Professional Development and Effective Practices

University of Hawai'i Community College (UHCC) leaders continuously seek innovative solutions for providing high-quality professional development opportunities at a lower cost. A typical conference experience for one faculty member from the Hawai'i Community Colleges traveling to the mainland requires more than 8-12 hours of flight time, out-of-classroom time (up to a week for a three to four day conference), and air, ground transportation, and per diem costs (upwards of $3,000). As a result, it is unusual for UHCC faculty to attend more than one conference annually in the continental United States. The cost of sponsoring and implementing a traditional face-to-face conference in Hawai'i is extremely high, requiring significant resources for advance planning and negotiation with travel and hospitality-industry representatives. It is equally expensive for participants traveling from the mainland and elsewhere. The annual Teaching in the Community College Online Conference was established to address this scholarly community's need to "meet" and exchange information.