What is Flex Credit?
If you're a full-time faculty member, you must earn 5 hours of Flex credit for each of the Flex days (four), or 20 Flex credits for each academic year. One Flex credit equals one hour of pre-approved activity.

What are my Flex Obligations?
Full-time faculty are expected to complete 20 hours of Flex for the academic year. Adjunct faculty do not have a Flex obligation, but are invited to participate.

What are Flex Days?
Flex Days are for professional development meetings, workshops, individual projects, etc., "in lieu of" days of instruction. San Joaquin Delta College has five Flex days each academic year.

When is the Flex Year?
The Flex year starts on the first Mandatory Flex Day of the fall semester and ends the day before the first Mandatory Flex Day of the following fall semester.

Why do I have to fill out a contract form?
The District is required by the Education Code to account for the hours "in lieu of" days of instruction.

Where do I get the form and what are the deadlines?
Flex contract forms are available online by clicking on On-Line Flex Form from the Academic Senate website.  Flex contract proposals for the current year must be electronicially submitted by October 1st. The completed and signed Flex contract form must be submitted to the Academic Senate office, Locke 119, by September 10th of the following year.

What is a desirable Flex activity?
The flex program is intended for staff, student and instructional development. Any activity that promotes the improvement of instruction at the individual, school, or institutional level is a desirable Flex activity. State regulations recognize activities that contribute to the effective operations of the institution, such as recruiting, advising students, conducting appropriate departmental business, and dealing with issues of college-wide concern. For most people, the bulk of Flex time is devoted to activities designed to improve instruction at the individual level, including developing new skills, promoting and awareness, interacting with colleagues, and improving course delivery.

Do all of my activities have to be on-campus workshops?
Not necessarily. You can design your own independent study project and use it for flex credit, with the approval of the FPG Committee. You may also take a short-term class, attend a conference, mentor, etc. You may also participate in Flex activities at other community colleges.

Can I design my own Flex activity?
Yes. Faculty members may create unique and useful projects that help them serve their students better. Individual/Group Projects are those activities not scheduled as a Flex activity.

Who decides what is acceptable as an individual Flex activity?
The Faculty Professional Growth Committee will approve individual and group activities.

How can I suggest a Flex activity that I'd like to see happen?
If the activity is for all faculty and/or staff, submit your suggestion to the Faculty Professional Growth (FPG) Committee and/or the Flex Calendar Coordinator.

Can I present a Flex activity?
Yes. Send a proposal to the FPG Committee and/or the Flex Calendar Coordinator. They will provide assistance in the planning and conducting of your proposed activity. As a presenter, you will receive Flex credit of two hours for every hour you present.

Am I paid for meeting my Flex obligation?
Yes. The Flex obligation is part of your regular contract. You are teaching fewer days than you would be if we did not have a Flex program, but you are being paid as if you were in the classroom on Flex days. If you were not involved in Flex activities, you would be in the classroom on those days.

What happens if I don't do what I agreed to do?
Your agreed-upon Flex activities are considered a contractual obligation. If you are unable to fulfill your Flex obligation, you have the same options available as when you are unable to meet any part of your contractual obligations.

How do I verify my attendance at scheduled workshops?
Attendance at workshops is confirmed by your signature on the Flex Contract Form. Your signature certifies your attendance.

I serve on different campus Committees. Can I count the hours I spend at this committee's meetings toward my flex obligation?
No. Your faculty responsibilities include serving on committees.

Are Flex Credit and Salary Advancement Credit the same?
No, they are mutually exclusive-which means you can't earn credit in both areas for the same work. You can't get salary advancement credit for activities that either have been supported by AB 1725 funds, or for which you are earning Flex Credit.

If I have a question about my flex obligations, who do I contact?
Begin by contacting the Academic Senate Office in Locke 119. The office extension number is 5486. This office will be able to refer you to the appropriate person who will be able to answer your questions.

What can I do for an individual flex activity?
All kinds of things!  Some potential ideas:
- Create a short-term class for your students
- Go on a field trip
- Develop a special project for your class: a video presentation, workbook, etc.
- Visit other colleges or universities to get ideas for your classes or for better articulation of classes
- Visit companies or agencies where your students are likely to find employment to survey their needs
- Do professional research
- Write for publication
- Assist with student advising
- Visit and share information with our area high schools

What are some things that would not be ok as a flex activity?
Tasks that are part of your regular teaching responsibilities such as choosing texts, cleaning offices, writing lesson plans, grading papers, preparing for class, etc.

Why am I signing in at Flex Workshops and filling out evaluation forms?
These activities provide important data to track and monitor the program. This information can help to decide which workshops should be offered again, room size, faculty attending scheduled workshop versus group or individual activities etc. The Education Code that established the program requires on-going evaluation. A critique of each workshop is part of fulfilling this requirement. Your credit for attending any Flex activity is determined by your signature on the Flex Contract Form, not the roster you may sign at the activity.

Can I use my personal necessity day to do flex activities?
This day is designed for unexpected or unplanned necessities of a personal nature. To schedule activities ahead of time to do on this day would be an abuse of this benefit.

What if I do more than the required number of flex hours?
Up to 8 hours of approved flex activities beyond the required 20 hours from a previous academic year may be carried over and applied to the 20 hour flex obligation of the current year.

I am an adjunct faculty member, what is my flex obligation?
Adjunct or part-time faculty are not required to participate in flex activities and therefore do not have any flex obligation. On the other hand, you are invited and encouraged to attend any flex activities that you feel would aid in your personal development. If you have ideas for activities please turn them in to the Academic Senate Office in Locke 119.

What happens if an activity I planned to attend gets cancelled?
You will need to revise your plans. Cancellation of an activity does not eliminate your Flex obligation.

How many hours of flex activities can I complete on instructional duty days?
All 20 hours of flex activities may be completed after your assigned duty hours on instuctional duty days or on non-duty days. There is a flex hours limitation of 10-hours on instructional duty days.

Is the mandatory flex day (in-service day normally held at the beginning of the fall semester) considered to be duty hours or non-duty hours?
The District determined mandatory flex day (again, normally held at the beginning of the fall semester) is a non-instructional duty day and, therefore, counts toward flex time.

How many flex hours can I get credit for in a single day?
There is no limitation. If for instance, you attend a 10 hour conference on a Saturday, all 10 hours are eligible for flex. If the flex activity takes place during the week on an instructional duty day, you could not claim the hours that you would have been in class, in your office hour or fulfilling other faculty responsibilities.

Does travel time to a conference count toward flex?
No, travel time does not count toward your flex obligation.

What if an activity that I want to attend occurs during my office hour?
Your office hour can be rescheduled, if necessary, to attend a flex activity.

Who checks to see if I actually did the activities on my contract?
The flex program is based on an honor system. The Faculty Professional Growth Committee does not intend to act as police. Each faculty member has a personal responsibility to insure the integrity of the program.