed over a three-year period.

– Faculty Profile

Areas of Improvement Hours Required
Philosophical Foundations and Religious Influence 3
Effective teaching-learning skills 3
Mastery and broad understanding of the core content of their area of specialization 3
Integration of technology in the teaching-learning process 3
Teaching Evaluation

These evaluations are conducted annually and include:

  • Student evaluation.
  • Self-evaluation.
  • Evaluation by the Campus Coordinator.

IATS is committed to promoting the professional development of its faculty and maintaining high standards of academic excellence in keeping with its mission and Adventist Christian philosophy.

Continuing Education Program: Workshops Offered by IATS

The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (IATS) is proud to offer a variety of continuing education workshops for the professional development of teachers. With the objective of strengthening and enriching pedagogical skills, these workshops are presented on a regular basis, providing teachers with opportunities for growth and updating in their field.

Each year, IATS organizes at least five (5) workshops focused on topics relevant to teaching. In order to allow for optimal participation, these workshops are announced at least three weeks in advance, which gives teachers time to make arrangements and ensure their attendance.

To ensure accessibility and maximize the reach of these workshops, each session is videotaped. These videos are subsequently stored in an institutional repository, which provides teachers with the ability to review and revise the content presented in the workshops at any time as needed. This additional resource allows for continuous learning and the effective application of new strategies and knowledge acquired. Access to the repository containing the recordings is available upon request to the Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Planning and Distance Education office.