Professional Development > Overview

Professional Development (PD) is a fundamental component of the professional life of statisticians, and it increases the value of their contributions to society. PD is the process of improving and broadening the knowledge, skill, and personal qualities needed to be successful in the practice of Statistics. To meet your Professional Development needs, ASA offers Continuing Education and Personal Skills Development courses and workshops at JSM.

Continuing Education

In methodology and practice, by keeping abreast of new techniques and theory, staying connected with best practice, growing in areas not previously studied (or refreshing forgotten material), and gathering ideas and direction for future research.

In technology, by learning about new computational techniques and software tools, and by staying on top of trends in technology and new sources of data that are creating major new opportunities for statisticians.

Personal Skills Development

Effective communication, collaboration, leadership, and influence are vital to the impact of individual contributions and the visibility of our profession. Career planning can add valuable insights on how to improve, change or advance in our careers.

Communication: Speaking, Presentation, Consulting, Listening and Writing and other Communication Skills

Collaboration: also including Team Building, Teamwork, Understanding Personality Types

Career Planning: Finding a challenging & rewarding position, Goal setting, Career advancement, Negotiation, Strategic planning

Leadership: Influence, Conflict Resolution, Creative Problem Solving, and other Leadership Skills

Monitors

Help ASA's Center for Statistical Education and Attend a Professional Development Offering for FREE!

The Professional Development Program seeks monitors for its educational presentations. Monitors will be allowed to audit one course of equal length for every course he/she monitors.

Monitors are expected to:

Process registrants - check them into the course, hand out required materials and respond to inquiries
Be available for the entire presentation
Pick up materials, etc. for presentation
Distribute and collect evaluations

If you are interested in participating, provide your name, current and summer mailing addresses, email and phone number to Rick Peterson, Continuing Education Programs Associate. Send your information by email to rick@amstat.org. Monitor positions are limited and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Monitors will be sent notification of acceptance. They will also be asked to select the presentation to audit and which day they would like to monitor a course. (*Note: the course being monitored must be a different course from the one being audited).

Registration

Registration will depend on seat availability and be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Registering early is the best option to ensure a place for any CE offering. To participate in CE Courses, Computer Technology Workshops, and Personal Skills Development offerings attendees must register for the Joint Statistical Meetings.

Course Participation Certificates

The ASA provides course participation certificates upon request. In order to receive a certificate, attendees must complete a request form that is provided by the monitor at the completion of the course. The certificate will be mailed within thirty days of the close of JSM. Be sure to indicate the title and number of each course for each certificate. Attendees must attend the entire course to qualify for a certificate.