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The Faculty Professional Development Committee (FPDC) develops and provides professional development opportunities for Cuesta faculty.  

Along with developing and coordinating activities for FLEX Days, the committee provides resources and financial resources for faculty to attend and participate in professional development and conferences outside of Cuesta planned events.

Matthew Davis

Coordinator for Professional Development and Equity Education

The Faculty Professional Development Committee (FPDC) is excited to inform you of funding sources that may assist you in your continuing professional development.

  • FPDC Funding: The FPDC, through generous support from the Cuesta College Foundation, will be awarding up to $500 per applicant, dependent on availability of funds, to assist faculty in attending a professional development opportunity of their choice. Funds will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis, with half of our allotted budget available for Fall 2026 and the remainder available for Spring 2027 to support professional development during the 2026-2027 academic year.
  • We will be adhering to the following schedule for accepting funding applications: Applications for Fall Semester will be accepted each year via email beginning the third Monday in September at 12 am (which this year is September 21, 2026) through December 1, or until all funds are exhausted.  The application window for Spring 2027 will open on the third Monday of February at 12:00 AM and run through May 1. Applicants will be notified of their request status after the next scheduled meeting of the Faculty Professional Development Committee. The committee is only able to consider requests received during the application window and only for the current fiscal year (which began July 1).
  • Funds are limited to a maximum of $500 per faculty member per year and both part-time and full-time faculty are eligible to apply.

To apply for these funds, please review both the Conference and Travel Guidelines and the Pre/Post Travel Instructions on the Fiscal Services website and note the following required materials.  Applicants must:

  1. Complete, sign, and send to the Faculty Professional Development Committee the Faculty Professional Development Funding Request Form 
  2. Complete, sign, and gather signatures on the Conference Request/Travel Reimbursement Form. (This form is a Dynamic Form completed electronically in two steps; pre-travel approvals, and post travel approvals and reimbursement.)
    1. This form does not need to be submitted to the Faculty Professional Development Committee for your request to be considered, but must be complete to process your reimbursement.  Division Assistants can provide guidance on the form process.
    2. In filling out this form, please use 12999-3006-5610-xxxxxx / 225475 as the account string.  where "XXXXXX" is your six-digit program code (which can be supplied by your division assistant

The committee will contact funding request applicants when their request has been processed.  The notification will include an award letter if approved.  Additionally, the award letter will include further instructions for processing the reimbursement with fiscal services.

Contact:  FPDC for more information. Email cuestapd@cuesta.edu 

Additional Possible Funding Resources for Professional Development:

  • Dean's Funding: The Deans have access to various sources of money (i.e. student equity, student support and success, CTEA, their own budgets, etc.) that they may be able to use to help fund your Professional Development. As the saying goes, it never hurts to ask.  
    • Contact:  Your Dean for more information. 
  • Vice President of Instruction (VPI). If your Dean is unable to help fund your Professional Development, ask the VPI. Like your Dean, the VPI has access to various funds that may be used to help subsidize your Professional Development. Your Dean should be consulted first, then approach the VP.
    • Contact:  VPI Office for more information. 
    • Email Melinda Weaver 
  • President’s Innovation and Motivational Fund (PIM).The Cuesta Foundation provides the college President with a discretionary fund that can be used to help support Cuesta employees’ professional development.
    • Contact:  President’s Office for more information.
    • Email Cindy Dilbeck 
  • Student Equity.  If the focus of your professional development training is on improving student equity or if you work with under-served populations that include veterans, individuals with disabilities, foster youth, Latinx, low income, etc., you may be able to receive funding by completing and submitting the Student Equity and Achievement Proposal Form. This dynamic form is available by visiting MyCuesta, selecting "Employee Forms," and then clicking the link to "Student Equity & Achievement Proposal Form."
    • Contact: Associate Dean Student Equity and Special Programs for more information.
    • Email Araceli Espinoza-Wade

If you are interested in developing or hosting a Faculty Flex Activity, please complete the required PROPOSAL FORM, and it will be reviewed and considered by the FPD Committee for upcoming Flex days.

AUGUST 2026 FLEX BROCHURE- Review the FLEX activities offered, get location and zoom link information, days & times of sessions, and register for sessions.

ARCHIVE of FLEX Brochures from August 2019 to Current- To access you must have Cuesta login credentials.