With the increasing urgency of assessing student learning outcomes being placed on student affairs and academic units, how much consideration are we giving to the learning that takes place in the on-campus work environment?  Each school year, students have access to hundreds of employment opportunities on our campus, but how are we connecting employment to the academic mission of the institution?

            Beyond that, as departments explore learning outcomes-based activity into the campus work environment, how are we preparing our staff to implement and sustain this type of learning culture?  Staff development is a critical component to this process as the quality of learning in the workplace directly correlates to the quality of the relationship that is formed between the student employee and their supervisor.  As a result, staff members, especially those in administrative, auxiliary and support positions, will benefit by providing them the resources to create a workplace culture that supports student learning.

            At UND, a workshop was developed that can help supervisors and staff achieve employment goals that move beyond job satisfaction to goals which support student learning.  The workshop helps supervisors understand and assess what students are learning on the job and how students can increase their core skills.  The objective is for the work environment to become an integrated part of the education and preparation of the whole student as it relates to their total collegiate experience.  The workshop further provides staff members with supervisory techniques they can use to help students learn and develop beyond the practical aspects of their jobs

The workshop is held annually for University staff.  For further information, contact the Memorial Union Director at 701-777-4703 or tonytrimarco@mail.und.nodak.edu

Updated August 2009