Director's Message
by Ida Gropper, the Center for Professional Development and Training
While there are a few signs that the economy may be stabilizing, most of us have either directly been affected by the downturn or have family and friends that have been affected. Newspaper headlines depict months of foreclosures, bankruptcies, layoffs, furloughs and a host of other cost-saving initiatives taken by organizations around the globe.
At UNF, unfilled positions, limited resources and changing technology are requiring staff to be innovative in finding the best way to get the job done and to leverage resources by collaborating with other units. For this to succeed, staff must have continuous learning opportunities and be continuously adapting to new technology and change.
Despite the global economy, UNF employees continue to have opportunities to learn and grow through tuition waivers and professional development. CPDT can help by engaging you in continuous learning. Whether you register for an academic course or attend a training class, the fall is a great time to renew your commitment to developing and improving yourself for continued success. Now is the time to take advantage of the many new professional development offerings listed in the "What's New" section of this newsletter.
What's New
by Ida Gropper, the Center for Professional Development and Training
University Travel Training has been separated into two distinct classes: University Domestic Travel and University International Travel. University Domestic Travel is a prerequisite to the International Travel class; however, if you completed the original travel class (University Travel Training) you may register for International Travel.
University Domestic Travel
- This hands-on course is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to follow established processes and to make appropriate decisions and arrangements for domestic travel. The course will cover the most frequently experienced domestic travel situations and prepare the learner to accurately submit domestic travel documentation, including a Travel Authorization Request and a Voucher for Reimbursement of Travel Expenses.
University International Travel
- IMPORTANT! The University Domestic Travel Training class is a pre-requisite for this class and must be completed prior to attending this course. The goal of this hands-on course is to assist the learner in submitting accurately prepared international travel documentation. The course provides learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to make appropriate decisions and to follow established processes for international travel. The course will cover the most frequently experienced international travel situations and prepare the learner to accurately submit international travel documentation.
Creating and Managing Online Surveys now has two levels - Level 1 and Level 2.
Creating and Managing Online Surveys, Level 1
- This class introduces you to the basic operation of the University's online survey application, EFM Community. You will learn how to create, edit, format, publish, and share surveys. You will create several types of questions, including matrix and conditional branching questions. You will learn how to export survey data and display reports. This course is the prerequisite to Creating and Managing Online Surveys, Level 2.
Creating and Managing Online Surveys. Level 2
- IMPORTANT! Creating and Managing Online Surveys, Level 1 is a pre-requisite for Level 2 and must be completed prior to attending this class. This class covers the advanced functions of the University's online survey application, EFM Community. You will learn how to import a list of email addresses and set up an email campaign for a survey. This method provides more efficient communication to the survey participants. You will learn how to edit the end pages that your respondents will see and use free form word processor for advanced editing of survey questions. You will export your survey results into PowerPoint and other applications.
New Courses
Supervisory Path: Leadership at the Movies
- Film - and the energetic discussion it stimulates - provides powerful insights. During this workshop we will observe and discuss short scenes about leadership from great feature films. These "leadership moments of truth" illustrate what leaders do. Each scene encourages you to get into "the act", helping you to see yourself playing the lead role and gaining leadership insights in the process.
Communication Path: Public Speaking that Connects
This interactive workshop is appropriate for presenters, speakers, and trainers who wish to learn and/or review techniques for giving talks that establish rapport with the audience and effectively communicate information in an engaging, professional manner. Topics covered include:
- Self-Evaluation: four stages of speaker readiness
- Dealing with anxiety through preparation and stress management
- Knowing your audience: assessing needs, values, and restraints
- Image components: effective speaker behaviors
- Optimal use of audio-visuals - general tips for placement
- Verbal, Vocal, and Visual aspects of speaker presence
- Dealing with questions from an audience
Workplace Issues Path: Feedback, Assistance, Inclusion, and Respect (FAIR) in Action
- We will view four real life work interactions involving various dimensions of workplace diversity. We'll discuss what is going on above and beneath the surface with the people in each situation and explore effective, workable solutions. The scenarios focus on four powerful skills necessary for positive change: Feedback, Assistance, Inclusion, and Respect. It will improve your ability to relate to the people important to your success - co-workers, managers, students, and vendors.
Supervisory Path: Leading a Multi-Generational Team
- In our multi-generational workforce, each age group has different points of view, different expectations, and different demands. Leaders who cannot recognize these, and who fail to see the contributions of each generation, will lose their best employees and see their workplaces in turmoil. In this workshop we will learn how to "Gen-Flex" or move into another generation's comfort zone. We will learn about a model for resolving conflict and will apply it to a generational conflict situation.
SkillSoft e-Learning: Save Time While
Building Skills - Testing Out
by Jim Starr, the Center for Professional Development and Training
Did you know that you can test out of topics in your SkillSoft courses, and focus only on the subjects you don't know? To do this, the next time you start a new course, instead of going right into the first lesson, take a minute or two to click on the "Course Test" link at the top right of the course menu page. This will start a test that covers all of the learning objectives contained throughout the course. When you have completed the course test, the course menu page will show you which topics you scored high in, and which you will want to access the content for and review. Doing this before launching into the course lessons allows you to focus your time on only those areas of the course that are new information or unfamiliar to you, and can reduce the overall amount of time you spend in a single course.
Fall Book Club
by Ida Gropper, the Center for Professional Development and Training
It's all about body language; it's not what you say but how you say it. Dan Hill, a facial coding expert and author of "Emotionomics: Leveraging Emotions for Business Success," discusses breakthroughs in brain science that can help you understand emotions in terms of business opportunities and give you insights to measure the emotional responses of others. Dan Hill made national headlines during the 2008 Presidential Debate when he decoded the facial expressions of Barack Obama, John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Join us during the fall term as Book Club members read and discuss:
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Emotionomics: Leveraging Emotions for Business Success For more information about this book, click here. This session meets Friday, November 6 at noon in the Library Conference Room, Building 12, Room 2400. |
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The Book Club is open to all faculty and staff. Book Club members receive a free copy of the book and light refreshments are provided. This is an opportunity to learn and network with current and new colleagues.
To register for the Book Club call ext. 1707, or register online through the CPDT Web page. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and participation is limited.
Ask the Trainer - Customize the Vista Start Menu
by Emily Stalvey, the Center for Professional Development and Training
Upon first glance, the Vista Start Menu may seem like a frustratingly foreign object. However, with just a few modifications, you can customize the start menu so that your most frequently used programs, folders, and even internet links will always be displayed here.
A look at the Start Menu:
Click the Windows button in the lower left hand corner of your computer screen. This opens the windows Start Menu. Above the faint separator line are objects that are "pinned" to the start menu. Below this line are programs that Microsoft deems your most frequently used (although this is not always the case - see item 3.) The default Start Menu usually includes an internet browser (ie: Firefox or Internet Explorer) and Microsoft Outlook.
Add frequently used programs, documents, and websites to the Start Menu:
To "pin" an item to your start menu, meaning you will always see the item when you open this menu, first find the program, folder, or file you wish to add. You can do this by simply searching within your Computer, Documents, Control Panel or in All Programs at the bottom of the Start Menu. Once you've found the item you wish to add, right click the item and you should see an option to Pin to Start Menu. Select this option and the item will now permanently appear above the faint separator line in the Vista Start Menu. If, when you right click on the item, you do not see the option to Pin to Start Menu, you can simply drag and drop the item into the Start Menu instead.
Note: To add a frequently used website to the Start Menu, you must first add a shortcut to the website to your desktop, and then drag the shortcut into the Start Menu. You can then delete the shortcut from your desktop to reduce clutter.
Remove items from the Start Menu:
If there are items showing in your Start Menu that you never use, you can simply right-click the entry and click Remove from This List.
More Resources
To learn more about using Office 2007 and Windows Vista more efficiently, check out the Microsoft Office 2007 KnowledgeCenter online through SkillSoft. The Microsoft Office 2007 KnowledgeCenter includes free eBooks, courses, and practice labs through a user-friendly learning portal. This allows UNF faculty, staff, and students to have instant access to online learning resources for programs such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. For more tips and timesavers search for the eBook Windows Vista Timesaving Techniques for Dummies which includes over 60 timesavers for Vista, internet browsers, keyboard shortcuts, and much more.
To access the KnowledgeCenter, log into the myWings portal, and select the SkillSoft online learning link from the Quick Links channel on the home tab. Once you are in SkillSoft, click on the KnowledgeCenter link under "My Plan" or on the access bar at the top of the screen. If you have any questions, please contact the Center for Professional Development and Training at 620-1707 or training@unf.edu.
Meet the Trainer - Tanya Coomes
by Jim Starr, the Center for Professional Development and Training
How did you get involved in training at UNF?
I joined my firm, which has a long-standing relationship with UNF, in January 2009. As an alumnus of UNF, it was a natural fit for me to participate in facilitating some of the courses.
What sessions do you teach? I teach courses in both the supervisory and communications tracks: Effectively Communicating with Diverse Populations, Goal Setting, Limited Resources - Great Results, and a course based on Jim Collins' book Good to Great and the Social Sector.
What are some of your hobbies? I enjoy my relationships with family and friends so I find myself gravitating to activities that can be done with others - hiking, travel, wine tasting, etc. I have a daughter who will turn 3-years old in a few weeks. I spend most of my free time with her. We play "princess" a lot.
What do you like most about serving as a trainer at UNF? I've personally experienced the value UNF can add to a student's life and career; I am excited that I can give back and help staff develop their skills so that they can continue to become better at serving the students. Many of the classes I teach challenge participants' way of thinking, I enjoy how open the class participants are to the new ideas. But what excites me most is when a participant can take something we've discussed in class and immediately apply it to their work or personal life. That's why I do what I do - I love to help people develop and grow.
Ask ITS
by Alison Cruess, Information Technology Services
As a new faculty or staff member at UNF, what are the most important things to know about campus technology?
The most important thing to know about using campus technology is how to get assistance when you need it. Faculty and staff may call upon the ITS Help Desk or their College or Divisional Technician. The ITS Help Desk is open seven days a week and serves the entire campus community. You can contact the Help Desk by telephone (620-HELP or 4357) or email (helpdesk@unf.edu) or you can visit them in person in the Mathews Computer Science Building, Room 15/2106. They can provide assistance with classroom technology, campus applications, university-owned computer hardware & peripherals, and much more.
Each college and division has at least one technician assigned to address individual technical needs. These highly skilled professionals are called C-Techs for College Technicians or D-Techs for Divisional Technicians. Visit www.unf.edu/dept/its/contactinfo/c-techs.html to view a list of areas and the assigned C/D Tech. You may also submit an online request at help.unf.edu. Once the request is submitted it will be routed to the appropriate person.
The second most important thing for a new employee to know about campus technology is how to manage their computing account. Faculty and staff use their UNF ID (or "n-number" as it is often called) to log into most of the computing resources on the campus. To change your password, go to mywings.unf.edu and click on the "Login Help" link underneath the login/password box. You'll be asked to enter some information. When you see your n-number and name click "Next" to go to ITS Self Service. Login with your UNF ID and password (if you do not know it, you can type in your SSN and date of birth as specified in the "Tip"). Once logged in, you can change your password by clicking on the "Change Password" link. You will need to type a 15-character or longer password. Try using a nonsensical sentence or phrase to help you remember it, such as "mydoghasfourtails". If you have not selected a friendly email alias, click on "Create Alias". You will be presented with several choices based on your demographic information. Simply select the friendly email alias of your choice.
The third most important thing to know about campus technology is saving your files to a network drive. Most every faculty and staff member has access to at least three network drives. The three drives are named to help you remember their purpose. They are the I:, O:, and N: drives. You may have access to additional network drives, depending on which department you work for. The I: Drive is for an Individual's files. In other words, you are the only one who has been given access to your I: drive. The O: Drive is for Office files. When you save a file to the O: Drive, only the people in your office or department may view those files. The N: Drive is the Network-wide Drive. Think of it as UNF's public drive. Only UNF employees may access the files stored on the N: Drive. UNF's network drives are backed up nightly. If your UNF hard drive fails, it is unlikely the files you have saved there can be recovered. If you save your files to one of UNF's network drives, they can be restored in the event of hardware failure, file corruption, or human error.
Faculty and staff who know how to acquire technical assistance, manage their computing account, and save files on UNF's network will find it much easier to use the tools of technology to meet their needs.
