Professional Development Committee (PDC) Instructors FAQ

What are the different instructor opportunities through PDC?

1. You can apply to teach IOA Foundations of the Organizational Ombuds, which is taught multiple times a year both virtually and in-person. In order to be eligible to teach Foundations, you need to have taken Foundations and to have served as a practicing Ombuds for at least three years. You also need to be currently practicing as an Ombuds to IOA standards and be an IOA member. Foundations instructors are offered $500 for their instruction, or they can have access to credits to take another IOA course. To apply to be a Foundations instructor, please visit: Foundations Instructor Form
2. You can apply to present a Webinar. Webinars are presented virtually from 75 minutes to 3 hours and are recorded and posted to IOA’s Resources page. Instructors can present solo or as a group, and topics can vary. Webinar presenters are volunteering their time and do not receive payment for their presentations, but they are able to engage the entire IOA membership. Webinars are held on the third Thursday of the month at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET. When applying, presenters should be prepared to provide the title, abstract, and learning objectives of their proposed webinar. To apply to be a Webinar presenter, please visit: Webinar Proposal Form
3. You can apply to teach a Core Course in a topic that matters to you and that you have expertise in. Core Courses are virtual courses from 3 to 12 hours (over one day or many). They will be offered live and recorded and posted to IOA’s Resources page. Instructors can present solo or as a group, and each team of Core Course instructors is paid $400 for their instruction. Core Courses do not have to be offered in English or during a time zone that works for North America, so international instructors are encouraged to apply. You can apply to teach a Core Course that has been offered before or propose a completely new course. The application asks for the title, description, outline, and proposed audience of your proposed course. To apply to teach a Core Course, please visit: Core Course Proposal.

What materials do I need to have prepared when I apply?

When you apply to teach Foundations, you need to have your resume and the date of your Foundations course. When you apply to present a Webinar, you should provide the title, abstract, and learning objectives of their proposed webinar. When you apply to teach a Core Course, you should provide the title, description, outline, and proposed audience of your proposed course. Visit Become an Instructor to learn more about the questions you will be asked for each proposal form.

Which opportunity should I apply for?

Teaching Foundations gives you the opportunity to teach a curriculum that already exists to new Ombuds. Foundations is offered in-person and virtually, and you have to have been an Ombuds for at least 3 years, still be an Ombuds practicing to IOA Standards, and an IOA member in order to be eligible.

You do not have to be an Ombuds in order to present a Webinar. Webinars can last from 75 minutes to 3 hours, which includes a 15-minute Q and A. Webinars give you the opportunity to present on a topic and try out some ideas in front of an IOA audience.

Core Courses allow you to delve deeper into a topic that matters to you or into one of the Core Courses IOA has offered in the past. You do not have to be an Ombuds to teach a Core Course, but we do ask that you have experience teaching the topic you propose. Core Courses are always virtual, and courses can be anywhere from 3 to 12 hours.

What happens after I apply?

After you submit your application to be a Foundations instructor, a Webinar presenter, or a Core Course instructor, someone from PDC will get back to you within 4 to 6 weeks. If your application is accepted, you will be scheduled to teach and/or present based on scheduling availability.

How is my application evaluated?

Once you apply, the Professional Development Committee meets to discuss all proposals and evaluates the application based on current offerings and stated needs. In the event that an application is not successful, PDC provides feedback and can connect you to other volunteer and instruction opportunities at IOA.

Will I get paid as a PDC instructor?

Foundations instructors are paid $500, and Core Course teams are paid $400 as a team, whether you teach alone or as a group. In the event that an instructor cannot accept payment, they are also eligible for credits that can be used for another IOA course. Webinar presenters are volunteering their time and expertise.

Who will my audience be?

For Foundations, your audience will be new and sometimes aspiring Ombuds who want to understand the basics of the