New program offers training and professional development to support staff
Participants in the Clerical and Administrative Assistants Mentoring Program's first professional development workshop discussed keeping a calm office, working proactively rather than reactively and the qualities a successful administrative assistant should possess. (Purdue University photo/Andrew Hancock)
The new Clerical and Administrative Assistants Mentoring Program is providing Purdue support staff with access to resources, tools and techniques, and training opportunities in advanced communication, emerging technologies, event planning, customer service, internal resources and conflict management.
"This program was built by administrative assistants in our colleges and schools," says Adedayo Adeniyi, assistant director for Human Resources training and development. "They know exactly what the needs are."
Development and planning for CAAMP began more than a year ago. The program hosted its first professional development workshop July 27. Participants of the first workshop discussed keeping a calm office, working proactively rather than reactively and the qualities a successful administrative assistant should possess.
Shanna Brinegar, an administrative assistant in the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, found the inaugural CAAMP workshop inspirational. "The panelists are an enthusiastic group of ladies who are very clearly passionate about our line of work," she says. "I am new to the University, and they have made me feel even more grateful for this opportunity, not only to work for Purdue, but to be considered their colleague."
Panel discussions, informal mentoring by experienced participants, hands-on technology training, and sessions on professionalism, workplace civility and diversity will be offered during CAAMP workshops.
CAAMP is working to create a website with information about the program, a list of upcoming events and helpful resources and links for secretaries and administrative assistants.
Teresa Cadwallader, secretary for the NSF Engineering Research Center for Structured Organic Particulate Systems, says, "The knowledge represented through CAAMP is phenomenal and the website will be a great additional resource to have available. It will certainly help with efficiency on the job."
Participants will be contacted via email and prompted to register online to attend workshops and events. CAAMP is designed for clerical secretary level V and administrative assistants, but other staff members are welcome.
All workshops will be on the West Lafayette campus and scheduled throughout the academic year and during summer months.
"The idea of bringing subject matter experts together to take charge of their career development is not a new concept," Adeniyi says. "The CAAMP network is, however, Human Resources' first effort to coordinate communities of practices within the University. We are looking forward to building more of these communities across campus."
For more information on workshops, call 49-46847 or e-mail hrtd@purdue.edu.
