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The Professional Development Unit directly supports Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s strategic plan, aligning the professional skills of our people with the needs of our organization. We conceptualize, design and present development opportunities that will motivate, challenge, strengthen and enlighten county and campus-paid staff, faculty and elected council officials. |
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Carol Heaverlo, Director Professional Development |
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The Onboarding Checklist is another valuable tool to assist supervisors and new staff during the onboarding period. The checklist provides a step-by-step guide as supervisors help new employees become acclimated to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, complete pertinent paperwork and understand their job expectations. The onboarding process begins before the employee’s first day on the job and the Onboarding Checklist is designed for use throughout the first year of employment. For additional resources for new staff, visit the Professional Development website. |
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Opportunities for Professional Development |
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Mental Health First Aid
Individuals will learn how to identify, understand and respond to those who may be experiencing a mental health related problem or crisis. You will learn what to do, what to say, and how to offer support and resources with confidence. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course offered by trained facilitators and is listed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.
Cost: $50 per person
Dates and Locations:
- April 25, 8.am.-5.p.m., Cass County Extension office, Atlantic.
- May 23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Johnson County Extension office, Iowa City.
- September 26, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Buena Vista County Extension office, Storm Lake.
- November 7, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Black Hawk County Extension office, Waterloo.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Diversity and Inclusion
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Creating Accessible Documents
Professional Development is offering a workshop called Creating Accessible Documents, which walks participants through new processes when working in Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher and Outlook. This free, hands-on workshop is being offered in various locations around the state.
Course Objectives:
- Articulate the difference between the document work flow process participants use now and one that incorporates digital accessibility.
- Integrate styles in documents that are specific for ISU Extension and Outreach.
- Integrate features in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel to create digitally accessible documents that pass the accessibility check.
- Integrate features in Microsoft Outlook to create digitally accessible messages that pass the accessibility check.
- Integrate features in Publisher to create accessible documents.
- Access JAWS screen reader software to test documents.
When:
- April 16, 1-5 p.m., Plymouth County Extension Office, LeMars.
- April 17, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Plymouth County Extension Office, LeMars.
- April 30, 1-5 p.m., Heartland Acres, Buchanan County, Independence.
- May 1, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Heartland Acres, Buchanan County, Independence.
You can register online for the above courses.
Additional courses:
- August 20, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Extension 4-H Building, Room 1020, Ames.
- October 29,10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Carroll County Extension Office (12 participants max) Lunch on your own.
- December 4, 1-5 p.m., Extension 4-H Building, Room 1020, Ames.
- February 25, 2020, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Muscatine County Extension Office Lunch on your own.
- April 9, 2020, 1-5 p.m., Extension 4-H Building, Room 1020, Ames.
You can register online for the above courses.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Diversity and Inclusion + Information Technology
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Crucial Conversations
What is Crucial Conversations? It’s a course teaching skills/tools for creating a positive environment for dialogue. A crucial conversation is a discussion between two or more people where the stakes are high, opinions vary and emotions are strong. When handled poorly or ignored, these conversations lead to strained relationships and dismal results. The workshop teaches participants to:
- Speak persuasively, not abrasively.
- Foster teamwork and better decision making.
- Build acceptance rather than resistance.
- Resolve individual and group disagreements.
Upcoming Workshops:
- May 14-15, Waldorf University, Forest City.
- June 11-12, Extension 4-H Building, Ames.
Workshop is 8 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.
Cost per participant is $250 and lunch is on your own. For more information about the workshop, see the Crucial Conversations Course Information Sheet and Crucial Conversations Sample Agenda.
Workshop facilitators are Robin Ertz and Julie Hlas. Questions about the course can be directed to Robin Ertz.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Diversity and Inclusion + Supervision
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Mission Possible:
Making Marketing Manageable
You do not need to have marketing in your title to be responsible for advancing the presence of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. This workshop will help you identify audiences, create a plan to reach those audiences and make marketing manageable. Learn no-cost marketing tactics that can be implemented right away. Discover more ways the Advancement Team can help you.
If you are involved in promoting programs, building relationships or talking about Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with the public, consider joining us for Mission Possible!
Participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance and difference between generalized and targeted marketing.
- Recognize that each of us is the visual representation of our brand.
- Learn how to identify new audiences.
- Select best methods of communication to reach target audiences.
- Identify tactics to grow networks.
- Understand the importance of building relationships in communities.
- Locate Advancement resources on MyExtension.
- Increase engagement with Advancement staff to become more efficient and effective with resources.
Advancement specialists are the instructors for these workshops.
For more information, contact Natasha Neal, 515-494-9225, or Billie Koester, 515-943-9925.
Dates and locations:
- April 15, 1-4 p.m., Tripoli.
- April 16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Cedar Rapids.
- April 24, 1-4 p.m., Garner.
- April 25, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Spirit Lake.
- April 30, 1-4 p.m., Clarinda.
- May 1, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Winterset.
- May 2, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Ottumwa.
- September 26, 1-4 p.m., Extension 4-H Building, Ames.
Who Should Attend:
Any individual who is responsible for or a contributor to extension marketing efforts. If you need to persuade someone to take action, you’re doing marketing. This includes but is not limited to:
- Office managers or office assistants.
- County or regional directors.
- Field specialists.
- Program coordinators.
- County council members.
Course Benefits:
- Gain confidence in your marketing efforts.
- Understand your target audience and how to reach them.
- Implement no-cost marketing and cross-promotion activities.
- Recognize when to include your advancement specialists for assistance or greater exposure.
Cost to Participants: The workshop is being presented free of charge.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Diversity and Inclusion + Information Technology
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Navigating Difference
Ross Wilburn, diversity officer, and Carol Heaverlo, director of Professional Development, will be hosting Navigating Difference workshops at various county sites throughout the year.
The Navigating Difference series is designed to help ISU Extension and Outreach professionals expand their skills in working with diverse audiences. The curriculum consists of five modules developed by Washington State University Extension staff specifically for extension professionals:
- Cultural Awareness.
- Cultural Understanding.
- Cultural Knowledge.
- Cultural Interaction.
- Cultural Sensitivity.
The training will help you:
- Become more aware of your own personal and organizational cultures.
- Examine how your personal and organizational cultures affect your ability to work across difference in both negative and positive ways.
- Build skills to increase your competencies as you work with others who are different from you.
Who should attend:
- All county and campus-paid staff, council members, faculty and volunteers are encouraged to attend.
Why is it important?
- Because as extension professionals, we said “we believe that education, of which Extension is an essential part, is basic in stimulating individual initiative, self-determination and leadership.”
The three-day workshop series is sponsored by Professional Development. A light breakfast and lunch are included each day. Workshop runs 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
Upcoming Workshops:
- May 21, 22, 23; 290 Scheman Building, Room 275, Ames.
- October 1, 2, 3; Linn County Extension Office, 383 Collins Rd. NE #201, Cedar Rapids.
Please contact Gayle Coon for additional information. Registration is limited to 25 participants per location. You must attend all three days to complete the series and receive a certificate of completion.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Diversity and Inclusion + Information Technology
+ Supervision + Program Design and Development
+ Program Implementation and Delivery
+ Program Assessment and Evaluation
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Coming Together for Racial Understanding
Professional Development is offering a one day workshop for ISU Extension and Outreach staff, faculty and council members, Coming Together for Racial Understanding, based on the national curriculum developed by the Cooperative Extension Service Rapid Response Team. In order to register and attend the workshop, you must already have participated in the Navigating Difference Cultural Competency Workshop series.
Participants in Coming Together for Racial Understanding will:
- Identify barriers to communication and interaction.
- Counter bias and prejudice.
- Connect discrimination and oppression with real life experiences.
- Recognize, acknowledge, and affirm the pain and joy of being in target and non–target groups.
- Build trust across racial and other differences.
Upcoming Workshops:
- May 2, Dallas County Extension Office, Adel.
- December 10, Black Hawk County Extension Office, Waterloo.
Workshop is 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break.
There is no cost for ISU Extension and Outreach staff to attend, morning refreshments will be provided and participants will need to bring their lunch. For more information about the workshop, see the Coming Together for Racial Understanding Course Information Sheet and Coming Together for Racial Understanding Sample Agenda.
Please contact Gayle Coon for additional information. Registration is limited to 25 participants per workshop.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Equity, Diversity and Inclusion + Interpersonal Relationships + Professionalism
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Explore How-to Videos from Advancement
Advancement has developed 20 how-to videos in five categories: branding, media relations and websites, MyExtension, social media, and video. If interested in viewing or learning more about the videos, log in to MyExtension.
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Content Editor Training
This course is for content editors of ISU Extension and Outreach websites who have already completed the Beginner/Intermediate Course and have access to an extension website. The training will cover advanced website features. Participants can also bring questions or issues to the course for one-on-one help. If you still have lingering questions about how to accomplish a task on your website, this is a perfect opportunity for you to get answers.
Dates/Time/Location:
- May 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Extension 4-H Building, Room 1020, Ames.
- August 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Extension 4-H Building, Room 1020, Ames.
Learning Objectives:
- Kristi Elmore, ISU Extension and Outreach IT will provide hands-on training for editing websites and completing complicated and advanced tasks.
- Other subject matter experts will be brought in to provide additional presentations as requested by participants.
- There will be time for questions and answers as well.
Requirements:
- Participants are required to bring laptops for hands-on training. You might also want to bring extension cords for your computers.
- Participants already must have completed the Beginner/Intermediate required training.
- Participants must have content editor access to an ISU Extension and Outreach website.
Because of the nature of this course, the number of participants will be limited to 25.
Cost:
Professional Development has agreed to cover the cost of the workshop; participants are responsible for their own travel expenses. Lunch will be provided for the May date.
For more information contact Kristi Elmore.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Diversity and Inclusion + Information Technology
+ Program Design and Development
+ Program Implementation and Delivery
+ Program Assessment and Evaluation
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Everything DiSC Workplace
Everything DiSC Workplace is a workshop to improve working relationships and communication in the workplace.
Everything DiSC Workplace focuses on:
- Discovering your DiSC communication style and increasing your self-knowledge: how you respond to conflict, what motivates you, what causes you stress and how you solve problems.
- Understanding other DiSC communication styles and improving working relationships by recognizing the communication needs of team members.
- Building more effective relationships.
Participants discover their DiSC communication styles and learn how they affect their workplace priorities and relationships. Everything DiSC Workplace can be beneficial for everyone in an organization, regardless of title or role, to improve the quality of the workplace.
Workshop facilitator: Alison Boelman, Professional Development
Everything DiSC Workplace Course Information can be found online.
Date:
- May 22, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location:
- Mahaska County Extension office, 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa.
Cost is $130.00 per participant. Fee is non-refundable once DiSC assessment has been completed.
Light refreshments provided; lunch is on your own.
Contact Alison Boelman with questions.
register for Everything DiSC Workplace
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Diversity + Leadership
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New Staff Orientation
Your orientation has been designed by new and experienced ISU Extension and Outreach staff and the Professional Development unit. The New Staff Orientation experience is evaluated and adjusted to fit the needs of new staff and faculty with ISU Extension and Outreach appointments.
April 18 and September 19
View the orientation webpage and register. Email invitations will be sent to all new staff approximately one month prior to orientation. Online registration must be completed to attend New Staff Orientation. Contact Alison Boelman with any questions.
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Understanding Implicit Racial Bias: Rewiring Our Perceptions and Intentions (UIRB)
Professional Development will be sponsoring a 1-day learning exchange for Extension and Outreach staff and faculty, Understanding Implicit Racial Bias: Rewiring Our Perceptions and Intentions (UIRB), developed by the Iowa Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Adult, Children and Family Services Division. Defined as a learning exchange, rather than as a training, UIRB is both a guided educational experience, which uses a standard curriculum, and a facilitated discussion that encourages and supports participants’ active involvement in the learning exchange. Intensively-trained facilitators with a background in child and family welfare and a commitment to understanding and reducing implicit bias lead the learning exchange.
Upon completion of the UIRB Learning Exchange, participants will be able to:
- Discuss terminology and definitions related to implicit bias, particularly racial bias.
- Understand the development of stereotypes over a lifetime and how stereotypes may contribute to implicit bias.
- Know how implicit bias is measured to aid in understanding what it is, how it is formed and how it is activated.
- Recognize one’s own implicit bias and the impact it has on clients or other people of color.
- Be able to use techniques to acknowledge and reduce implicit bias in the decision-making process.
The UIRB Learning Exchange will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at the Scheman Building, Room 004 on the Iowa State University Campus in Ames, Iowa. Parking is free.
UIRB is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with registration and light refreshments beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The cost of the workshop for extension staff and faculty is $20 per person to cover the cost of a light refreshment and lunch. For more information about the workshop, see the Understanding Implicit Racial Bias: Rewiring Our Perceptions and Intentions Learning Exchange Flyer for more information online.
Please contact Gayle Coon for additional information. Registration is limited to 35 participants per workshop.
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Incorporates the following competencies:
+ Communication + Leadership + Diversity and Inclusion + Interpersonal Relationships + Professionalism
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IT Resource News
Robin Ertz, information technology manager
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Enhancing Your Impact
Alison Boelman, professional development program coordinator
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Empathy: Your Pain in My Heart
Empathy is a vital skill within the emotional intelligence model. It requires us to be emotionally self-aware, to curb our impulse to react and invest in interpersonal relationships.
Empathy begins with awareness. If we chose to be aware of the feelings of others, we can then resolve to understand and eventually appreciate those feelings. While empathy is a response many crave from others, it's amazing how often we fail to give it. Why?
Maybe because empathy requires time and effort.
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It requires us to put into words our understanding of the other person's perspective even if we don't agree with it.
Psychologists Daniel Goleman and Paul Ekman established the following categories of empathy:
Cognitive – the ability to understand another person’s perspective.
Emotional – the ability to feel what someone else feels.
Compassionate – the ability to sense what another person needs from us.
So what isn’t empathy? To feel empathy, it is not necessary to have shared the same experience or circumstance as others. Rather, it is an attempt to "tune in" to them by learning their point of view and identify what they are feeling. Empathy is not being "nice," it is not being sympathetic and it is not agreeing with their feelings.
There are several things to be aware of when attempting the empathetic approach to listening. Take your emotional temperature before you begin. Are you in the proper frame of mind to attempt empathy? Put reactions on hold and call upon your empathetic side in order to see the other person's perspective. Resist the urge to place judgment, interrupt or insert your personal experience. And avoid statements like:
- Let me give you some advice.
- I’ve been there before.
- I totally understand how you feel.
Instead, try statements like:
- I can only imagine how you’re feeling.
- I’m so sorry to hear you’re experiencing this.
- Thanks for telling me about it. Can we discuss it more?
- It sounds like you had a terrible time.
Being an empathetic listener will strengthen our personal and working relationships while increasing our emotional intelligence IQ.
For more information on emotional intelligence or topics like this, please email Alison Boelman.
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Building an Inclusive Organization
Gayle Coon, professional development program coordinator
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It is a culture of action through learning; it continuously strives to create value at all levels of the organization.
Goal 2 of the ISU Extension and Outreach Strategic Plan, is to “build capacity for council members, faculty, staff, and volunteers.” Strategy 3 of this goal is to “invest in new staff orientation and mentoring offerings to guide professionals’ successful navigation within the ISU Extension and Outreach, Iowa State and /or county extension systems.” The ISU Extension and Outreach Mentor Program was created to support new and seasoned professionals' engagement and growth in a mentoring program during their first year as an ISU Extension and Outreach employee. We are looking forward to holding our forth Mentor Academy in November 2019 and we currently have 88 trained mentors in a variety of roles across the organization. If you need a mentor for a new employee or have questions about the Mentor Program or the Mentor Academy please contact me at gcoon@iastate.edu
Below are resources as you explore the Mentoring Program:
ISU Extension and Outreach Mentor Program - Scope and Sequence
Defining the Ideal Qualities of Mentorship
The Promise of Adaptive Mentorship- What is the Evidence by Ralph & Walker, 2013
Earning Others Trust
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Statewide kick off to build awareness, connections between military community and ISU Extension and Outreach
The military symposium is a statewide event and open to anyone interested, including active military, Veterans, agencies and individuals who support the military community, and ISU Extension and Outreach faculty, specialists, county staff and council members.
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Speakers include:
- Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, a professor of human development and family studies and director of the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.
- Dr. Sarah Baughman, a professor at Virginia Tech and national project leader of the Military Families Learning Network.
- Brig. Gen. Shawn Ford, Iowa Air National Guard.
- Dr. Tim Mullaney, a behavioral scientist for Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
- Lori Reynolds, LISW, a suicide prevention outreach and education specialist for Veterans Affairs.
A local panel of professionals who work with the military community also will be available to answer participant questions.
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Plan on attending!
Wednesday, May 8
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sun Room at ISU Memorial Union
$10 registration. Free for ISU students. Parking passes available for military community members.
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Resources for New Staff and Supervisors |
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For additional information regarding Professional Development, please contact Dr. Carol Heaverlo, director of Professional Development, 515-294-8876, heaverlo@iastate.edu, or Alison Boelman, program coordinator for ISU Extension and Outreach Professional Development, 515-294-7033, aboelman@iastate.edu.
Professional Development
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
1110 Extension 4-H Building
Ames, IA 50011
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Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Diversity Officer, 2150 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, 515-294-1482, extdiversity@iastate.edu. All other inquiries may be directed to 800-262-3804. |
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