September 1, 2009
University-wide initiative focuses on staff training, career development
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A University-wide initiative is under way to address employee training and career development charges launched by Purdue's strategic plan.
Human Resource Services is leading the project. To get started, John Beelke, Human Resource Services director, and Adedayo Adeniyi, assistant director for HR training and employee relations, pulled together a 31-member steering committee composed of representatives from all four Purdue campuses. The committee met for the first time in December 2008.
"The quality of life tiger team suggested that training and career development become part of the fabric of the University, and this required a level of system-wide coordination and collaboration that had not previously existed," Adeniyi says. "In the past, our training areas operated independently. I couldn't have told you about everything that was happening across the University relative to training, career development or performance management systems. Now, through this initiative, we are working collectively to formulate a plan and a strategy."
The initiative is broken down into five areas: leadership development, supervisory training, staff development, performance management, and marketing and communications. Members of the steering committee as well as other Purdue employees are serving on subcommittees devoted to each topic.
"The quality of life tiger team's white paper laid the foundation for our current approach," Adeniyi says.
Most of the subcommittees are currently involved in data collection and analysis. For example, the supervisory training subcommittee is cataloging supervision training at each of the campuses and developing recommendations for sharing training materials systemwide.
"By cataloging the existing training, we can help to ensure that we are making the best use of our resources across all campuses," says Colleen Robison, chair of the supervisory training subcommittee and associate director for staff training at Purdue University Calumet.
In the performance management subcommittee, members are creating a survey to use internally and with peer institutions to catalog performance management tools. One of the goals is to provide information on best practices that could be used in a variety of settings.
"At Purdue, you have areas that have five people and others with upwards of 1,000," says Jackie Wilson, co-chair of the performance management subcommittee and director of ITaP human resources. "By studying what is available, we can develop best in class models tailored to the size and culture of an area."
One initiative involving input from all five subcommittees is to create a Web portal to provide access to training and career development information. The site would provide access across campuses to University-wide training as well as department-specific offerings.
Adeniyi says the steering committee and subcommittees' aim is to launch new training and development resources in 2010.
"For Purdue to achieve its ultimate objectives, the individual employee must be in the position to maximize his or her personal best," he says. "An investment in the individual is an investment in Purdue."
Steering committee
* Steve Abel, Pharmacy Practice.
* Adedayo Adeniyi, HRS.
* Tom Bachmann, Advancement.
* Bob Beck, Physical Facilities HR.
* John Beelke, HRS.
* George Bergstrom, Libraries.
* Connie Bilyeu, ITaP.
* Jason Boley, Univ. Development.
* Gary Carter, Operations and Maintenance and CSSAC.
* Rose Costello, Fort Wayne HR.
* Susan M. Davis, HRS.
* Cherry Delaney, ITaP and APSAC.
* Marsha Freeland, Engineering Administration and APSAC.
* Maggie Grogan, Engineering Administration and CSSAC.
* Dave Jones, HFS HR.
* Kristina Kalman, HRS.
* Sally Luzader, Krannert School of Management and APSAC.
* Matt Marks, Operations and Maintenance and CSSAC.
* Sue Miller, North Central HR.
* Kim Muldoon, Engineering Administration and CSSAC.
* Pam Nesbitt, Physical Facilities HR.
* Laura Odom, North Central HR.
* Judy Potts, HRS.
* Rebecca Richardson, Libraries.
* Colleen Robison, Calumet HR.
* Rebecca Ross-Field, HFS HR.
* Susan Slaybaugh, Business Services Computing.
* Beverly Davenport Sypher, Office of the Provost.
* Shasta White, HRS.
* Sharon Williams, HRS.
* Jackie Wilson, ITaP HR.
Subcommittee members and goals
* Leadership development
Members: Shasta White, chair, HRS; Bob Beck, Physical Facilities HR; Jason Boley, University Development; Marsha Freeland, Engineering Administration and APSAC; Dave Jones, Housing and Food Services HR; Susan Slaybaugh, Business Services Computing.
Goals: Conduct leadership survey to determine competencies that Purdue leadership value; catalog existing manager/leadership training programs; explore the creation of a leadership speakers series; develop resources for leadership and aspiring leadership based on survey results.
* Supervisory training
Members: Colleen Robison, chair, Calumet HR; Diana Prieto, Office of Institutional Equity; Kristina Kalman, HRS; Laura Odom; North Central HR; Lisa Bittles, Physical Facilities Training; Rebecca Richardson, Libraries; Rebecca Ross-Field; Housing and Food Services HR; Rose Costello, IPFW HR.
Goals: Catalog supervisory training offered across the University and recommend method(s) for sharing associated training materials with all areas; survey and collect data from University sources and peer institutions to identify and establish core supervisory competencies for every supervisor across the University; recommend core competencies for those with administrative supervision authority and those with functional supervision authority; recommend training module topic/content to be developed for core competency areas.
* Staff development
Members: Susan M. Davis, co-chair, HRS; Maggie Grogan, co-chair, Engineering Administration and CSSAC; Pamela Nesbitt, co-chair, Physical Facilities HR; George Bergstrom, Libraries; Connie Bilyeu, ITaP; Sally Luzader, Krannert School of Management and APSAC; Kim Muldoon, Engineering Administration and CSSAC; Judy Potts, HRS.
Goals: Define and promote career development; provide interactive group career development activities such as panel discussions and workshops; create a career development toolkit for employees and supervisors; develop resources for on-boarding and orientation activities.
* Performance management
Members: Jackie Wilson, co-chair, ITaP HR; Amy Boyle, co-chair: Housing and Food Services HR; Adedayo Adeniyi, co-chair, HRS; Kathy VanPaemel, Physical Facilities HR; Laura Odom, North Central HR; Gary Carter, Operations and Maintenance and CSSAC; Matthew Marks, Operations and Maintenance and CSSAC.
Goals: Benchmark performance management tools and appraisal systems with peers and University-wide; establish University-wide performance management guidelines; establish University-wide network for those responsible for overseeing performance review systems; establish University-wide performance review certification/audit process; market performance management services.
* Marketing and communications
Members: Adedayo Adeniyi, chair, HRS; Nancy Rodibaugh, HRS; Janis Thornton, Business Services; George Bergstrom, Libraries; Connie Bilyeu, ITaP; Tom Bachmann, Advancement; Joe Conte, ITaP; Julie Rosa, Marketing and Media; Kim Delker, Marketing and Media; Cherry Delaney, ITaP and APSAC; Martin Sickafoose, Marketing and Media.
Goals: Establish a Web page to connect employees to training and career development information; feed existing avenues of communications timely and relevant career development information to be published and distributed through established channels.