Learning and Development
Professional development is an ongoing journey. Explore workshops, learning opportunities, and resources designed to help UNI employees strengthen their skills, expand their perspectives, develop their leadership capabilities, and grow in their work. Whether you're looking to build new skills, navigate a challenge, connect with colleagues, or invest in your future, HRS offers opportunities to support your continued growth.
New Hire Orientation
Start your UNI journey with confidence. The new hire orientation process helps you transition to UNI, connect with the campus community, learn about the resources available to you, and build a strong foundation for success in your new role.
Arrive at UNI
New Hire Orientation welcomes Merit and P&S staff to UNI and helps new employees get acclimated to campus. Participants learn about UNI's history, mission, policies, procedures and employee benefits. Manager and employee checklists are also available to support a successful transition.
Thrive at UNI
This interactive session helps new employees connect with colleagues and learn more about UNI. Participants explore UNI's history, employee recognition opportunities, benefits and payroll, and the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. The session is offered three times a year, with invitations sent to staff hired within the previous 12 months.
New Faculty Orientation
New Faculty Orientation helps faculty prepare for a successful transition to UNI and the Fall semester. The orientation website provides resources and information about campus, teaching and faculty life. Questions about orientation activities can be directed to Jonathan Chenoweth, Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Performance Development Opportunities - Fall 2026
The Employee Engagement Series and Manager Development Series offer different opportunities for professional growth at UNI.
The Employee Engagement Series is open to all UNI employees and explores topics related to personal and professional growth, workplace engagement, well-being, and connection. Sessions are designed to spark curiosity, encourage reflection, introduce new perspectives, and create opportunities to learn from and connect with colleagues across campus.
The Manager Development Series is designed for UNI managers and leaders. These sessions focus on the practical skills and responsibilities involved in leading people and teams, including navigating workplace conflict and supporting employee performance and accountability. Workshops provide practical tools and opportunities to reflect on leadership practices and learn from others in similar roles.
Together, the two series support continuous learning across UNI - providing opportunities for all employees to grow while offering targeted development for those responsible for leading others.
Wait...It Can Do That? Practical Applications of Generative AI
September 9 at 11:00am in Rod Library's ScholarSpace
Generative AI is evolving rapidly, offering new ways to work smarter and more creatively every day. In this session, you’ll see real examples of how generative AI can support communication, organization, research, and design tasks in the workplace. We’ll walk through practical tools available to you at UNI and explore how to use them effectively in everyday situations where you might need an extra hand. This is a hands‑on session. Bring your laptop to try out the tools as we go! Led by Wilson Rojas.
Register for Practical Applications of Generative AI
"I'm fine. It's fine. Everything is fine." And other things we tell ourselves when life is chaos.
September 22 at 11:00am in Rod Library's ScholarSpace
There are a ton of self-help books about balancing life and work, but many times I am more encouraged when I hear what's actually working for my friends and colleagues. This is a session for all of us to share challenges of being a working parent, grandparent, pet parent, caregiver, new/seasoned professional and how we are manage (or don't manage) it all. Come ready to share and to learn from one another. Led by Heather Asmus.
Register for "I'm fine. It's fine. Everything is fine."
Panther PechaKucha
October 9 at 1:30pm in Sabin 002
Join us for Panther PechaKucha, a dynamic storytelling event where six faculty and staff from across campus each present 20 images for 20 seconds each, creating engaging presentations. Through stories of work, leadership, and personal experiences, you'll gain fresh perspectives and connect with the people who make our Panther community unique.
Register for Panther PechaKucha
Trendspotting 101: What’s Up with Today’s College Students
October 14 at 2:00pm in Rod Library's ScholarSpace
Today’s incoming college students are bringing new expectations, experiences, and needs to campus. This session explores the trends shaping academic advising and career services, along with practical strategies for building student motivation, strengthening engagement, and helping learners take ownership of their academic and career journeys. Come ready to explore fresh perspectives and ideas for connecting with students in authentic, inclusive, and meaningful ways. Led by Sarah Goblirsch and Jenny Connolly.
Register for Trendspotting 101
Keeping Hope Close
October 9 at 1:30pm in Sabin 002
How do we hold on to hope when so much of what we see and hear can leave us feeling hopeless? This engaging session explores hope as something we can actively build through goals, pathways, and personal agency. Together, we’ll explore practical H.O.P.E. strategies, reflect on the sources of hope closest to us, and consider how we can use our own agency to inspire hope in others. Come ready for conversation, reflection, and a renewed sense of the difference we can make. Led by Ashley Coffin.
FLSA/Time Reporting
August 12 at 9:30am on Zoom
September 15 at 3:00pm on Zoom
October 19 at 8:30am on Zoom
November 19 at 1:00pm on Zoom
December 16 at 1:30pm on Zoom
Supervisors of non-exempt (hourly) staff will learn about the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and UNI time reporting. It is a manager's role to ensure compliance with these regulations; this session is being offered to support managers in this area.
Register for FLSA/Time Reporting
Building High Performing Teams
September 15 at 11:00am in Gilchrist 009
Strong teams don’t happen by accident - they are built through intentional leadership, clear expectations, trust, and meaningful connection. This session explores the foundations of high-performing teams and the role managers play in creating an environment where employees can collaborate, contribute, and succeed. Participants will explore strategies for strengthening team dynamics, building trust, navigating different work styles, and fostering a culture of accountability and engagement. Come ready to reflect on your current team practices and identify opportunities to help your team thrive.
Register for Building High Performing Teams
Meetings That Matter
October 21 at 1:00pm in Gilchrist 009
Meetings are a regular part of work - but they don’t always feel like a productive use of time. This session explores how managers can design and lead meetings that create clarity, encourage participation, and move work forward. Participants will examine common meeting challenges, explore strategies for improving meeting purpose and structure, and consider how to create more engaging and effective conversations. Come ready to rethink your meetings and identify practical ways to make them matter.
Register for Meetings That Matter
Navigating Workplace Conflict
November 10 at 9:00am in Gilchrist 009
Conflict is an inevitable part of working with others - but avoiding it rarely makes it disappear. This session explores how managers can recognize, understand, and navigate workplace conflict with greater confidence and intention. Participants will examine common sources of conflict, consider how different perspectives and communication styles shape difficult situations, and explore strategies for having productive conversations when tensions arise. Come ready to build your confidence in addressing conflict and turning challenging moments into opportunities for understanding and progress.
Register for Navigating Workplace Conflict
Managing Performance with Purpose
December 1 at 11:00am in Gilchrist 009
Effective performance management is about more than completing an annual review - it is an ongoing process of setting clear expectations, providing meaningful feedback, recognizing progress, and addressing challenges. This session explores how managers can approach performance management as a tool for employee growth and organizational success. Participants will examine strategies for creating clarity, holding employees accountable, and engaging in the conversations that help employees understand what success looks like and how to achieve it. Come ready to rethink performance management as an ongoing practice that supports both accountability and development.
LinkedIn Learning
The LinkedIn Learning Online Training Library is a constantly growing and evolving body of training video tutorials designed to help you learn what you want, when you want it. UNI students, faculty and staff have access to more than 5,000 courses organized by subject, software, and instructor. Explore courses based on your personal experience and LinkedIn profile. Visit UNI eLearning Suite more information and resources.
FMLA and ADA Manager Responsibilities
This course provides managers with high-level information about how to identify a potential leave or accommodation request from an employee and their role in complying with the Family & Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Human Resource Services recommends managers complete this training upon hire and annually thereafter; however, this training session is available on-demand and may be taken as needed through Blackboard.
