Learning & Organizational Development (LOD) has announced that registration is open for January 2025 workshops. LOD programs and services are fully funded by Human Resources as part of its commitment to employee development, with courses available exclusively to University of Manitoba employees.

All UM employees can visit the LODreg web page right now to view available programs. February workshops and sessions will open for registration in early January.

Some workshops that may interest you include:

Training: Design & Development
If you are ever called upon to train others, this half-day workshop will give you a solid foundation in the training design models used in LOD to support people to learn new skills in a collaborative and engaging environment.

Managing the Respectful Workplace
We all hold a responsibility to avoid behaviours that, even unintentionally, may reasonably offend, intimidate, embarrass or humiliate others.  This workshop explores ways that all of us, and especially those with people management responsibilities, can support a respectful workplace.

Influencing Change
Using influence to initiate and support change means having an impact on achieving results and being able to recognize the key moments, or conversations, where you can make a difference.

Change Models and Methods
There are several models and methods to approach, implement, coordinate and support change. In this workshop, participants will review the characteristics of several common change models and explore the strengths and challenges of each.

Introduction to Human Resources
This workshop explores the human resources aspects of the employee life cycle. While this is the first workshop in the UM Human Resources Essentials Program, it can be taken as a stand-alone workshop for those who want to learn more about human resource management at the university.

Introduction to Management
Learn the fundamentals about setting strategy, creating values, and developing management styles, along with practicing basic coaching skills. While this is the first workshop in the UM Management Fundamentals Program, it can be taken on its own by anyone who wants to learn about managing and supervising others at the university.

This is just a sampling of the available workshops. You can find course details and registration information on these and other workshops on the LOD website. 

Remember to check the website regularly in the coming months to view more sessions and dates as the winter unfolds.

Registration for new workshops typically opens six to eight weeks in advance, so employees are encouraged to regularly check back for workshop of interest.

For information on all of the LOD services and resources, visit the Career Development intranet page.

The LOD workshop registration page (LODReg) also lists sessions that can enhance your knowledge of Microsoft 365 products, boost your accessibility knowledge or teach you more about Aurora Finance, with sessions facilitated by subject matter experts across our institution. 

“LOD provides training and development opportunities intended for support and administrative staff,” says Sandra Woloschuk, Associate Director, Learning and Organizational Development in Human Resources. All LOD programs and services are fully funded by Human Resources and there is no cost or chargeback to units or departments. 

So, what are some of the fall workshops you should know about?

“New this fall is our “Inclusive Hiring Practices” workshop,” says Woloschuk. “This three-hour workshop explores implicit bias and how it can impact decision making, particularly in the hiring process. Attendees will learn how to recognize bias and practice practical strategies and techniques to address both individual and systemic bias.”

“One of our most requested training topics relates to change,” continues Woloschuk. “We offer a three-hour workshop on “Influencing Change” that provides guidance on how to use influence to impact how we achieve results, communicate, collaborate, and commit to action.”

“Training: Design and Development” is another course available this fall. “Anyone who is, or may be asked to, develop training or to participate in training others can benefit from learning the simple instructional design model we use in LOD and following the the step-by-step process and templates that we provide in the workshop,” says Woloschuk.

Other sessions available this fall include:

• Presentation Skills
• Managing the Respectful Workplace
• Project Management
• Introduction to Human Resources
• Introduction to Management 

This is just a sampling of the available workshops. You can find course details and registration information on these and other workshops on the LOD website. 

Remember to check the website regularly in the coming months to view more sessions and dates as the fall unfolds.

Happy learning!

“We were once again excited to see tremendous enthusiasm for this initiative,” says Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “We received over 60 applications from a variety of academic and administrative units. The quality of ideas put forward and the collaborative nature of the projects reflect our stated vision to boldly lead change together.”

SISF targets small-scale short-term projects, ranging in cost between $10,000 and $100,000 which could be completed by March 31, 2025. A complete list of funded projects is available on the Strategic Initiatives Support Fund intranet page. We look forward to sharing more with the community on the outcomes of these projects as they move us forward in creating knowledge that matters, empowering learners, and reimagining engagement.

Celebrating our progress: Project outcomes from SISF 2023-24

As the newly funded projects get underway, many projects from last year’s SISF fund have been completed. While their strategic goals were aligned to UM’s previous strategic plan, the project outcomes nonetheless drive us forward toward many common priorities. Here are three examples of impact from the SISF 2023-24.

Project: Inclusive Hiring and Hiring in Good Ways

Lead unit: Human Resources

UM aspires to create belonging rooted in human rights and dignity of all. This vision is reflected in our current and previous strategic plans, as well as other guiding documents such as the President’s Task Force on EDI report and the Indigenous Senior Leadership Report. This project contributed to those efforts to build an outstanding learning and working environment for all, and specifically, to create pathways for Indigenous achievement.

The Human Resources department partnered with CultureAlly to enhance Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and Indigenization and De-colonization in its hiring and retention processes. The EDI consultant provided an external perspective on UM hiring practices, identifying gaps and highlighting strategies to engage, hire and retain diverse talent.

The project led to the development of two workshops relating to hiring staff, “Inclusive Hiring Practices” and “Hiring in Good Ways.”  The “Inclusive Hiring Practices” workshop was rolled out this spring, with six sessions offered. The training leads participants in exploring their implicit bias and how it can impact decision making, as well as teaching mitigating tactics and strategies to address bias in the hiring process.

“Many of the workshop attendees commented on the importance of this opportunity to learn about practical steps and the resources available to support those involved in hiring to follow inclusive practices,” says Sandra Woloschuk, associate director, Learning & Organizational Development. Additional in-person sessions will be offered this Fall term and an on-line self-directed version of the workshop is being developed. Watch for upcoming offerings of the workshop on the Learning and Organizational Development intranet page.

The second workshop, “Hiring in Good Ways,” currently in development, will emphasize the importance of addressing discriminatory practices in hiring that specifically impact Indigenous candidates. Together, these trainings will provide a foundation of knowledge that supports UM’s institutional efforts for consistent and widespread integration of inclusive hiring practices.

Project: Period Poverty and Equity, on Campus and Beyond

Lead units: Faculty of Arts and the Centre for Human Rights Research

The “Period Poverty and Equity” project brought together a collaborative team of faculty and staff to address the issue of period poverty, period equity and menstrual stigma. The research team describes the experience of menstruation as an issue of discrimination due to the financial burden posed by the need for menstrual supplies.

The project, involving members from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social Work and the Office of Sustainability, set out to identify barriers and advocate for equitable solutions for period equity. It aligned with strategic goals to create an outstanding learning and working environment and to forge connections for high-impact community engagement.

The research team conducted a physical audit of all sources of menstrual supplies on UM campuses and an online survey to understand the menstruation experience of UM students, staff and faculty. They also hosted several on-campus events, such as a panel featuring renowned experts on menstrual justice. Their final report outlined several recommendations, including that the University of Manitoba offer free menstrual supplies throughout its campuses. At this time the University is reviewing the recommendations.

Find the full report Period Poverty and Equity on Campus and Beyond.

Menstrual product dispenser in washroom. Photo credit: The Manitoban

Project: A Framework for Experiential Learning with-and-for UM Faculties

Lead unit: The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning 

Building on previous commitments to build capacity and infrastructure for Experiential Learning (EL), this project worked to develop a framework to guide the development, integration and enhancement of EL across the university. Increasing EL experiences at UM is a central pillar of our strategic goal to inspire minds through innovative and quality teaching.

The Office of Experiential Learning held consultations with faculty and instructors aimed at creating a collective vision for Experiential Learning at UM. These consultations resulted in important dialogue across faculties and helped identify the barriers to integrating EL in academic courses from the faculty perspective. Though not yet fully developed, the consultations led to greater understanding of the systems, policies and supports required to implement an Experiential Learning Framework at UM.

In addition, the project led to the development of an EL Faculty Advisory Committee to increase faculty involvement in institutional-level EL initiatives, as well as membership growth in the EL Community of Practice.

Example of Experiential Learning. Project: Art, Community and Resistance 2019, Chiloe, Chile.

These projects are examples of the significant impact of our faculty and staff working together to advance our strategic priorities. Together, UM is making meaningful change in our province and the wider world.

All UM employees can visit the LODreg web page right now to view available programs. Registration for new workshops typically opens six to eight weeks in advance, so employees are encouraged to regularly check back for workshop of interest.

Workshops and sessions include topics like:

• Microsoft Teams usage and optimization
• Compensation, benefits and wellness
• Human Resources
• Peer coaching
• Annual review and development planning
• Managing the respectful workplace
• Project management

More information on LOD programs and services can be found by logging in to the UM Intranet, selecting “Employee resources” and selecting “Employee career development” under “Learning and growth.”

On the employee career development Intranet page, you can find information for for:

• Internal certificate programs
• Workshops and sessions for support staff
• Tuition reimbursement for eligible employees
• Unique team building sessions for groups and departments
• Other employee support services

To view the full workshop schedule and register, visit the LODReg web page. If you have any questions about LOD’s offerings or registration, please contact Sandra Woloschuk at sandra.woloschuk@umanitoba.ca.

LOD is committed to supporting the learning and development of employees. All programs and services are fully funded by Human Resources and there is no cost or chargeback to units or departments. 

Register now for these LOD sessions — and be sure to check the location prior to registering, since many workshops are online. Look for additional in-person workshops that will be available in the spring.

Here’s a taste of upcoming offerings!

To register, visit: https://umanitoba.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse

Note: Registration is open through to the end of February 2023.

Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is an opportunity to give our bodies, minds and emotions a bit of breathing room and rest so we can come back to our work with greater clarity and calm. Taking a purposeful pause in a busy day to practice mindfulness is a way to train our minds, to anchor our focus and attention in the midst of the noise and endless invitations for distraction, and grow a sense of inner calm and stability that can support us through the rest of the day. Four sessions are offered this winter and you are welcome to join any session, or all of them. Each session will include an introduction of one or two mindfulness practices, guided mindfulness meditation and an opportunity for reflection.

Pathing Your UM Career: Transferable Skills

Internal employees may not see themselves as a candidate for an available role, even if they are at least partially qualified for it. We tend to not see our own skills and experience from the perspective of applying them to a different role. How are you thinking about your professional progression and ways that your skills and knowledge might be applied to continue your career. In this session, you will learn about ways to describe your skills and view them as applicable to other types of work and roles. This is one of a series of short sessions being offered this winter to support employees in their current, or a future role, at the university.

Pathing Your UM Career: Interviews

For many employees, it may have been years since they last interviewed for a position. In this session, you will explore ways to prepare for a variety of types of interviews including online, in person, telephone and panel interviews. Each interview type can present its own challenges and this session will address the skills and techniques that you can use to prepare for an interview where you can share the depth of your knowledge and experience, and prepare to respond to the most commonly asked questions in ways that highlights your abilities.

Hybrid Teams: Meetings

Hybrid teams, where some people are working on campus and others are working remotely, experience some unique challenges when meeting. How can you ensure that everyone is able to participate in the meeting; how can we engage with all attendees regardless of their location; what are our expectations around participation; and what lessons have we already learned. In this session, you will learn some best practices for hybrid meetings, and have time to discuss experiences to learn lessons from your colleagues.

Hybrid Teams: Collaboration & Team Building

It can be daunting for hybrid teams to replicate the environments where team members can build close connections with each other, or honing their communication and collaborations skills. In this session you will learn best practices for collaboration and team building no matter the location of your team members. Participants will also have an opportunity to share their experiences and build upon the lessons we have already learned.

To register for LOD workshops, visit: https://umanitoba.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse

For more information on LOD programs and services, log into the UM Intranet, select “Employee Resources” and under “Learning and growth” select “Employee Career Development” (note: you must be logged in with your @umanitoba.ca employee email address to access UM Intranet).

Due to COVID-19, UM was unable to host the in-person annual events to recognize the 766 employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years of service.

Award recipients were recognized with the choice of a small service award gift or option to donate the equivalent monetary amount to a UM fund.

EMPLOYEES SHOW GENEROSITY WITH DONATIONS TO UM BURSARIES

This year, award recipients donated a total of $4,170 to campus bursaries. 

“UM students are working hard to become engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, teachers, nurses, accountants, and more,” says Jennifer Triggs, Alumni & Donor Relations.

“Gifts to scholarships and bursaries are an investment in their careers and in the future of the communities in which they will live and work. Your gift can have a very powerful impact, no matter the amount. No gift is too small to make a difference!”

EMPLOYEES GO THE EXTRA MILE TO ENSURE UM COLLEAGUES ARE RECOGNIZED

“Human Resources continues to work closely with the UM Bookstore and Operations & Maintenance, to make sure employees receive their 2021 service award to either their UM office space or their home doorstep for those employees working remotely,” says Lynn Bohonos, Learning & Organizational Development.

Human Resources would like to thank our partners, colleagues and community for the continued support we give to each other.

“I’m really proud of how we came together as a community to support one another and to ensure teaching and critical research continued,” says Darlene Smith, associate vice-president, human resources.

As we have settled into our new virtual world, there’s been an increased need to reconnect as a community and to share our collective knowledge across faculties and units.

“While employees managed very well in the transition to remote work, sometimes we were merely surviving, rather than thriving as we should.”

THRIVE, a new virtual learning and wellness event, has been created to support people and help them to connect with others and learn and grow—individually, operationally and in their leadership skills. The three-day event will take place from June 22-24. A complete list of sessions can be found on the UM Intranet.  

THRIVE: A NEW LEARNING AND WELLNESS EVENT

“We want this virtual learning and wellness event to help people thrive in our new remote work setting,” says Smith.

THRIVE sessions are organized into three streams: Individual, Operational and Leading. You are welcome to join sessions from each of the streams, based on your interests and learning goals.

Session streams will be offered concurrently starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 2:50 p.m. Each session will be 50 minutes in duration, giving participants time for a short break between sessions.

What does it mean for you and your colleagues?

To help you thrive personally, you and your colleagues can join sessions on mindfulness, making lasting changes in an ever-changing world, capturing your creativity and plant care tips.

Operational sessions include topics such as sharpening your skills for virtual advising, learning inspiring ways to use MS Teams, and getting to ‘inbox zero’ with email tips and widgets for those of us with an overflowing email inbox.

The leading stream includes interactive forums and watch & learns, tips for virtual onboarding and remote team-building. 

“We hope you leave THRIVE with a new skill or with resources to make your remote work less challenging,” says Smith.

And most importantly, we hope you leave with a refreshed sense of community. Hope to see you there!”

A complete list of sessions can be found on the UM Intranet.  

Please note, registration is required for some sessions.

To see UM Intranet log in instructions, please visit the transition page.

The webinars will be of interest to staff who wish to make healthy food choices that promote their overall health and wellbeing, say Melinda Sasek and Susan Ducharme, SSEF committee members.

Sasek and Ducharme add that online day SSEF events like these webinars allow UM support staff to engage with each other while working remotely from home.

Both nutrition webinars will include a half-hour presentation, followed by a half-hour for discussion and questions.

The number of available spots are limited so staff are encouraged to register as soon as possible. A link to the webinar will be sent to participants prior to the event.

Food, Nutrition and Healthy Eating Webinar

Date: September 30, 2020
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Presenter: Dr. Monisola A. Alashi

Food vs Healthy: The struggle is real – what motivates you?

Food is a major uniting factor for all humans, an important aspect of our culture which usually occupies a large part of our day. One of the major question that comes to mind with food in relation to health is usually ‘why can’t I eat whatever I want without adding weight or getting sick?’ For most people, the struggle to maintain a healthy life style while eating anything they so desire is real. Therefore, the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle with food is something everyone should be curious about. This webinar aims to discuss some important fundamentals about food nutrients and composition in relation to health risks, age, sex and lifestyle choices.

Please register for this webinar in the LOD events calendar.

Healthy Eating: Beyond Just Nutrients

Date: October 27, 2020
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Presenter: Anne Mendonca

In this webinar, strategies to achieve a healthier eating routine will be explored, with the idea of achieving a balanced diet by looking at foods based on their processing level, from natural to processed foods. In addition, food is a lot more than just nutrients. It is part of our culture, social life, and mental health. This webinar will approach how to balance your eating routine in a way that can be sustained in the long-term.

Please register for this webinar in the LOD events calendar.

The Support Staff Endowment Fund (SSEF) is a university trust established for the purpose of supporting activities and projects that promote excellence among U of M support staff. You can learn more about these initiatives for support staff on the SSEF website.

If you have any questions about the SSEF webinars, please email Melinda Sasek at melinda.sasek@umanitoba.ca

Workshops to support teams working remotely

With remote learning continuing throughout the fall, LOD has expanded their offerings for groups and teams to fourteen unique sessions, each ranging from 90-minutes to three hours long. These sessions are designed to strengthen teams and provide a creative space for groups to virtually gather to learn and collaborate.

New course offerings include: Conversation Skills; Decision Making; Journaling; The Power of Why; Respect in the Workplace: My Role; Social Intelligence; Building Impactful Relationships; Time Management; and Virtual Meetings.

“Participants often say that attending these sessions is a fun and engaging way to explore different aspects of their team and that these sessions are great way for teams to refocus their energies on what’s important,” says Josh Hartlin, Facilitator and Learning Media Specialist. “Being able to step away from the day to day routine allows them to see the bigger picture.” 

Hartlin adds that these unique learning opportunities allow space for teams to explore their group dynamics in a safe and supportive environment.

“Participants find that attending one of these sessions is valuable to the overall health and wellbeing of their team. Whether it allows them to explore and clarify their vision and goals, interpersonal group dynamics or just plain fun, the experience refreshes the energies of the team.”

Learning series continues online

The popular My UMCareer series has also moved online. The series is comprised of five, one-hour sessions, each designed to help support staff employees to navigate and plan for their career at the U of M.

Employees are welcome to take any or all of the sessions which include Creating Your Career Plan; Resume Writing; Cover Letter Writing; Interview Skills; and Career Mapping.

This series fills up quickly, so register early to guarantee your spot.

Registration is open for workshops taking place in September and October. Registration for November and December offerings will be available in early October.

Visit LODReg for the full list of professional development programming offered by LOD, human resources.

Designed for UM support staff with HR responsibilities and those who want to learn more about HR practices at the university, the UM Human Resources Essentials Program (UMHREP) will focus on university HR processes and procedures.

“Human Resources has been offering training for years,” she adds, “and we have seen the commitment of employees to follow processes and best practices. This program builds on that commitment and makes the information more readily available.”

The program, developed by subject matter experts throughout human resources, brings HR expertise into a single program with consistent outcomes across all of the workshops. UM support staff may take one or more courses for interest or to complete the full certificate.

A broad range of HR practices are covered, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, compensation, benefits, development, performance management, resignation, and other aspects of the employee experience at the university.

The full certificate program comprises eight workshops. Introduction to Human Resources is required as the first workshop in the program and then participants can take any of the other workshops for interest or development. Upon completing all of the workshops and the final capstone, participants receive the UMHREP certificate.

UMHREP workshops include:

• Introduction to Human Resources
• Hiring & Onboarding
• Employee Development
• Staff Relations
• Compensation, Benefits & Wellness
• HR Governing Documents
• HR Systems
• Retirements & Resignations

The final capstone is an opportunity for participants to demonstrate what they have learned by completing a case example and presenting their recommendation to a panel of their peers and representatives from human resources.

“Many participants in our management and leadership programs have expressed the desire to become more knowledgeable in human resource practice at UM as part of their leadership development,” says Jennifer Montebruno, facilitator and programs coordinator, learning and organizational development (LOD), human resources.

“We look forward to supporting them as they build upon their knowledge through the UMHREP.”

Participants interested in pursuing the UMHREP certificate will be provided with application forms and registration codes for future workshops following the Introduction to Human Resources workshop.

You can register for the Introduction to Human Resources workshop on LODReg.