A systems model for comprehensive staff development in the community college

Comprehensive staff development gained prominence in the mid-1970's as community colleges expanded the focus of faculty development to include all the members employed by the college. Many models have been developed, but most of these have concentrated on combinations of the components of organizational, professional, and personal development rather than considering all the diverse elements involved in the staff development process. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the elements necessary for comprehensive staff development and to develop a dynamic model which builds on these elements and accounts for their interrelationships. A review of the literature was used to determine the elements necessary for staff development. Systems theory was used to determine the interrelationship of the elements. Staff development is an open system. It takes its energy from the community college in the form of staff members, transforms them, and returns them to the work situation of the institution in a changed state. The environment of the institution affects the staff development process and is also considered