Professional Development

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Staff Enrichment Propgram (SEP)

The Staff Enrichment Program (SEP) is an annual competitive professional development program aimed at retaining high-potential staff in administrative support roles by providing them with opportunities to build a professional network at UCLA, enhance work skills, and learn career advancement strategies.

Over the course of the year, participants have a unique opportunity to build awareness of their strengths, construct meaningful development goals, develop lasting professional relationships, and explore career opportunities at UCLA.

Since 1979, SEP has served the University with these goals:

  • Provide the campus with a pool of skilled applicants to meet the challenges of UCLA’s changing environment
  • Achieve a more diverse, professional workforce to meet the operational needs of the University
  • Encourage career development through workshops, individualized coaching, and group projects

Program Components:

  • Monthly workshops on skill development and career enhancement
  • Individual career coaching to create professional development plans for success
  • Culminating project that provides opportunities for skill building and further exploration of professional interests
  • Networking with program alumni and campus affiliates who have been successful in their professional endeavors at the University
  • Small and large group presentations to enhance public speaking skills
  • Educational stipend

Program Timeline:

  • SEP runs from January to November each year, with recruitment beginning in the fall. The selection committee reviews applications and recommends selected staff for in-person interviews. A final cohort of approximately 30 staff is selected and notified prior to winter closure.
  • In January, participants attend an orientation and a full-day retreat.
  • Program activities and events are attended throughout the year.
  • A final celebration is held in December prior to the winter closure.

Eligibility requirements for 2018 SEP applicants:

  • UCLA career employee with at least one year of service (at least one year of service in current role as of January 1, 2018, is preferred)
  • Payroll title of Administrative Specialist (and equivalent titles) or below
  • A rating of “Meets Expectations” (or better) on the most current performance evaluation
  • Departmental support for participation

Close association between participants, their supervisors and the program coordinator is maintained to ensure that individual career development plans and program activities remain consistent with the University’s needs. Supervisors can expect that participants will need approximately 10-12 hours of release time each month. Cost is free to most department and participants.

Recruitment for the Staff Enrichment Program begins in the fall of each year.

Professional Development Program (PDP)

This one-year leadership development program provides participants in PSS 2-6 classifications with opportunities to enhance professional and management skills, build professional networks, and learn about the structure and culture of the University. Program components include a 2½ day off-site Retreat, Monthly Seminars, Buddy Program, Brown Bag Sessions, Structured Mentorships, Team Projects, 360-Degree Assessment and Career Coaching.

PDP was launched in 1994 to provide the University with highly trained and qualified staff prepared to move into leadership positions. The program provides participants with an opportunity to enhance management skills, build professional networks, and learn about the structure and culture of the university. By grooming future leaders, we help to ensure the continued excellence of UCLA.

This year long program includes valuable components:

  • Retreat – 2½ day off-site at the beginning of the program year to begin leadership training
  • Monthly Seminars – workshops on management competencies, leadership issues and UC/ UCLA organizational information
  • Buddy Program – pairings of current year participants with program alumni
  • Brown Bags – field trips to participants’ departments to learn about the impressive variety of organizations and employment roles on campus
  • Mentoring – pairing of current year participants with senior leaders
  • Team Projects – group projects sponsored by campus departments identified as important to university operations
  • 360 Degree Assessment – confidential feedback on management competencies from managers, peers, subordinates, self and other colleagues
  • Career Coaching – sessions with the program coordinator to strategize individual career plans

Basic requirements are:

  • Full time career employment at UCLA in the Professional Staff Program (PSS Grades 2-6)
  • Department endorsement for participation

Close association between participants, their supervisors and the program coordinator is maintained to ensure that individual career development plans and program activities remain consistent with the University’s needs. Supervisors can expect that participants will need approximately 10-12 hours of release time each month. There is no cost to either the department or program member.

Recruitment for the Professional Development Program begins in the spring of each year.

Management Development Programs

Managers and future managers can improve their effectiveness in their current roles and prepare professionally for career growth. Programs include a certificate series in fundamentals of supervision, assessment centers of management competencies, UCLA management seminars offered in partnership with the Anderson School, systemwide conferences for business officers, management training workshops, and a UC institute focused on managing people.

Administrative Management Group (AMG)

The UCLA Administrative Management Group (AMG) is devoted to the professional development of managers on campus, and those who aspire to become managers.
AMG is a campus organization whose mission is to:

  • Provide opportunities for professional growth and development;
  • Create a forum for effective communication between academic, administrative and service managers and professionals at UCLA;
  • Become a sounding board for implementing new processes;
  • Provide the University with a pool of talented professionals;
  • Establish a vehicle for discussion of common concerns, challenges, and solutions; and to share knowledge and expertise.

Level One – Supervisory Certificate

Campus Human Resources (CHR) Training and Development offers a Level One Supervisory Certificate that is recommended for employees who are relatively new to supervision, as well as for current supervisors who want to update their skills and knowledge. The Certificate is designed to increase understanding of supervisory role requirements, broaden awareness of behavioral strengths, and enhance mastery of employment policies and practices necessary to succeed in the supervisory role.

Courses are offered in two areas Foundations and Core Supervisory Courses. Full course descriptions and schedules are available online at the UC Learning Center: www.lms.ucla.edu

Requirements: Certificates are earned by successful completion of ten (10) courses. Both Foundation courses are required, along with all eight (8) Core Supervisory courses. The only sequence recommendation is that supervisors begin with Foundation courses. Eligibility for a Level One Supervisory Certificate is restricted to UCLA employees designated as supervisors in UCLA’s HR System; but some courses in the program are open to employees who are preparing for a supervisory role. It is recommended that the Level One Supervisory Certificate be completed in one year, although participants may pace their own attendance.

Certificates: Upon completion of Certificate requirements, please contact Campus Human Resources Training and Development at ext. 4-0850 to request a completion Certificate. A formal certificate will be sent to you.

Level Two – Supervisory Certificate

CHR Training and Development offers a Level Two Supervisory Certificate that builds on knowledge acquired and skills developed in the Level One Supervisory Certificate. The Level Two Supervisory Certificate focuses on more advanced aspects of supervisory leadership and complex human resources compliance issues. The certificate is designed for existing supervisors who want to develop people management and team building skills further, and gain in-depth understanding of Human Resources policies and practices.

Courses are offered in two areas: Foundations and Special Topic Electives. Full course descriptions and schedules are available online at the UC Learning Center. Completion of the Level One Supervisory Certificate is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.

Requirements: Certificates are earned by successful completion of ten (10) courses. Eight (8) Foundation courses are required, along with two (2) Special Topic Electives. It is recommended that the Level Two Supervisory Certificate be completed in one to two years. Completion of the Level One Supervisory Certificate is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.
Certificates: Upon completion of Certificate requirements, please contact Campus Human Resources Training and Development at ext. 4-0850 to request a completion Certificate. A formal certificate will be sent to you.

Management Development Certificate

Take advantage of the Management Development Certificate designed to help management-level employees strengthen effectiveness in their current roles and prepare for future leadership opportunities. The Management Development Certificate supports UCLA’s workforce planning objectives, enhances retention of high-potential professionals and positions managers for success. Certificates are earned by successful completion of 10 courses with four (4) required courses and six (6) electives from a total of 13 different subject areas.

Management Seminar Series

Management Seminars offer quarterly, half-day workshops for UCLA managers in a partnership between CHR’s Training and Development and UCLA’s Anderson School Executive Education Program. Each year’s program is organized around a theme of topics relevant to current issues and emerging management trends.

These seminars offer unique professional development for University leaders by world-class faculty, right here on campus. They feature relevant tools and approaches that have direct impact on improving organizations, innovations in management education and engage participants and their colleagues in intellectual stimulation and learning.

Participating managers can:

  • Gain first-hand access to distinguished faculty
  • Learn about research-based practical applications for organizational success
  • Sharpen organizational and leadership skills
  • Receive powerful techniques that can be immediately implemented at work
  • Interact with UCLA colleagues who share similar workplace challenges

All administrative leaders and professional staff in PSS 5 classifications and above are eligible to attend. To enroll, visit the UC Learning Center and select the Management Seminar Series category.

Package enrollments enjoy priority, since space is limited. The fee for a complete Seminar Series Package is $500 and $188 for individual seminars.

Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP)

The Management Skills Assessment Program (MSAP) is a residential, UC-wide, three-day management development program offered in an assessment center model off-site (currently at Lake Arrowhead Conference Center). MSAP is designed to assess and improve on-the-job performance and to enhance competitiveness for management positions.

UCLA participates in the Southern Region of California with UC campuses in our area. MSAP is designed to assess, on an individual basis, the management skills of UC supervisors and managers. The program enables participants to identify managerial strengths, gain information on skills they need to improve, learn about the range of skills necessary for effective management, practice these skills in a supportive environment, and work with a manager trained to identify professional development activities. Participants demonstrate management skills in role-playing exercises that simulate typical management activities. The participant works with their assessors to design an individualized development plan based on the assessment of strengths and improvement opportunities.

MSAP is based on an Assessment Center approach that integrates personnel from across UC departments, sites, and hierarchy to assess core competencies that have been identified as essential for UC managers. It contributes a unique value by using integrated assessment centers to change and foster organizational culture.

Management Training Workshops

CHR Management Training Workshops are designed to enhance leadership skills. You may enroll in courses via the UC Learning Center.

Workshops are offered on the following subjects:

  • Leading High Performance Teams
  • Coaching for Improvement
  • Recognizing and Resolving Workplace Conflict
  • Leading Change
  • Employee Engagement
  • Developing Others
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Adaptive Leadership
  • Strategic Focus
  • Influential Leadership

Developing Exceptional Leaders

The FY2018-19 schedule for the Developing Exceptional Leaders leadership series offered by UCLA Administration’s Organizational Effectiveness & Development (OED) is now available in the OED website, https://www.adminvc.ucla.edu/oed/learning. Please select the course schedule link under the Developing Exceptional Leaders section. These learning sessions are offered division-wide and are free of charge. The list provides information about the specific courses, the associated dates/times as well as targeted participants for each course. Please communicate the course offerings to your department so that we can reach individuals who may be interested in participating.

The maximum capacity for each course is 25 participants and enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis. Additional sessions will be added for each course when the wait list reaches its minimum capacity. Departmental training managers and/or coordinators can enroll individuals by sending me a list of names and their enrollment requests or individuals can directly contact Gerrie Zvara (gzvara@oed.ucla.edu) to enroll in a course.

For additional information about the services that OED offers, please visit our website at http://www.oed.ucla.edu/.

UCLA Extension

UCLA Extension offers courses in-person and online on a variety of topics, as well as specialized certificate programs. UCLA staff are eligible for course discounts. Discounts vary depending on appointment type and percentage of time. Please call the UCLA Extension Enrollment Office for additional information on course discounts.

UCLA career staff working at 100% will receive a 25% discount on all courses.

It is recommended that you enroll over the phone. Please call (800) 825-9971 and have your Course Section Number#s and payment information ready. Your employment verification should be sent via email prior to payment.

H&HS Mentoring Program

The UCLA Housing & Hospitality Services (H&HS) Mentoring Program is exclusively designed to make a positive impact on our team members. By tapping into the vast wealth of collective work experience at the university, and more specifically in the subject area of housing and hospitality, our aim is to increase team member engagement , develop leadership, and teach new skills. Since its inception in 2002, the H&HS Mentoring Program has helped the organization and individual team members by:

  • Matching a mentor/mentee pair for an intensive 9-month program
  • Establishing a concrete professional development plan with clear goals
  • Increasing organizational knowledge and awareness
  • Increasing and enhancing skill development
  • Providing professional feedback and accountability
  • Evaluating measurable improvements

Mentoring Statement by Laona LeBeouf, Program Director

The UCLA Housing & Hospitality (H&HS) Mentoring Program provides guidance and insight from the collective experience of our talented and dedicated team members. Team members who are accepted into the program will work intensively on identifying career goals, communicating these goals to colleagues and the professional community, and possibly discovering new avenues for growth at the university. Mentees are required to attend an offsite mentoring retreat to launch the program and participate in monthly workshops during the full academic year. We encourage you to apply to this program if you are ready to invest quality time, hard work and enthusiasm for a transformational professional experience!