Human Resources
University of Arkansas
222 Administration Building
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Tel: (479)-575-5351
Fax: (479) 575-6971
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Employee Development Program
Report of Employee Development Program Training Needs Assessment November 2011
BACKGROUND: A link to an electronic survey was emailed to 4000 benefits-eligible faculty and staff in November 2011. Employees were asked to provide input regarding training programs and to rate their interests in various training topics. If they were supervisors, they were also asked to rate their interests in training topics for their direct reports. The survey received a 16% response rate.
· Majority of people who completed the needs assessment were Classified Staff.
· 94% of supervisors allow their employees release time for EDP sessions
· Most people prefer sessions that are either 1 - 2 hours long in mornings or afternoons
· Newswire seems to be the best source of advertising the trainings (along with listservs)
· "Improving job skills" was the biggest incentive for people to participate in training
· Most Interest in Job Categories (in order of interest):
o Communication Skills - Grant Writing, Conflict Resolution, Negotiation Skills, Writing for the Web, Effective Written Communication, Effective Oral Communication, Speaking before Groups
o Technology Job Skills - Adobe Programs, Web Development, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel
o Supervisory Management - Project Management, Team Management, Supervising Employees, Documenting Procedures/Policies, Evaluating Employee Performance
o Leadership Skills - Problem Solving, Setting Goals & Planning to Meet University Requirements, Financial Planning
o Interpersonal Skills - Dealing with Difficult People, Working in Groups or Teams, Training & Coaching Employees, Customer Service Skills
o Diversity - Disability, Diversity & Inclusion, Socioeconomic background, Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Gender
o StrengthsQuest - Strengths-Based Leadership, Now Discover Your Strengths, Strengths-Based Supervision, Strengths-Based Advising
o University Related Topics - Policies, Accounting Processes, Purchasing Processes, History & Culture
o Life Skills - Stress Management, Work-Life Balance, Time Management, Coping with Change in the Workplace
o Other - CPR, different levels of computer applications, Defibrillator training, Health & nutrition related classes, financial counseling/personal finances, certification programs for clerical positions (goes along with career ladder), "certification classes for CIS with testing given on campus free of charge"
· 40% of respondents supervise employees and 96% allow release time for them to attend on-campus training
· Most pressing problems for supervisors:
o Leave issues, engaging employees, conflict resolution, time management, team building, helping employees improve their skills, too much work and not enough staff
· Supervisors most interested in Job Categories for employees (in order of interest):
o Communication Skills - Effective Written Communication, Conflict Resolution, Effective Oral Communication, Negotiation Skills
o Technology Job Skills - Adobe Programs, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access
o Supervisory/Management Job Skills - Project Management, Documenting Procedures/Policies, Team Management
o Leadership Skills - Problem Solving, Setting Goals & Planning
o Interpersonal Skills - Dealing with Difficult People, Customer Service Skills, Working in Groups or Teams
o Diversity - Diversity & Inclusion
o StrengthsQuest - Now Discover Your Strengths
o Life Skills - Time Management, Stress Management, Work-Life Balance, Coping with Change in the Workplace
o University Related Topics - University Policies
o Other - CPR
Employee Development Program Needs Assessment:
Addressing the Needs of the Campus Community
August 2012
In an effort to meet the training needs of the campus community as determined from an electronic survey done in November 2011, the Employee Development Program has added new training programs and is continuing to seek out new opportunities to meet those requests.
· 89% of those who answered the survey preferred classes that are 1 - 2 hours in length. To meet this demand, EDP has ensured that all new classes that have been added to the calendar are 1 - 2 hours long.
· To meet the interest in classes in the Technology Job Skills category, EDP began collaboration with the Global Campus to extend discounted classes to University employees. Employees may attend Microsoft and Adobe courses for a discounted price. Classes are offered 1-2 times a week in various software applications, and the Microsoft classes are led by Microsoft Certified instructors using Microsoft Office Specialist courseware. The following classes are currently offered on beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels:
o Adobe Acrobat X Pro
o Adobe InDesign CS6
o Adobe Photoshop CS6
o Microsoft Access
o Microsoft Excel
o Microsoft Excel Macro Programming
o Microsoft Outlook
o Microsoft OneNote
o Microsoft PowerPoint
o Microsoft Publisher
o Microsoft Visio
o Microsoft Word
o Windows 7
· To address interest in the Communication Skills category, EDP has added the following courses:
o Conflict Resolution can be Positive
o Win-Win Negotiation
o Public Speaking Know-How
o Crucial Communication
EDP has also provided links on the HR website to grant writing resources.
· To address interest in the Leadership Skills category, EDP has added the following courses:
o Importance of Delegation in Leadership Roles
· To address interest in the Interpersonal Skills category, EDP has added the following courses:
o Customer Service at the YOU of A
· To address interest in the Supervisory Management category, EDP has added the following courses:
o Writing Procedural Documentation
o Team Management
o People Admin
· To address interest in the Life Skills category, EDP has added the following courses:
o Tips on Elder Care
o Finding Your Balance
o Stress to Resilience
o Facing the Challenge of Change
o Stress & Change for Supervisors & Managers
o Why Be Happy
· To address interest in the Diversity category, EDP has added the following courses:
o Attitudes Towards Differences
o "Before Stonewall" Film viewing & Discussion
o Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
o LGBT Social Issues Seminar
o What do you Know? What Have you Heard?
o Classism, Poverty and Economic Vulnerability
o Disability: Building Understanding and Creating Allies
o Nontraditional Students
o Brown Eye/Blue Eye
o Crossing the Line
o Sharing Stories: The Prejudice Activity
o Twenty Things I can do to be More Inclusive
o Inclusion/Exclusion
o Privilege and Prejudice - Building Understanding and Creating Allies
o Gender Bias - Building Understanding and Creating Allies
o Anti-Racism - Building Understanding and Creating Allies
EDP is currently seeking out ways to fulfill other class requests concerning the following topics:
· Dealing with Difficult People
· Coaching Employees
· Project Management
· Writing for the Web
· Problem Solving
· Classes on University related topics