Human Resources

Engagement, retention and talent development

Human Resources is pleased to partner with CSSAC’s Professional Development Committee to introduce the STAR Program, a dynamic professional development program created to empower growth for employees in the professional, operational support and skilled trades career streams.

The inaugural cohort will begin on June 25, 2025, and the application period will be from May 23 to June 13. Those interested in joining the program are encouraged to discuss the opportunity with their manager prior to completing the application. The application is completed via DocuSign. For instructions on accessing it, please review the Quick Reference Guide.

The goals for participants of the program are to:
  • Expand workforce staff capabilities to accelerate career growth and advancement
  • Embark on a collaborative learning journey and gain knowledge, skills and competencies, all personalized to individual mastery levels
  • Encounter new people, opportunities and resources designed to position them for a successful future

Eligibility

  • Participants need to have been employed at Purdue for at least one year before applying to the program.
  • Available to the Support Staff and Professional level career streams. Management level employees are not eligible for this program but are encouraged to participate in the supervisor training.

How the program works

The program offers a Learning Environment where participants will engage in formal, social and on-the-job application of learning. Participants will have the opportunity to choose a learning path and achievement level that best suits their professional goals.

A Learning Community, or cohort, will be established on a rolling quarterly basis and be limited to 25 participants. Cohort participants will be supported on their learning journey with orientation, collaboration with cohort peers and quarterly check-ins.

The program is organized around Pillars, critical to addressing skill gaps and initiating learning as appropriate to meet employees’ individual career goals. Each pillar is composed of core areas of focus for professional development. Competencies, otherwise known as knowledge, skills and abilities, are identified for each core area and training will be available for different mastery levels.

Cohort Participation

Participants are expected to participate in their cohort for six months. There will be three scheduled sessions where participants will gather together:

  • Orientation: Participants will be expected to participate in a 90-minute orientation session held at the beginning of each quarter.
  • Check-ins: Participants will gather for three additional 30-minute check-in sessions via Teams, to be held every other month.

Certification mastery levels

Participants may pursue different levels of proficiency within a pillar and will be recognized for their level of achievement. Certifications advance from Basic Proficiency (Bronze), to Intermediate (Silver) and Gold (Advanced). Participants that achieve Gold in more than one pillar are Platinum Certified.

  • Participants can anticipate a commitment of 20 to 30 hours to complete each certification.
  • Participants will log into SuccessFactors Learning (LMS) to access program content, review progress and complete assessments and surveys.
  • In general, participants will spend less than two hours per week on the program.
  • Online content will be delivered in incremental modules.
  • Participants enter the program at either the Bronze or Silver Level.
  • An optional pre-assessment will allow participants to test out of the Bronze Level Certification.
  • Participants must complete the Silver Level Certification within the program before progressing to the Gold Level Certification.

Program Recognition

An annual recognition and award reception will honor the hard work and commitment of the 100 recent program graduates.

Program graduates will have the opportunity to meet with Human Resources Talent Acquisition for career consultation and tips for moving forward.

Coming Spring 2025!

Human Resources Organizational Effectiveness has partnered with CSSAC’s Professional Development Committee to create this program, designed to help employees pursue their unlimited potential. A pilot will take place in Spring 2025, with a full launch planned for Summer 2025. The project team will continue to monitor the program through completion, survey and assessment reports. Reach out to oecomm@purdue.edu to learn more.

Any questions about the program can be directed to oestar@purdue.edu.