By the Numbers: Aim 7: Establish a culture of life-long learning and professional development

Summary of Activities

During 2022-2023, the college expanded its efforts to build a culture of life-long learning. Efforts focused on programs that support the college’s culture and the professional development of our faculty and staff.

In the fall of 2022, the college formalized a long-standing brown bag program into the Faculty Innovation and Exploration (FIE) program that provides professional development workshops in teaching, research and diversity-related topics. The following workshops were held during the year:

The college also continued its staff Lunch and Learn series, originally launched in 2021, providing professional development opportunities. Topics are selected by the staff members themselves with the goal of including a variety of topics, including at least two diversity-related topics per year. 

The college conducted its second annual college climate survey in the spring of 2023. The survey results showed that the college improved on 14 of the 17 measures assessed. The greatest improvement was seen in the following:

• I believe my opinions and perspectives are represented in decisions made. In 2022, 80.95% of respondents agreed with this statement, improving to 93.75% in 2023.
• People here are open to trying new and different ways of addressing our college's challenges. In 2022, 79.37% of respondents agreed, improving to 90% in 2023.
• The college promotes an environment of physical, mental, and social well-being. In 2022, 84.12% of respondents agreed, improving to 92.5% in 2023.

Results varied across employee groups and demonstrated that staff morale remains a concern in the college. To address these concerns, the college held a staff retreat in August 2023 to focus on professional development team building. A full breakdown of the climate survey results is available here.

The college also focused on professional development programs for employees. In addition to continuing the staff lunch and learns, the new associate dean for research and faculty affairs, who started in the fall of 2022, organized and held promotion workshops for faculty. The workshops aimed to create transparency in the promotion process and provide faculty with tips for successful applications for promotion and/or tenure. The college also adjusted the faculty and staff onboarding plans. Using the plan created during 2021-2022, the college successfully onboarded two new staff members, Zac Franzen, alumni relations and events coordinator, and Alisa Smith, director of advising. Each onboarding program was tailored to specific roles and provided the new staff members with the opportunity to build relationships with colleagues in the building and colleagues working in similar roles on campus.

In the summer of 2023, the associate dean of research and faculty affairs, the associate dean of academic programs and the director of operations adjusted the faculty onboarding programs scheduled for August 2023. The program will provide incoming faculty with the tools and resources they need to launch successful careers at Nebraska.

To further support professional development, a task force comprised of Academic Advisor Bridgett Grant, Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator Zac Franzen and Career Development Specialist Natalie Becerra was established in May 2022 to develop a professional development policy for the college’s staff members. The college plans to review the draft policy in September 2023.

During 2022-2023, the college expanded its efforts to recognize the achievements of faculty, staff and students. The college continued to support and promote Kudos, a digital peer-to-peer recognition program. The program is open to all faculty, staff and students. Recipients receive a digital certificate and recognition in the college’s weekly newsletters. Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, 453 Kudos were submitted, demonstrating support for the college’s values.

In the spring of 2023, the college launched its inaugural staff awards program. Nominations for the awards were accepted from faculty, staff, students and alumni. Recipients were selected by a group of four current students and four college alumni. The recipients of these awards were selected by a committee comprised of four current students and four alumni. The student members included Skylee Nelson, a junior sports media and communication and broadcasting double major, Brenden Evers, a sophomore sports media and communication and broadcasting double major, Marissa Kraus, a senior journalism major and Carter Bautch, a junior advertising and public relations major. The alumni members included Delani Watkins (2022), strategic communications project assistant, HDR, Monte Olson (1991), senior director of corporate relations, University of Nebraska Foundation, William Bauer (2020), metro east reporter, St. Louis Public Radio and Lani Hanson (2017), senior editor, Energy News Network.  The inaugural Faculty and Staff Award recipients were:  

The college launched a new registered student organization during the 2022-2023 academic year. The Society for Professional Journalists established bylaws, registered as an RSO and elected its first group of organization officers. Assistant Professor of Practice Jill Martin served as the inaugural faculty advisor.

Review of the targets

The college improved on all measures for Aim 7 during the 2022-2023 academic year. As the college builds professional development opportunities during the 2023-2024 academic year, we must consider how we will measure participation.

Review of the Strategies