Join the CU Boulder Ombuds Office for their Small Bites. Big Impact Lunch and Learn Series in July. 

• July 7^th:  
  • Join Kerry Tay McLean, University of Colorado Boulder Ombuds Program Administrator, who challenges and encourages you to think of the current state of affairs as an opportunity for growth.
• July 14^th:
  • Join Kirsi Aulin, University of Colorado Boulder Ombuds Office Director, and briefly explore the research of Daniel Kahneman and see that we are not as logical as we think.
• July 21^st:
  • Join Kirsi Aulin, Director, University of Colorado Boulder Ombuds Office. Together you will walk through steps to create a stress management plan specific to you!
• July 28^th:
  • There’s no substitute for coming to the table prepared. You need to take the time to do your homework. Join Liz Hill, Associate Director, University of Colorado Boulder Ombuds Office for Part 4 of the Ombuds Office’s Negotiation Series to discuss some basic preparation tips.

Off

Join the Anderson Language and Technology Center (ALTEC) this summer to learn a language and broaden your horizon from the comfort of your home! Languages include American Sign Language, French, Japanese and Spanish. We welcome you to engage in an energizing and fun, yet intensive learning experience. In support of the community at this time, ALTEC is offering a 20% discount on our fees; community member tuition is $200 and current CU affiliates pay $100.

This special summer session is designed with beginners in mind, whether you are brand new to the language or want to solidify the basics. Each class runs four weeks, from July 6 through July 31. You will meet live via Zoom every week from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; an additional two hours of learning material will be hosted online for you to complete at your convenience. 

Visit ALTEC online to learn more and read what past students have to say. Classes fill up quickly—enroll today! 

Off

Learn about the tuition assistance benefit from the CU Boulder Bursar's Office. This session will provide information about the opportunity for employees/dependents to take classes using the Tuition Waiver Benefit. The presentation will include what is required to utilize the benefit, who is eligible and the financial benefit the university provides.

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand what the tuition assistance benefit is, who is eligible, and benefit requirements.
• Be aware of the steps to participate in the benefit. 

Session Information 

Friday, July 17
12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Location: Virtual, you will receive zoom information after registering. 

The CU Discover series is a component of the comprehensive, year-long onboarding program offered to new employees at CU Boulder. The series builds upon the foundation set during the New Employee Welcome Experience and offers opportunities to learn more about the values, mission, operations and initiatives of the CU Boulder campus.  Learn more about the CU Discover Series. 

Off

  FranklinCovey: The 6 Critical Practices of Leading a Team

Dates: July 7 & 9
Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm, each day
Virtual Session

Supervisors and managers make a significant impact on employee productivity and engagement, innovation, and performance. They are the creators and carriers of culture for their teams and directly influence whether top talent stays or leaves. Their role has always been tough and today’s realities make the role even tougher. Both new and experienced supervisors and managers can struggle when it comes to excelling at leading teams in today’s workplace. In this course, participants will learn six practices that, when consistently applied, will increase the ability to lead others.

Cost

• If this is your first FranklinCovey course since September 1, 2019: $110 (Cost includes All Access Pass)
• If you have attended one or more FranklinCovey courses since September 1, 2019: No Cost

Facilitator(s): Lisa Nelson, JD, Senior Training and Development Specialist and Alyssa Willet, Training and Development Specialist

  Emotional Intelligence

Dates: July 13 & 20
Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm, each day
Virtual Session

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. EI has been shown to increase job performance, productivity, and personal excellence.

Cost: There is no cost for this course. 

Facilitator(s): Lisa Nelson, JD, Senior Training and Development Specialist and Alyssa Willet, Training and Development Specialist

  Change Management for Managers

Dates: July 14, 15 & 16
​Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm, each day
Virtual Session

Prosci Change Management for Managers provides managers and supervisors with tools and skills to understand change theory, facilitate change processes, and successfully lead teams through change. This workshop is critical for managers whose departments are planning change or in the process of change. Participants receive a comprehensive toolkit and materials.

Cost: $350

Facilitator: Mike Murray, MLIR, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives

  FranklinCovey: The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership

Dates: July 22, 29, August 5, 12
​Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm, each day
Virtual Session

Every day leaders are making countless decisions and facing problems they’ve never encountered before. What worked yesterday can change overnight. The rewards are great for those who can lead a team to consistently achieve extraordinary results. So how can leaders stay ahead of the curve and differentiate themselves and their teams when so much is changing so quickly? The 4 Essential Roles of Leadership develops the roles leaders play that are highly predictive of success.

Cost: 

• If this is your first FranklinCovey course since September 1, 2019: $110 (Cost includes All Access Pass)
• If you have attended one or more FranklinCovey courses since September 1, 2019: No Cost

Facilitator(s): Lauren Harris, MS, CPTM, Training Manager and Lisa Nelson, JD, Senior Training and Development Specialist

  Crucial Conversations

Dates: August 4, 6, 11, 13
​Time: 9:00 am -11:00 am AND 1:00 - 3:00 pm, each day
Virtual Session

Crucial Conversations is a two-day course that teaches skills for creating alignment and agreement by fostering open dialogue around high-stakes, emotional, or risky topics – at all levels of the organization. By learning how to speak and be heard (and encouraging others to do the same), you’ll surface the best ideas, make the highest-quality decisions, and then act on your decisions with unity and commitment.

Cost: $250

Facilitator(s): Lauren Harris, MS, CPTM, Training Manager and Alyssa Willet, Training and Development Specialist

Off

Off

On Tuesday, May 19, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to allow flexibility to Regent Policy 11.E, for employees who have been unable to take vacation due to the coronavirus crisis.  This flexibility allowed for the Chancellor to approve a new maximum of vacation hours that can be retained by an employee before the leave sweep occurs on July 1.  The state personnel board rules were changed through emergency rulemaking, effective April 1, 2020.

For the CU Boulder campus, changes to the leave sweep are as follows:  

University staff and 12-month faculty

• Employees may carry up to 80 hours over maximum – temporary maximum of 432
• Any amount over 432 hours will be swept on July 1, 2020
• On July 1, 2021, the leave sweeps will bring anyone over the maximum back to 352 hours.  
• Under no circumstances will an employee be paid over the maximum 352 hours upon separation from the university.
• Per APS 5062 (https://www.cu.edu/ope/aps/5062), supervisors can approve or deny vacation requests:  “Upon approval by the supervisor, vacation may be taken after the close of the pay period in which the leave is earned.â€�

Classified Staff 

• Employee may carry up to 80 hours over the maximum
  • 1 through 5 years – temporary maximum is 272 hours
  • 6 through 10 years – temporary maximum is 320 hours
  • 11 through 15 years – temporary maximum is 368 hours
  • 16 years and above – temporary maximum is 416 hours
• Any amount over the temporary maximum will be swept on July 1, 2020.
• On July 1, 2021, the leave sweep will bring anyone over the maximum back to correct maximum accrual based on length of service:
  • 1 through 5 years – maximum is 192 hours 
  • 6 through 10 years – maximum is 240 hours 
  • 11 through 15 years – maximum is 288 hours 
  • 16 years and above – maximum is 336 hours 
• Under no circumstances will an employee be paid over the original maximum hours (not temporary maximum hours) upon separation from the university.
• Per State Personnel Board Rules 5-4, supervisors can approve or deny vacation requests:  “Annual leave is for an employee’s personal needs and use is subject to the approval of the appointing authority.â€�

Off

We were all thrust into a new world of leading others virtually due to COVID-19. Our daily personal and professional lives were upended. Along with a new way of working and living came the added challenge of learning to lead teams in a virtual environment amid a pandemic. Over the past nine weeks, there have been hard conversations, dramatic changes to operations and lessons learned on leading others during this time. This article focuses on sharing six thoughts on leading virtual teams right now.

Managing direct reports is different.

Check-in’s need to be more frequent in a virtual environment. Connecting with your direct reports for 30 minutes once or twice a week will allow you to stay connected to the needs of your team, provide resources and support, and keep project and work momentum moving. 

Flexibility is essential.

With the home now being the office, the classroom, and the playroom, employees need more support and flexibility. Employees are in a variety of physical and psychological states. Some are doing okay, some are not. Some have adequate resources and support, some do not. Some are caregivers in their homes, some are living alone and coping with isolation. Meet the individuals on your team where they are. For example, a parent may need time to homeschool their child during the middle of the day. Focus on supporting people and producing results and not when the work gets done.

Zoom fatigue is real.

Nonstop video meetings can quickly sap valuable energy that could be better put to projects and solving problems. Schedule breaks between video meetings to reset the mind, rest the eyes, and enable sustained energy - encourage your employees to do the same. Hold some meetings via phone and walk while you talk.

Inclusion is vital.

As a CU Boulder core value, it is vital that we maintain our commitment to inclusion while working remotely. Use these strategies to intentionally build an inclusive team culture. 1.    

• Create accessible content. Ensure virtual materials are accessible, mobile friendly, and shared before, during and after meetings, trainings and events. Need help with accessible materials? Review the accessible resources page. 
• Use alternative engagement strategies. Consider employees’ circumstances when setting expectations for engagement. Do they have adequate internet? Can they participate via phone? What is the best time of day to engage given other responsibilities such as childcare? 
• Be aware of how different identities and communities are impacted. Mental health, physical and psychological safety, resources and support, and competing priorities are impacting people differently. Educate yourself on these differences.
• Ask employees how they like to be included. Inclusion and belonging are specific to individuals. One helpful strategy is to ask employees how they like to be included.
• Know your resources. Familiarize yourself with campus resources to support your supervisory needs in this virtual and pandemic environment. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the supervisor resources located on the COVID-19 HR Guidance Page.

Vulnerability is humanizing.

Check-in with your team to understand their experience and how you can be supportive. Be honest about your own experience. This will give them implicit permission that they can do the same – better yet, explicitly encourage them to do so. Be informed about the resources available to you and your employees. Looking for a different question to ask other than ‘how are you doing?’. Check out this .  

Focusing on work drives purpose.

It is easy to feel lost during times of uncertainty. Supervisors can help employees feel more connected by focusing them on purposeful work. Collaboratively, identify short term (one to three months) goals with each of your direct reports. Commitment to producing outcomes that continue to support students, faculty and staff will aid in providing clarity and control during times of disruption. 

Lauren Harris is the training and development manager for CU Boulder. For information about training opportunities in HR, visit: /hr/learning-development/employee-learning.

Off

CU Boulder’s Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is offering weekly wellness seminars and support groups in June focused on mental and emotional well being during challenging times. Programs provide practical tools participants can practice and apply to their daily lives.

Wellness Series Seminars

• June 4: How to Cope with Anxiety During a Crisis
• June 10: Choosing Resilience: A Guide to Fortifying Emotional and Mental Resiliency
• June 24: Cultivating and Maintaining Healthy Relationships

Support Groups

• June 4, 11, 18 & 25; July 2, 9: The Jester and the Sage: Combating Social Isolation Through Storytelling
• June 9, 16, 23 & 30: Supervisor's/ Manager's Support Group
• June 12, 19, 26 & July 3: Self-Care During Uncertain Times

Support groups as limited. Participants are encouraged to commit to meeting for all sessions in the series. 

Learn More and Register

All sessions are facilitated by FSAP counselors. Registration is required to receive the zoom invite.

For more information about each program and to register, visit the Self-Care Workshops page. FSAP is dedicated to serving the emotional and psychological needs of the campus community by providing free services to CU Boulder faculty and staff. To learn more, visit he Faculty & Staff Assistance Program page. 

Off

Employee Management and Compliance Essentials (EMCE) provides a comprehensive overview for managers and supervisors of legal guidelines, campus policies, and CU-Boulder practices related to employee management and development. This blended learning opportunity will include both self-paced and live online sessions. The live-online sessions include interactive workshops on performance management and addressing discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The self-paced online modules, ranging from ten to thirty minutes in length, cover essential topics in managing people including hiring and compensation processes, the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), progressive discipline processes, and policy framework at CU Boulder.

Learners can expect a participatory online environment including engaging in break out rooms, sharing in pairs and small groups, reflection activities, and responding to questions in the chat function of Zoom.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is for anyone who supervises professional staff at the University.

Upcoming Sessions

Blended Series One

• Live Online Zoom Sessions: June 10 & June 30: 9-11am & 2:30-4pm each day, Zoom
• Online Self-Paced Module Work: Between June 10 and June 30

Blended Series Two

• Live Online Zoom Sessions: July 8 & July 30: 9-11am & 2:30-4pm, each day, Zoom
• Online Self-Paced Module Work: Between July 8 and July 30

Instructors

The blended course is taught by OED Trainers and HR/Campus Subject Matter Experts.

Cost

There is no cost for this course.

Off

Crucial Skills for Crucial Times: Using Crucial Conversation during COVID-19 

Organization and Employee Development in Human »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ is launching a new series to help you apply your Crucial Conversation (CC) skills in a virtual and pandemic environment.  Join a Crucial Conversations Support Lab to navigate important conversations that could emerge due to COVID-19. 

Support Lab Structure

• Before the support lab:  Complete the Crucial Conversation Planner worksheet with an example of a challenging conversation you’re currently facing. (The planner worksheet will be sent to you after you register).
• During the support lab: Work with a partner to identify CC skills to help you with your challenging conversation. You will engage with other COVID-19 related scenarios that will help you apply CC concepts to a variety of real-life situations. 
• After the support lab: Apply the lessons learned from the support lab to your challenging conversations. 

Crucial Conversations Support Labs are led by certified CC facilitators. Use your Crucial Conversations skills to remain in dialogue during challenging and difficult interactions with your family, friends and colleagues. The support labs are for only. 

Virtual Session Dates

• Wednesday, May 13; 3:00pm – 4:30pm 
• Wednesday, May 27; 11:00am – 12:30pm 
• Thursday, June 11; 9:00am – 10:30am 
• Friday, June 26; 2:00pm – 3:30pm 
• Monday, July 6; 3:00pm – 4:30pm 
• Tuesday, July21; 1:30pm – 3:00pm 

For questions and more information, contact Alyssa.Willet@colorado.edu. 

Off