Learning & Development

HR / Payroll Services
Learning & Development
Learning & Development Overview

Overview

Supporting the ongoing development of our people is an important initiative at IANR, and we’re committed to promoting opportunities for you to grow. IANR provides tools and resources for individual and team development, which helps lead to a more engaged and productive workforce.

What's Happening Now

We have the following individual and team development opportunities available now, with more changes and additions in progress. Currently, IANR HR offers virtual workshops and trainings to provide accessible learning opportunities to staff and faculty across the state. If you have specific professional development needs for your team, ideas for an upcoming session, or questions about what you see offered below; please contact ianrhr@unl.edu.

Join us by registering for the available learning opportunities below or by sharing these resources with your team!

Do you have ideas on professional development opportunities or content? Email ianrhr@unl.edu

Do you have ideas on training opportunties or topics?

Email them to ianrhr@unl.edu

Explore available training opportunities

Visit training.unl.edu

Learning & Development Resources

IANR Advancing Perspectives Book Exchange

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

Maya Angelou

Register

Like Maya Angelou's wisdom, many groups at UNL are working toward a shared goal: to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives of their coworkers, students, and the broader community. This common aim serves as the foundation for various campus groups dedicated to exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through discussion groups centered on relevant books and films.

We extend a warm invitation to all those who share our commitment to "knowing more to do better" by joining us in the IANR Advancing Perspectives Book Exchange. This is not your typical book club. Instead of collectively reading a single book, we'll share books we've personally read in the past six months that have enriched our understanding of the lives and experiences of others. The objective is to help one another discover books that can expand our horizons in the future. We'll also take time to discuss what we've learned through our reading and how it has empowered us to "know more to do better."

Dr. Copich will facilitate discussions but will not deliver content for the group. The IANR Advancing Perspectives Book Exchange offers an informal platform for dialogue, reflection, and personal growth- all of which help us to improve professionally. This group is intended for individuals who are eager to broaden their perspectives on the lives and experiences of those different from themselves.

Workplace Appreciation: How to Make it Meaningful & Make it Matter

(for supervisors and employees)

One-hour sessions.

Session Dates/Times:

  • Tuesday, December 5, 9:00am CT
  • Tuesday, January 16, 11:00am CT
  • Tuesday, February 13, Noon CT
  • Tuesday, March 12, 2:00pm CT
  • Tuesday, April 9, 11:00am CT
  • Tuesday, May 7, Noon CT

In today's workforce, appreciation is key to engagement and retention. This session explores information from "The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People" (2019) by Chapman & White, to share tips on showing employees and coworkers they are valued. Appreciation isn't only expressed by the supervisor, meaningful appreciation can also be communicated between coworkers. Bottom line- appreciation is essential in establishing a positive workplace culture. Join us to learn more. Be prepared to discuss and participate in this interactive session.

Content Includes:

  1. Understanding how appreciation and engagement are aligned
  2. Identifying the 5 languages of appreciation
  3. Discussing ways to personalize appreciation
  4. Learning the most effective forms of appreciation

Register

Habits of Happiness
Habits of Happiness Badge

(for supervisors and employees)

Do you want to BE happier in 2024 and more focused on your well-being? Join others within IANR to learn and implement new habits that build happiness. This workshop will follow the Yale coursework shared for free by Yale professor, Dr. Laurie Santos. We will follow the self-guided coursework and then meet every other week to discuss the concepts and hold each other accountable to implement the new practices. Throughout the six sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your own well-being by implementing a few simple research-based methods in your own life. If deadlines help to hold you accountable, this group is for you! Join me as we make 2023 the best year yet.

Happiness Facilitator: Cindy Copich, IANR HR Specialist for Learning and Development

Six Sessions

  • Tuesday, February 13, 9:00am-10:00am CT
  • Tuesday, February 27, 9:00am-10:00am CT
  • Tuesday, March 12, 9:00am-10:00am CT
  • Tuesday, March 26, 9:00am-10:00am CT
  • Tuesday, April 9, 9:00am-10:00am CT
  • Tuesday, May 7, 9:00am-10:00am CT

Register

Learning Outcomes

  1. Understanding the misconceptions about happiness
  2. Forming and practicing new happiness habits
  3. Understanding the effective elements of goal setting

Happiness Habits Include

  1. Savoring
  2. Gratitude
  3. Kindness
  4. Social Connection
  5. Exercise/Sleep/Food/Drink
  6. Using Our Strengths Every Day
  7. Meditation

I was quite surprised at just how much my (overall well-being) score rose. Even without seeing those numbers, I find myself reaching mentally for my gratitude tools in everyday life and doing so intentionally when I’m sad or stressed. I have noticed that I’m practicing gratitude without having to write it down in a journal (though I continue to work on doing that). Taking this and the 15 Days of Gratitude simultaneously through the holiday season helped my general sense of well-being immensely. My overall well-being score went up 2.4 points. That surprised me. I would say the biggest impact this has had on me is a greater sense of inner peace. Considering I have a Type A personality, that says a great deal.

Wendy Winstead, Finance Coordinator, GNBC
Your Investment in Workplace Culture - 6 Session Professional Development Workshop

(for supervisors and employees)

Register Now

Workplace Culture Badge

This professional learning opportunity is available to IANR employees and supervisors. Participation in all 6 sessions is strongly encouraged- the topics build on one another. Calendar invites containing the Zoom link will be sent once registration is complete.

The virtual learning series will cover the following:

Session One Thursday, January 25 10:00am CT
Your Investment in Workplace Culture: Why this Matters NOW more than Ever!
Understand the importance of workplace culture and how it ties to employee performance, satisfaction, and overall retention.

Session Two February 8, 10:00am CT
Communication Style: Say What?
Develop a greater understanding of your personal communication style and how it impacts others in your workplace.

Session Three Thursday, February 22 10:00am CT
Responding V. Reacting: Monitor and Navigate your Stress Response for Higher Emotional Intelligence
Develop greater self-awareness and understanding how stress affects the brain and body. Learn strategies to increase the likelihood that you respond intentionally to stress, rather than react.

Session Four Thursday, March 7, 10:00am CT
Conflict Styles: Conflict is Unavoidable so Best to Plan Ahead
Explore tools and develop strategies to navigate conflict effectively as it occurs in the workplace.

Session Five Thursday, March 21, 10:00am CT
Nurturing an Environment where “Every Person, Every Interaction Matters.”
Implement strategies to be your best self at work and to help others feel respected and valued in the workplace.

Session Six Thursday, March 28 10:00am CT
Creating Psychological Safety Zones: Identifying Boundaries and Communicating Them in the Workplace
Build on your skills and explore other tools needed to communicate your boundaries and understand the boundaries of others so that everyone can enjoy their work environment.

If requested, a certificate of completion will be provided for those who participate in all 6 sessions.

I was on the fence about taking time out of my busy schedule to participate in this training. I am thankful I took the time and want to thank IANR and the facilitators for making this training possible. Everyone has a role in shaping your workplace culture and everyone in IANR should participate in this Workplace Culture workshop. Strengthening the whole employee experience is more important now than ever. I gained insight into how I can make a difference; it helped me understand the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, communication, and conflict; and I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter and humor of the facilitators. They made the training fun and interactive. Thank you!

Jessie Brophy, Director of External Engagement, IANR Vice Chancellor’s Office
Gallup© StrengthsFinder Team Sessions

(in-person and virtual sessions; individual employees/supervisors and team coaching)

The past few years have been extraordinarily challenging for employees and supervisors as the physical work environment has been in an influx due to the pandemic. This is a perfect time for employees to get to know more about themselves and one another in order to strengthen the work culture. IANR is committed to adopting a strengths-based development approach to ensure our employees feel fully engaged in the work they do and to help teams operate most effectively. IANR departments/units can engage in the Gallup© StrengthsFinder process in the following ways:

  • New IANR employees who complete the StrengthsFinder assessment have the opportunity to engage in a one-on-one StrengthsFinder coaching session.
  • Supervisors can add a StrengthsFinder workshop to a team meeting or retreat. These sessions are custom-designed to meet the needs of your team and the time you have available.
  • Supervisors can learn new ways to integrate Strengths-based discussions into their everyday conversations with employees and during routine meetings.

Contact Cindy Copich at copich@unl.edu to learn more!

Our team participated in a 4-hour StrengthsFinder team session. This was a fantastic learning and community building opportunity for our team! We had a blast learning more about each other, how we each naturally engage with the world and what brings us the most energy and satisfaction at work (and what doesn’t!). We each came away with a greater appreciation of each other’s strengths and excitement over the new ways we can work together to reach out goals. We had an excellent facilitator – don’t miss out on the opportunity to do this with your team!

Tracy Zimmerman, Administrative Coordinator, Biological Systems Engineering
UNL Supervisor Guide to Retention & Engagement Conversations: The Power of One Conversation

(for supervisors)

  • Available on-demand through Nebraska Bridge App (tile on Firefly)
  • Course length: 8 minutes
  • Supervisors will learn the purpose and process for having retention and engagement conversations with their team members. Learn why these conversations are an effective way to retain and engage employees, how to choose who to talk to and when, what questions to ask, how to handle the conversation, and determining action items and next steps.
Employment Law Essentials: Hours Worked Compliance

(for supervisors who sign timesheets)

  • Available on-demand through Nebraska Bridge App (tile on Firefly)
  • Course length: 30 minutes
  • Supervisor’s guide to stay in compliance with the Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) for hourly employees.
Family Medical Leave (FML) Overview

(for supervisors and employees)

  • Available on-demand
  • Course length: 8 minutes
  • A brief overview to understanding the University’s Family Medical Leave (FML) Policy and the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Family Medical Leave (FML) Detailed

(for supervisors)

  • Available on-demand
  • Course length: 35 minutes
  • A supervisor’s guide to understanding the University’s Family Medical Leave (FML) Policy and the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504

(for supervisors)

  • Available through Nebraska Bridge App (tile on Firefly)
  • Course length: 90 minutes
  • Institutional Equity and Compliance is offering a professional development opportunity for supervisors on campus regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws and policies related to creating an accessible work environment for current employees and job applicants. We will present information and answer questions about laws and definitions, accessibility in hiring, accessibility for current employees, how to manage when conditions change, and how-to information about current procedures and policies.

For questions about learning and development, please contact the IANR HR team at ianrhr@unl.edu