The PDC Community of Practice (CoP) is a collaborative space for professionals involved in managing and supporting PDC programs. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge, discussing challenges, and improving best practices within the PDC portfolio of programs and beyond. Our CoP fosters engagement through regular meetings, a Microsoft Teams channel, and a collection of shared resources (via this KB).

What is a Community of Practice?

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.

These three measures make up a successful Community of Practice:

1. Community members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information.
2. There is a shared domain of interest, a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic.
3. There is a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems.

The PDC Community of Practice fulfills these measures in the following ways:

• We hold meetings to engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information.
• Our connection with PDC programs and graduate advisors is how we are all involved in a shared domain of interest.
• This KB is used to house helpful resources.

How Our PDC CoP Works

Our community of Practice is built around three core components:

1. CoP Sessions

Our live CoP sessions, typically held virtually on the 2nd Thursday of each month, provide a platform for participants to engage in discussions, share experiences, and learn from each other. Sessions cover a wide range of subjects, including presentations and interactive discussions on topic such as:

• Academic programming & maintenance — setting up scholarships, preparing for conferences, creating a student ambassador program, and hosting graduation celebrations
• Campus resources for students — mental health and wellness services, career and professional development, and leveraging campus resources
• Campus resources for staff — professional development, career counseling, and stress management
• Special projects & services — marketing and recruitment strategies, annual portfolio debrief, capstone services, and IT services 

2. PDC Knowledge Base

A knowledge base (KB) providing an overview of PDC-related services for professionals managing and supporting Service-Based Pricing Programs & Policies, DCS-related services (project management, marketing, recruitment, capstones) and projects, and links to help campus resources.

3. Microsoft Teams Channel

A dedicated chat space for real-time discussions, sharing updates, and answering questions related to PDC programming. This channel fosters ongoing engagement and collaboration among CoP members. Contact the PDC Program Project Manager to join. 

Session Recordings & Materials

Explore past recordings, slides, notes, and other session resources.

Join the PDC Community of Practice

The PDC CoP is open to all professionals involved in managing and supporting graduate programs, with a focus on PDC programs. Whether you are looking for guidance, seeking peer support, or wanting to contribute your expertise, this community is here to support you.

Contact the PDC Program Project Manager to join.