What is Flex?
Flex is short for Flexible, and from the California Community College's Flex website is:
"The Board of Governors through the Chancellor’s Office is required by California Code of Regulations to oversee the Flexible Calendar program for the California Community Colleges. The Flexible (Flex) program consists of staff development activities “in-lieu-of” regular instruction."
The Flex designation on an event means that it will help satisfy the contractual obligations of faculty each semester. Classified professionals and administrators do not have this requirement. An event that is designated as Flex learning does not mean it is meant for only faculty! Flex events are typically open to all, unless for example they are specific to a department that is working towards more equitable outcomes.
Flex events occur all year long, but Flex/PD week is a particular concentration of events the week before the Fall and Spring semester start. Please consider offering an inclusive, interactive, accessible, professional learning opportunity that ultimately benefits our students. If you'd like to start on that path, please fill out our SRC Consultation Form.
What is Flex/PD Week?
Flex or PD Week is when we get together as a campus and are given opportunities to learn. It happens the few days before Convocation - in August for Fall semester, and in January for Spring. Please visit the PD Week site as each semester nears. Flex or PD Week schedule is mostly established about two months before the semester (we try to finish the schedule in May for Fall semester and in November for Spring.
Emails from the Staff Resource Center and from others ask for your professional learning ideas for this week and are also contained in the SRC newsletter.
Flex Reporting
Faculty are required to report their Flex attendance and demonstrate they have satisfied their contractual obligation to engage in Flex.
Before Covid, if you did Flex forms, you may remember they appeared in your mailbox and you used pen and paper to submit them to your Administrative Assistant (AA). Through Covid, we switched to fillable PDF forms, and that is where we remain today.
Log your participation in Flex/professional learning activities routinely every semester, and keep copies for your records. As an important reminder, It is the responsibility of faculty members to honor their Flex requirements. Delayed submission of your Flex obligation form can create unnecessary pressure and additional work on Division office staff to manage that you meet your contractual obligation.
Note that faculty are also required to submit a College Service Activities Form P-CSA1. This indicates that you have satisfied the college service requirement. This form once complete is sent to your Division Office.