HR Update; February 17, 2012
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In this Edition
- Ombuds Works as a Neutral Party to Keep the Peace Across UCSF
- Sumtotal Learning Management System Upgrade
- Save the Date—Great Manager Lunch and Learn (Free)
- UCSF’s Great Managers: Kevin Souza
- Upcoming Development Classes
- Free UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs for Faculty & Staff
- Share Your Bright Ideas
Ombuds Works as a Neutral Party to Keep the Peace Across UCSF
A new office — the Office of the Ombuds — has been created at UCSF, appointing Randy Daron, PsyD, as the first UCSF Ombuds. Daron brings with him a background in problem-solving services, including mediation, problem resolution, effective communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict management.
“The addition of an Ombuds Office has expanded the alternative dispute resolution options available to all members of UCSF,” Daron explains. “It’s an office where people can bring their concerns and issues forward for strictly confidential assistance, without fear of retribution.”
UCSF’s former Work~Life Resource Center (WLRC) operated as a quasi-ombuds office and addressed one aspect of the campus mission, promoting a supportive work environment, which has been a work in progress at UCSF for many years. Today, it is part of a larger goal to become the workplace of choice, which is outlined in UCSF’s three-year plan outlined by Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH.
For more information regarding the Office of the Ombuds, click here.
Sumtotal Learning Management System Upgrade
The Sumtotal Learning Management System will receive a service pack upgrade (from SP3 to SP7) later this month. During the upgrade, the LMS will be available in a limited capacity to learners, instructors, managers, and administrators. This process begins on Monday, February 20. Users will continue to login to the UC Learning Center. The period of limited capacity should last eight days (referred to as gray period) and conclude with full capabilities on the upgraded LMS. Restrictions put in place during the upgrade will have impact in several different ways.
Data Uploads/Transfers
During the gray period, data uploads and/or transfers will not take place. This will impact:
At the end of the gray period, training data that was captured during the week will be uploaded to the new updated LMS SP7. However Bookmarks, which track training progress, will not be captured during the gray period.
Save the Date—Great Manager Lunch and Learn (Free)
The first in a series of best practices lunch and learns for Great Managers will be held on March 8, 2012, from 12pm–1pm in N-217. The topic will be action planning to improve engagement, and the purpose is to provide a forum for managers to share experiences. Kevin Souza will be sharing the process he and his School of Medicine Medical Education team used to maximize involvement, buy in, and engagement. Bring your questions, ideas, and lunch!
UCSF’s Great Managers: Kevin Souza
This week, UCSF ran the second in a series of profiles on “Great Managers,” featuring individuals who rated in the top 10 percent of all managers in UCSF’s Staff Engagement Survey. Tuesday’s story profiles Kevin Souza, assistant dean of Medical Education in the UCSF School of Medicine and an alumnus of UCSF’s Leadership Development Program.
The story follows Souza’s career in science and people management and outlines an effective process that Medical Education used to translate their engagement survey results into an action plan for team engagement. To read the story, and to find resources to support managers in enacting engagement plans with their teams, click here.
Upcoming Development Classes
Supervision
Coaching for Improved Performance
When: Tuesday, March 7, 12:30pm–4:30pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55
In this 2nd course in the Performance Management series, you will learn to recognize and assess performance issues, and you will practice coaching communication skills to support employee performance improvement and development.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “coaching” in the search box to register.
Supervising According to Union Contracts and PPSM
When: Thursday, March 8, 1pm–5pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55
Labor unions play an active role at UCSF. New managers and those who are new to UCSF are often uncertain about what it entails to manage in a union represented workplace and what is required of them. In facilitated discussions, this course equips supervisors with understandings and skills needed to exercise their management rights, to administer union contracts, and to address issues legally and effectively. The principles learned relative to administering union contracts are applicable to the PPSM when managing non-represented employees.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “supervising according” in the search box to register.
Setting Performance Expectations
When: Wednesday, March 27, 8:30am–12pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55
In this course, participants learn how to work individually or collaboratively with staff to indentify meaningful performance expectations and to communicate them.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “setting performance expectations” in the search box to register.
Delegating for Success and Accountability
When: Tuesday, April 3, 12:30pm–4:30pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55
In this final course in the Performance Management series, participants practice a structured approach to delegation and the communication skills needed to transfer work and to build project commitment.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “delegating” in the search box to register.
Managing Conflict in the Workplace
When: Wednesday, Mar 28, 1pm–5pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55
Conflict is a natural occurrence in the workplace as people have different views and advocate for different positions. It can range from differences of opinion, to patterns to interaction between two people, or heated disagreements. When managed effectively, conflict can be a used as a way to spur innovation and productive change. When not managed effectively, conflict can undermine work relationships and the ability of an organization to meet its goals. This session offers strategies for:
- Assessing one’s conflict-handling style
- Assessing conflict situations
- Utilizing conflict-handling modes in various situations
General Skills
PAM of EMF: Compliance
When: Monday, February 27, 9am–12pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $55 per session
Learn the key compliance issues and audit risks when managing sponsored projects, including associated internal controls. Understand issues surrounding OMB circulars, allowable/unallowable costs, cost transfers, cost sharing, and effort reporting.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “compliance” in the search box to register.
Write Right! Baseline Business Writing Skills
When: Tuesday, March 20, 8:30am–4:30pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $160 per session
Learn to construct clear complete sentences, eliminate grammar errors, use punctuation marks correctly. Improve your performance (and your confidence) as you enhance the image of your department.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “write right” in the search box to register.
Get to the Point! Effective Business Writing
When: Tuesday, March 6, or Thursday, March 20, 8:30am–4:30pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $160 per session
When you write, make sure you get your point across quickly, clearly, concisely and powerfully. Eliminate wordy and unclear language which frustrates readers who have neither the time nor patience to decode an unclear message. Learn practical tips and tools that can be used on the job immediately to make written communications - no matter what they are - more effective.
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “get to the point” in the search box to register.
Project Management
Project Management Series
This series augments the Project Management Basics class by providing more detail for those who manage more complex projects.
Session #3: Scheduling and Tracking a Project
When: Friday, March 2, 12pm–5pm
Where: Laurel Heights Regents Room S-1
Cost: $160 per session
Learn how to convert your project plan and estimates into a project schedule, as well as, track and communicate project status. Topics include:
- How to create a project schedule
- Perform what if analysis to optimize the project schedule
- Understand the role of project management software in managing the schedule
- How to conduct effective project progress reviews
- How to track the health of the project using “Vital signs”
- How to continuously monitor and update risks to the project
Log on to the UC Learning Center and type “Scheduling” in the search box to register.
Free UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs for Faculty & Staff
Are you ready for retirement? Start to plan now - it’s never too early. Check the Retirement Readiness Workshop Schedules for new listings today!
Did You Know? You may attend a workshop at any UC campus. Just check the schedule for your preferred location and sign up online.
UC Retirement Plan (UCRP): UC’s Defined Benefit Plan
- Schedule “The Features of UCRP” workshop for your department - click here
- Read about The Future of UCRP
The UC Retirement Savings Programs: 403(b), 457(b) & Defined Contribution (DCP Plans)
- Attend a Workshop at a location near you and make your reservation online - click here for the schedule
- Arrange to have these workshops at a meeting in your department – click here
- Focus on Your Future - Resources
Share Your Bright Ideas
Share your Bright Ideas! Do you have an idea that will change our campus for the better? The UCSF Medical Center, UCSF School of Medicine, and Office of Sustainability now have an online suggestion box for employees to submit ideas that will improve UCSF’s ability to run operations more safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Go to the Bright Ideas website to share, vote and comment on ideas.
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