The Professional Development Council (PDC) serves as the central advisory and planning body for faculty and administrator development at Penn State. Housed within the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement (CFDA), the Council works to align professional growth opportunities with Penn State’s mission of academic excellence and to ensure that faculty development is recognized as an essential component of academic success.

Purpose and Mission

The Council’s mission is to increase the value and visibility of faculty development initiatives while creating a unified strategy across the University. By coordinating efforts across teaching, research/creative accomplishment, and leadership, the PDC ensures that faculty development is not only widely accessible, but also meaningfully integrated into evaluation, promotion, and annual review processes.

Structure and Membership

The PDC operates through three subcommittees that mirror the ways faculty contributions are evaluated:

• Teaching

• Research and Creative Accomplishment

• Leadership

The Council’s Executive Board, comprising members from each subcommittee, provides strategic direction and oversight. This structure ensures broad representation and engagement across disciplines, career stages, and campus locations.

Key Responsibilities

The PDC plays a critical role in shaping Penn State’s professional development landscape by focusing on three areas:

• Strategic Planning
  Establishing university-wide goals for faculty and administrator development and addressing challenges such as redundancy, lack of communication, and uneven access to opportunities.

• Advocacy
  Promoting the recognition of professional development in faculty evaluation, annual reviews, and promotion criteria—ensuring these efforts are valued as core contributions.

• Visibility and Impact
  Documenting and celebrating professional development achievements, highlighting the work of faculty and administrators who make notable contributions to Penn State’s academic community.

Why It Matters

Penn State has long offered outstanding professional development programs, but until now, they have often operated in relative isolation. The PDC addresses this by creating shared goals, reducing duplication, and increasing access. Its work strengthens Penn State’s ability to provide the most impactful learning experiences to the largest number of faculty and administrators, ultimately fueling institutional excellence.