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Employee Training Initiative

Notes from the Advisory Panel Organizational Meeting

February 1, 2006

Attendance at the organizational meeting of the Employee Training Initiative Advisory Panel was outstanding.  Of the 17 people attending, there was broad representation from faculty, students, and the support and EAP staffs.  If any Panel member feels we should expand representation to include other specific units or individuals on campus, please forward those suggestions to mfrederick@isugw.indstate.edu.  

A formal presentation of the Initiative was made to the Panel.  That presentation will serve as the “foundation” of formal presentations to be made in the future, and any suggestions from Panel members as to how the presentation could be improved will be appreciated.

While we had hoped to move ahead with specific planning according to the template that was part of the documentation provided to Panel members, it appeared as though a “general” discussion was more important.  During that discussion, a number of points were made and some spirited exchanges occurred.  Those discussions were conducted with respect for one another and with a high degree of civility; the very thing we’re hoping to see as the campus cultural continues to improve over time.

From the discussion, themes emerged, each of which will need to be addressed in future meetings.  Those themes included:

• Creation of a “vehicle” for appropriate delivery of the training curriculum.  Attention must be given to employing a positive, “value-added” approach as opposed to one of accusation and “blaming.”
• The need to attend first to those units and personnel that endorse the concept and premise of the training, and as a result, modifying and improving the curriculum. As the program matures, it will be appropriate to extend the training to a wider campus audience.
• Data gathering and needs assessment will be necessary to assist in focusing our approach, improving perceived legitimacy and ongoing the ongoing development of curriculum to meet the specific needs of the campus community.
• The need to learn more from students regarding their unique perspective of needs needing to be addressed.
• Maintaining “transparency” in our deliberations and development of the program, opening that process to the entire campus community and to encourage active involvement in forwarding comments and suggestions to the committees.

Overall, the enthusiasm, appropriate caution, and embracing of the core principles of the Initiative were demonstrated throughout the meeting.  Panel members are encouraged to take an active part in the “open discussion forum” on the ETI website (http://www.indstate.edu).  It will be through the website and personal communication that a great deal of the actual work of the Advisory Panel will take place.

The next meeting of the ETI Advisory Panel will be Wednesday, March 1 at 3:30 in the Career Center Conference Room.

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Notes from the ETI Advisory Panel Meeting

March 1, 2006

Present: Anita Adams, Michael Baker, Steven Briggs, Kaleena Dale, Mark Frederick, Kelly Hall, Nancy Hall, William Hughes, Drew Loftus, Tom Steiger, Kent Waggoner David Worley, Deb Worley.

Three members of the Advisory Panel have sent regrets that, due to other commitments, they have to resign from the group, including Al Perone, Myrna McCallister and Lea Rapier. 

Formal Actions

The Panel approved the following items:

·        The ETI name has been changed to “ISU: Investing in Satisfaction and Understanding”

·        Branding of the logo “I-CARE,” representing I – Investment, C – Concern for and civility with others, A – Attitude leads the way, R – Relationships matter,     E – Emphasize the positive.

The name and brand will be included in promotional material and the website to support the identity of the initiative as it continues to evolve.

Report of Progress

Agreements have been reached to begin pilot testing of the training with the following units.

• Residence Life – presentations scheduled for March 28
• Support Staff Council Mentors – Weeks of March 20 and 27

We are currently working with the Department of Chemistry and the Sycamore Ambassadors group to explore the possibility of pilot testing with those units, but no firm arrangements have yet been made.

At the completion of the first round of pilot presentations, the final training programs will be established and our work will then move to the next stage, which will include:

• Formal introduction and roll-out of the I-CARE Initiative to the broader University Community
• Begin to schedule training in units across campus
• Training of qualified facilitators

Discussion Items

While no formal decisions were made, a number of items were considered by the group and will be discussed further in future meetings, including:

• Opportunities to conduct training in the future, including
  • New support staff and EAP employees
  • New faculty members
  • New student employees

• The possibility of establishing a rewards and recognition component with a focus on student input into the program
• Including “Completion of Training” notation in HR-based employee files
• The creation of a vision and mission statement that would better define the intent and hoped-for outcomes of I-CARE
• How I-CARE might become institutionalized and adopted as a culture of ongoing employee training emerges
•  What is an appropriate answer to the question, “I-CARE about what?”  General agreement was reached that the answer should consider that:
  • Relationships are at the base of the University’s daily functioning
  • All employees must focus on what they can do individually to promote and support student academic, personal and professional growth
  • Recognition that each person can make a significant and positive change
  • That cultural change occurs as a result of the combined positive actions of each individual, not as a result of “top-down” directives

The next meeting of the I – CARE Advisory Panel will be Wednesday, April 5 at 3:00 in the Classroom of the ISU Career Center.  Panel members have been asked to complete the “Challenges Worksheet,” and submit their responses prior to the next meeting, when discussion of those responses will be included in the meeting’s agenda.