Seminars provided annually both onsite and online
It is the policy of the University that all employees – full-time/part-time faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and student workers – participate, on an annual basis (based on the academic year), in specified educational training seminars. Vice Presidents, Deans, Department Chairs, and supervisors will be responsible for coordinating the participation of their respective staffs. The deadline to complete the training seminars for faculty and staff is the end of the academic year, May 12, 2023, however, the deadline for graduate assistants and student workers is April 28, 2023. Information about the seminars is provided below.
Newly hired employees at UCA are asked to complete their courses within 90 days of their starting date. Supervisors will oversee their completion.
Specific questions may be directed to the Office of University Training at 450-3135, Charlotte Strickland, Director of Professional Development and Training, training@uca.edu.
2022-23 Required Seminars
- Workplace Harassment Prevention/Discrimination (onsite)
- Sexual Harassment: Staff to Staff (Refresher) is the online equivalent
- Title IX (onsite)
- Title IX: Roles of Employees is the online equivalent
- Diversity (onsite)
- Implicit Bias and Microaggression Awareness is the online equivalent
- Child Abuse: Mandatory Reporting (Primer) (online only)
- FERPA (online only)
- Password Security Basics (online only)
Education Seminar Online Opportunities
Online Education Seminars
Employees will receive an e-mail from UCA’s online seminar training vendor Vector Solutions. Employees access the online training courses through the myUCA portal using their individual email. Notification emails are sent regularly reminding employees to complete the trainings. Once the required training courses are complete and recorded by the Office of University Training, you will no longer receive reminder emails.
You have the option of completing Workplace Harassment Prevention/Discrimination, Diversity, and Title IX on-site OR online. Child Abuse: Mandatory Reporting (Primer), FERPA, and Password Security Basics must be completed online.
Records of on-site and online participation are kept in the Offices of Human Resources and University Training. Vice Presidents, Council of Deans, and supervisors have access to completion reports via Vector Solutions. Contact the Office of University Training for access instructions.
Additional ‘Optional’ Online Offerings
Numerous additional online educational courses are available for employees. The courses are included in the employee’s Vector Solutions’ homepage. It is up to each Department Head/Supervisor as to whether any further courses are required. These online optional courses (NOT required by the University) are for any employee to participate in and can be accessed multiple times.
Education Seminar On-site Opportunities
The registration system for on-site training seminars will go live on August 1, 2022 and can be accessed through this link: https://uca.edu/training/educational-seminars/training-list/
Employees will use the system to register for the various on-site educational seminars offered throughout the year.
On-site Seminar Notes
- X-period is 1:40 – 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Seminar rooms are sometimes chilly; bring a sweater or jacket if you would like.
- If a seminar includes a meal or refreshments, it will be noted.
Workplace Harassment Prevention/Discrimination (includes discussion of Sexual Harassment)
Feedback from past seminar participants:
- “I really liked the provided resource list and the open dialogue of the seminar.”
- “Great to provide scripts for difficult encounters.”
- “I learned about the new procedures regarding reporting.”
- “I feel empowered to report situations that happen to me or someone else without fear of retaliation. I also have resources I can share with the students that may come into my GA hours.”
- “I like the encouragement to be proactive in handling and preventing situations.”
- “I plan on always being mindful and not minimize the impact.”
- “I plan to always keep these practices in mind, in all of my undertakings in this position, to foster the best workplace environment possible and be a collegiate co-worker.”
- “Not everyone has the same boundaries and some boundaries change due to time and culture.”
- “I learned how to redirect comments and conversations.”
You have the option of completing this training online or on-site. The online course equivalent is entitled Sexual Harassment: Staff to Staff (Refresher).
September 9 (Friday)
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Student Center #215
September 20 (Tuesday)
3:00 – 4:00 PM
ZOOM
October 12 (Wednesday)
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Student Center #214
November 10 (Thursday)
9:00 – 10:00 AM
ZOOM
January 11 (Wednesday)
9:00 – 10:00 AM
ZOOM
February 7 (Tuesday)
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Student Center #214
March 3 (Friday)
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Student Center #214
April 6 (Thursday)
2:00 – 3:00 PM
ZOOM
Diversity
Through the years the Office of University Training has brought to campus various diversity topics for discussion (military, spirituality, civility, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc.).
Feedback from past seminar participants:
- “This is a hot topic and a BIG one. To come here and have these topics presented in a clear, precise and well-researched way was so beneficial. It makes it easier to disseminate as well.”
- “Opening the opportunity to grapple with this difficult reality we are facing right now and come to the resolution that we’re all on the same team in the end.”
- “It does not matter if we agree or not. The important thing is being able to have difficult conversations.”
- “Complex issues have a full spectrum of possible answers and perspectives.”
- “I hope to be braver in addressing situations that arise in our office, recognizing that many faculty and students feel they can’t speak up. I can provide a brave space to learn how to have these conversations.”
- “Be patient with students of differing opinions; model how to interact with those that differ.”
- “I love hearing various perspectives.”
- “I plan to improve syllabi statements regarding class discussions.”
- “This seminar challenged my colleagues and myself to think about HOW we teach our students (and ourselves) to actively and positively contribute to dialogue.”
This year the diversity on-site course is entitled Depolarizing the Conversation: Engaging in Challenging Dialogues. We will discuss this challenging aspect of diversity and provide steps towards effective communication.
You have the option of completing this training online or on-site. The online course equivalent is entitled Implicit Bias and Microaggression Awareness.
September 14 (Wednesday)
2:00 – 3:30 PM
Student Center #215
October 6 (Thursday) (canceled)
9:00 – 10:30 AM
Student Center #215
October 25 (Tuesday)
1:00 – 2:30 PM
ZOOM
November 11 (Friday)
9:00 – 10:30 AM
ZOOM
January 11 (Wednesday)
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
ZOOM
February 21 (Tuesday)
2:30 – 4:00 PM
Student Center #215
March 10 (Friday)
10:00 – 11:30 AM
Student Center #214
April 13 (Thursday)
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
ZOOM
Title IX
Includes discussion on Title IX law, UCA policy, and mandatory reporters. The UCA Title IX Coordinator presents this seminar.
You have the option of completing this training online or on-site. The online course equivalent is entitled Title IX: Roles of Employees.
August 26 (Friday)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Student Center #215
Spring 2023
Time and Place to be Determined
Professional Development
Voluntary educational seminars open to all employees
New Employee Orientation
New Staff Orientation (For non-faculty hired as of May 2022)
September 16 (Friday)
8:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Student Center #214/215
(Brunch provided)
April 14 (Friday)
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Student Center #214/215
(Breakfast provided)
New Faculty Orientation
The focus of this two-day program will be teaching essentials and resources to support instruction. Topics will include an overview of UCA students, instructor-student rapport and classroom climate, syllabus design, and surviving the first year as a new faculty member.
August 17-18 2022 (Wednesday and Thursday) 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center
Contact Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership at 450-5240 to register or for questions
LGBT Seminars
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual)
September 15 (Thursday)
LGBT Introduction Session: Terms, Panel, Helpful Information & Overview
2:30 – 3:30 PM
ZOOM
November 4 (Friday)
Safe Zone Session: What Does it Mean to be a Safe Zone?
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Student Center #214
Please bring your lunch with you and we will provide a beverage and a treat.
February 7 (Tuesday)
LGBT Part II: Further Exploration Session
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Student Center #214
March 15 (Wednesday)
Safe Zone Session: What Does it Mean to be a Safe Zone?
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Student Center #214
Please bring your lunch with you and we will provide a beverage and a treat.
Depolarizing Within Workshop
Sponsored by: Division of Student Affairs and University Training
The Depolarizing Within Workshop is designed to foster skills to help you lessen the effects of polarization when you encounter them in your political conversations.
Note that by “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are talking about how we regard and talk about large groups of ordinary people on the other side of the political aisle. Depolarizing Within is ideal for educational institutions who want to reduce or avoid the divisiveness of political polarization.
Goals
To teach participants:
*How to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer”
*How to be critical without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population
*Strategies for intervening constructively in social conversations with like-minded peers when these conversations veer into contempt and ridicule for people who hold other political views.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
9:00 am-Noon
SC 214
Refreshments provided
https://braverangels.org/what-we-do/#workshopsBraver Angels Program
Leadership Series
Education sessions to equip ANY employees who have a desire and opportunity to lead others well!
September 21 (Wednesday)
Onboarding Employees
Facilitator: Britni Rush, Human Resources
2:00 – 3:30 PM
Student Center #214
October 18 (Tuesday)
Compliance
Facilitator: Britni Rush, Human Resources
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Student Center #215
November 16 (Wednesday)
Professional Confrontation: The Difficult Conversations
Facilitator: Charlotte Strickland, University Training and Development
2:00 – 3:30 PM
ZOOM
February 3 (Friday)
Coaching
Facilitator: Dr. Patty Kohler-Evans, Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education
2:00 – 3:30 PM
Student Center #214
March 2 (Thursday)
Emotional Intelligence
Facilitator: Charlotte Strickland, University Training and Development
2:00 – 3:30 PM
Student Center #215
Professional Administrative Support Staff Reception
April 20 (Thursday)
1:40 – 2:30 PM
Student Center #223/224
(Refreshments served)
This program provides food, door prizes, and socialization for UCA employees who serve as professional administrative staff. A short inspirational presentation is provided to remind individuals of the impact they have on this campus.
Service Excellence
UCA C.A.R.E.S. – (Communication, Attitude, Respect, Enthusiasm & Smile!)
For all employees including student workers, graduate assistants, & front line office workers!
September 8 (Thursday)
1:40 – 2:30 PM (X-Period)
Student Center #213
January 24 (Tuesday)
1:40 – 2:30 PM (X-Period)
Student Center #213
Bear in Mind Luncheons
Lunch provided at on-site sessions
12:00 – 1:15 PM
October 5 (Wednesday)
Unpacking DBIE at UCA
Presenter: Dr. Angela Webster, Institutional Diversity
Student Center #215
October 27 (Thursday)
Critical Thinking
Presenter: Dr. Jesse Butler, Philosophy and Religion
Student Center #215
November 17 (Thursday)
Veterans, the Military
Presenter: Greg Pelts, Veteran Support Center
Student Center #214
January 19 (Thursday)
Bear Essentials Pantry and Food Insecurity
Presenter: Wendy Holbrook, Student Affairs
Student Center #214
January 26 (Thursday)
Unpacking DBIE at UCA
Presenter: Dr. Angela Webster, Institutional Diversity
Student Center #215
February 15 (Wednesday)
Post-Covid Gen Z: What are we Dealing With?
Presenter: Charlotte Strickland, University Training and Development
ZOOM
February 28 (Tuesday)
The Respectful Workplace
Presenter: Britni Rush, Human Resources
Student Center #215
March 7 (Tuesday)
Professional Presentations: Do’s or Don’ts
Presenters: Charlotte Strickland, University Training and Development
Student Center #215
Book Group for Faculty/Staff employees
Relationship-Rich Education by Peter Felten & Leo. M. Lambert
October 13, October 25, November 1, November 15
Times: 3:00- 4:00 p.m.
Choose one participation option:
Online session: Link sent prior to first meeting to registered employees
Facilitator: Charlotte Strickland – University Training
Onsite session: Torreyson West #319
Facilitator: Vicki Parish- Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership
Event registration: https://uca.edu/cetal/event-registration/
Free book provided to first 30 registered and participating employees.
Book Overview:
What single factor makes for an excellent college education? As it turns out, it’s pretty simple: human relationships. Decades of research demonstrate the transformative potential and the lasting legacies of a relationship-rich college experience. Critics suggest that to build connections with peers, faculty, staff, and other mentors is expensive and only an option at elite institutions where instructors have the luxury of time with students. But in this revelatory book brimming with the voices of students, faculty, and staff from across the country, Peter Felten and Leo M. Lambert argue that relationship-rich environments can and should exist for all students at all types of institutions. They also stress that relationship-rich education is particularly important for first-generation college students, who bring significant capacities to college but often face long-standing inequities and barriers to attaining their educational aspirations. Drawing on nearly 400 interviews with students, faculty, and staff at 29 higher education institutions across the country, Relationship-Rich Education provides readers with practical advice on how they can develop and sustain powerful relationship-based learning in their own contexts.
Ultimately, the book is an invitation―and a challenge―for faculty, administrators, and student life staff to move relationships from the periphery to the center of undergraduate education.
Braver Angels Program
This workshop will help you better understand the root causes and the harmful impacts of societal polarization, and will provide you with specific communication skills to help you work through difficult conversations with family, co-workers, friends and even strangers. Using guided practice, you will learn safe and effective ways to communicate across the divide, in a constructive, empathetic way. No advance preparation is needed, just a willingness to maintain a respectful environment, to listen to understand others, and if you wish, to share your perspectives appropriately, following the structure and guidelines that will be explained and practiced during the class.
Friday October 7th, 2022
Session 1 – 9:00 -10:30 a.m.
Session 2 – 1:00- 2:30 p.m.
(Both sessions are the same)
Student Center 223/224