Employee Development Center

Employee Development opportunities are designed to help you become more effective in your current role (focusing on the non-technical aspect of development). These tend to be more discussion/dialog-focused and allow our employees time to observe, reflect, and discuss these "soft-skill" topics.

Examples of courses we offer to our employees throughout the year are: 

• Communications courses
• Presentations courses
• Effective meetings
• Empathy at work

We can also work with teams to deliver customized training. 

College of DuPage provides opportunities for Faculty to develop and deepen their skills in learning-centered teaching strategies, outcomes-based practice, scholarship of teaching and learning and creating communities of learners. Faculty can reach out to the Employee Development Center (edc@cod.edu) or the Faculty Professional Development Coordinator, Jennifer Kelley with questions or requests.

Mission Statement

In support of College of DuPage's mission to be a center for excellence in teaching, learning, and cultural experiences, the Faculty Professional Development Program is dedicated to providing programs and services that cultivate a community of inquiry around teaching and learning; supporting faculty throughout their careers as educators, scholars and professionals; and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Vision Statement

The Faculty Professional Development Program envisions a faculty that is engaged in the art and science of teaching; reflective in its practice; dedicated to creating an inclusive community of learners; and collaborative across disciplines, departments and divisions.  

Goals

The goals of COD Faculty Professional Development are to:

• Develop and sustain collegial and academic development and discourse through the exchange of ideas about teaching and learning.
• Provide training and consultation services in pedagogy, instructional technologies, and other related practices that support teaching and learning excellence.
• Foster teaching excellence and student success through inquiry, innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Collaborate with partners across campus to support teaching and learning initiatives.

Themes

Faculty Professional Development supports COD faculty members in continual learning around the following five themes:

Learner-Centered Teaching

Faculty Professional Development will encourage COD faculty to adopt diverse teaching and learning strategies that promote both acquisition and application of knowledge and understanding.

Community of Learners

Faculty Professional Development will encourage the design of learning opportunities that acknowledge, draw upon and are enriched by student diversity. Faculty Professional Development will foster the development of learning environments that create an atmosphere of diversity and inclusion, respect and understanding.

Inquiry-Based Practice

Faculty Professional Development will facilitate the development and sharing of teaching strategies and assessment tools that align student learning with program outcomes.

Professional Commitment

Faculty Professional Development will encourage COD faculty to stay current in their discipline through activities such as attending professional conferences, participating in research, and sharing disciplinary insights with the college community.

Reflective Practice

Faculty Professional Development will encourage COD faculty to continuously examine their teaching effectiveness with respect to student learning. Faculty Professional Development will provide opportunities to keep current in the scholarship of teaching and learning in all modes of delivery.

While leadership is both situational and positional - strong leadership is exemplified by characteristics of building relationships, communicating effectively, exhibiting visionary leadership, managing with courage and thinking strategically. These leadership characteristics are essential at every level and role within the College. To support our leaders at COD, we aim to deliver relevant discussions and sessions based on current industry trends and COD-specific needs. 

Academy Programs

• Classified Skills Development Program
• Managing in the Community College Program
• HR leadership meeting with new managers

The EDC offers the following onboarding and orientation programs for employees:

Campus Walking Tours

Who: All employees
When: Once per month (see Cornerstone > Learning > Events Calendar)
Length: 90-minutes (conducted in-person)
Registration: Cornerstone
Topics: This in-person walking tour will help employees become familiar with navigating buildings throughout main campus. 

HR Leadership Meeting - Management Topics

Who: New managers 
When: Once per term
Length: 4 hours (conducted in-person)
Registration: By invitation
Topics: Learn about HR topics that managers need (ie. paid time off, leave, employee relations, etc.).  

New Employee: Begin at COD Kickstart

Who: All new full-time non-teaching employees
When: Every month
Length: 2 (3-hour) sessions, 1 (2-hour) compliance training lab time
Registration: Employees auto-enrolled in Day 1-2, Employees self-register for Day 3
Topics: 

• Day 1: Breakfast, Cabinet Panel Discussion, Total Rewards, Human Resources, and Benefits
• Day 2: Breakfast, Safety at COD Panel Discussion, Information Security | Technology, and New Employee Panel Discussion
• Day 3: 2-hours compliance training

Employee Portal Tour 

Who: All employees 
When: Once per month (see Cornerstone > Learning > Events Calendar),
Length: 90-minutes (conducted live via Zoom) 
Registration: Cornerstone
Topics: This session covers a thorough tour of the inside.cod.edu employee portal.

Student Employee Orientation

Who: student employees
When: On-demand
Length: Two hours (on-demand)
Registration: Cornerstone (Managers/supervisors can register their student employees.)
Topics: 

• Federal Drug-Free Schools and Campus Regulations
• Student Employee Orientation Packet 

New Part-Time Employee: Begin at COD Kickstart 

Who: All part-time employees 
When: On-demand
Length: Two hours (on-demand)
Registration: Cornerstone
Topics: 

• Campus emergency response information
• Risk Management | Environmental Health and Safety
• Virtual campus tour, maps and directions
• College Policy Manual

At College of DuPage, how we engage with students, colleagues, and community members makes a difference. Service Excellence is a commitment to making every interaction meaningful—whether it’s in person, over the phone, or online. It’s about creating positive experiences through intentional, respectful, and effective communication.

Service Excellence Offerings

We offer a variety of sessions designed to strengthen your service skills, including

• Email Etiquette
• Effective Questioning Techniques
• Every Call Counts
• The Other Side of the Window
• Dealing with the Irate Customer

Customized Training Available

Looking for something tailored to your team’s unique needs? We specialize in creating customized Service Excellence training sessions for departments across the college.

Interested in a personalized session? Contact us to get started.

From interactive workshops and guest speakers to hands-on training and reflective discussions, Staff Development Days offer something for everyone, no matter your role or department.

Staff Development Days (SDD) are held each academic term (fall, spring, and summer), and are designed to support continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth for College of DuPage employees. Whether offered in person or virtually, these sessions provide a variety of opportunities to enhance skills, explore new ideas, and connect with colleagues across campus. 

How to Participate

Registration for Staff Development Days is available through Cornerstone, the College’s learning management system. Be sure to check your email and the Employee Portal regularly for announcements, schedules, and registration details as each term approaches.