Aim: Prioritize participation and professional development for all Nebraska students, staff, and faculty
We believe in the power of every person. The most important asset at the University of Nebraska is its people — students, staff, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty. It is critical to provide access to individualized professional development and effective mentorship for all members of the university community. Professional development opportunities integrating inclusive excellence and fostering a culture of participative decision-making enhances the richness of the university experience. A comprehensive approach to professional development will result in a vibrant and supportive climate characterized by excellence in all mission areas of our institution.
Meaningful and impactful professional development for all reinforces that every person and every interaction matters.
Strategies:
- Ensure a means for all faculty, graduate and professional students, post-doctoral fellows, and staff to co-create an individualized professional development roadmap
- Develop and enhance structures for all faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and students to have access to a mentor or advisors
- Establish professional development around mentoring and reward effective mentorship of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff and students
- Create and allow access to university-sponsored Staff Council for staff to provide input on relevant issues to university leadership
- Revolutionize graduate education to include professional development in response to workforce needs
- Build and enhance institutional structures and culture for participative decision-making
- Embed inclusive excellence in existing and new professional development opportunities or systems
Expectations:
- Documented individualized professional development plan established for all faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and professional students, and staff
- Mentor or advisor provided for all faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and students
- Professional development methods established and delivered to faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and students
- Mentorship incentives established and awarded
- Staff Council created
- Graduate education continually updated to allow for flexibility and individualization
- Improved transparency in administrative decision-making
- Increased student, faculty, and staff retention
- Increased job satisfaction
- Improved placement of graduates and post-doctoral fellows
Targets:
- All annual evaluations will align with apportionments and assigned duties
- 100% of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and graduate and professional students have a documented and individualized professional development plan
- All leaders and administrators engage in professional development associated with inclusive excellence and participative decision-making
- All faculty, post-doctoral fellows, staff and students have a mentor or advisor and all evaluations include reporting of mentorship activities
- All graduates and post-doctoral fellows employed in appropriate jobs commensurate with their degree
- UNL will be in top tier of employee satisfaction among higher education institutions