Types of Activities for Summer Projects FPG Program

Participation in seminars, conferences, workshops or professional meetings related to your field/discipline or teaching responsibilities
Work experiences
Education and technology related workshops
Academic/scientific research related to your discipline or to the educational field
Training that relates to your discipline or the educational field
Eligible activities are experiences and activities that can enhance your professional knowledge and expertise. These might be learning to use a software application or summer work experience at a company (other than one you own). You might also want to learn how to use different technologies to enhance course delivery. (Certain skills, such as word processing and use of PowerPoint are expected parts of your job responsibilities and thus are not eligible.) You might want to visit museums, do research, or visit different colleges around the world.

If you have an idea and you are not sure, discuss it with your FPG representative. There are many types of possible projects of which only a few have been mentioned. See the collection of examples of Summer Projects to generate some ideas.

What are ineligible activities?

Any activity which is directly connected to your standard teaching obligation or contractual responsibilities cannot be considered for professional growth. Ineligible activities include:

Curriculum/materials development
Department meetings
Articulation meetings
Discipline instructional councils
Accreditation work
Advisement sessions within the Maricopa Community Colleges
Community advisory board meetings
New faculty orientation
Activities for personal development, such as: time management, career exploration, recreational travel, stress management, physical development, wellness strategies, etc. Please see your FPG representative if you have questions
Other standard responsibilities including, but not limited to, training on the use of the phone system, electronic mail, student information and fiscal systems, and office computer software that are an essential part of faculty work in Maricopa Community Colleges
Courses required for the correction of certification deficiencies

Can I take a 100 or higher level course for a Summer Project?

If you have a Master’s Degree:

Coursework	Salary advancement	Hourly Stipend	Workshops/ Conferences
Lower division (100-200): You may apply to be reimbursed for the course fee or workshop registration but NOT if you are using the course or workshop for salary advancement	You can use for salary advancement if you DO NOT use the internal course tuition waiver.	You may also apply for an hourly stipend in your summer project proposal	Can use as a summer project and be reimbursed for fees. IF you pay the registration fees you may also use for salary advancement
Upper division: You can use as a summer project AND for salary advancement	You can use for salary advancement if you pay tuition fees (courses) OR registration fees (conf/workshops)

If you have a Doctoral Degree:

Coursework

Salary advancement

Hourly Stipend

Workshops/
Conferences

Lower division (100-200): courses not available within MCCCD may qualify for tuition reimbursement.

Upper division:
You may use these as a summer project and apply for tuition reimbursement.

Can not be used for academic advancement since you are farthest horizontally on the pay scale

You may also apply for an hourly stipend in your summer project proposal

Can use as a summer project and be reimbursed for fees

Why can't I create materials for my course as a Summer Project?

The purpose of a summer project is professional learning; if there is any materials development as a result of learning/practicing a skill, it can only be incidental to the learning. Curriculum development or materials development activities may be funded by other Maricopa Community College programs, so please check for other avenues of support. If you have any questions about any of your proposed activities, please discuss this with your FPG representative.

Can I teach at another Maricopa Community College and use that for a Summer Project?

No, teaching or administrative duties at the Maricopa Community Colleges or other educational institutions are not eligible for professional growth.