Creating Opportunities for Growth

January 26, 2017
Among the many reasons Baylor University made the “Great Colleges to Work For” honor roll, according to a 2016 survey by the The Chronicle of Higher Education, are the generous benefits offered to full-time employees. Indeed, comprehensive health coverage, employer-paid retirement contributions and paid time off are significant aspects of an attractive benefits package, as are the many opportunities for personal and professional growth offered through Baylor Human Resources.

“Baylor is consistently ranked in the top percentile in the Professional/Career Development Programs category in the ‘Great Colleges to Work For’ survey and has ranked higher than the benchmark average for Carnegie Classification schools,” said Tami Nutt, manager, employee experience & engagement. “Baylor University is dedicated to education—including the education of our faculty and staff. We believe that continued learning for our employees is essential to the fulfillment of Baylor University’s mission and the execution of its vision.”

In the realm of skills development, Baylor employees now have access to over 2,500 online software, creative and business skills courses through a licensure with Lynda.com. The popular site produces video tutorials taught by experts across a variety of industries. While Lynda.com usage is typically membership-based, Baylor employees may access all Lynda.com courses free of charge through ITS.

One of the easiest ways to learn about new and ongoing learning opportunities is through the monthly HR Advisory email. There, employees will find a learning and development planner— a calendar of upcoming classes, events and other development opportunities.

“The HR Advisory newsletter gives you a simple monthly look at what’s coming up,” explained Broc Edwards, director of talent management. “It’s easier than going through Compass and wading through all the options.”

Human Resources is currently emphasizing a focus on leadership training for all interested employees. To that end, the department hosts a Leadership Lunch and Learn each month.

“It’s one hour and you bring your own lunch,” Edwards said. “We have a video about leadership principles and then discussion within the group about the topic—its presentation and how it relates to what we’re trying to accomplish in the workplace and at Baylor.”

Another course you may see in the HR Advisory newsletter is called Crucial Conversations, a course about how to effectively handle the tense or sensitive discussions we face in the workplace from time to time. This is a two-day course split over two weeks, as employees may find this easier than taking two consecutive days away from work.

“This course focuses on developing the skills to be able to have a critical conversation with someone,” Edwards said. “Anyone in a supervisory or leadership position needs to be able to have the tough but important conversations, but this course is beneficial for employees of all ranks. We all communicate every day with peers, constituents and in our personal lives. Crucial Conversations teaches the fundamental skills that we need but so rarely receive in any formal training.”

Participants are encouraged to think about real-life situations they may face at work or at home, and learning is enriched by lots of in-class discussion.

“We hope you’ll come away with the skills needed, when you get into a difficult conversation, to be able to detach yourself enough from it, to remain objective, calm and focused on the topic at hand,” Edwards said. “Then you can use these new tools to understand the other person’s point as well as get your own point across clearly.”

Additionally, as part of the department’s emphasis on leadership, Human Resources welcomed Drexel King, manager of learning & development in January. King, a former Marine captain, comes to Baylor from the Naval Academy in Annapolis where he has been teaching courses in leadership. Among his responsibilities at Baylor, King will be creating and implementing a new supervisor training package, which will include online and in-person training resources.

“That is probably the toughest career leap, stepping into a role where you are suddenly managing people, and people seldom receive any formal training in that area before they get there and go, ‘What did I just get myself into?’,” Edwards said. “It’s a different skill set and no one ever warns you in advance. We are excited to offer some formal training in that area in a neat package. And from there, we look forward to expanding into overall manager development.”

“The addition of King’s position and the position focused on employee experience & engagement demonstrates the University’s dedication to ensuring faculty and staff are equipped and supported throughout their time at Baylor—from hire to retire,” Nutt added. “He recognizes the positive outcomes professional development programs currently have at Baylor and desires to devote his efforts to increase those for exponential effects across the University.”