Executive Summary
The Organizational Development & Training (ODT) unit had a strong year, supporting the professional growth of over 1,700 unique staff members across all of our programs through offerings like New Employee Orientation, NSPIRE, NRICH and NCLUDE. This level of participation demonstrated staff commitment to continuous learning, resulting in enhanced competencies, improved leadership capabilities, and stronger employee engagement across the university.
I appreciate ODT for having resources like these! It makes me, as an employee, feel more valued and that UNL cares about my professional development. Thank you!
– NSPIRE Attendee
Overall Program Engagement
Our Mission
Organizational Development & Training offers a comprehensive range of professional development and training opportunities for staff. These programs are designed to help employees build core competencies, develop professionally and advance within the university.
Our Role
Through courses, workshops, resources, and networking, we offer programs for every stage of a career. Across all our roles on campus, we’re committed to helping every Husker do big things and achieve their professional goals.
Core Responsibilities
To empower employees by:
- Offering continuous learning and growth opportunities.
- Developing effective leaders and supervisors.
- Facilitating peer support and community connections.
- Ensuring successful onboarding and integration of new staff.
Impact Areas
Our work is structured around four core strategic areas from initial orientation to ongoing learning opportunities and leadership growth; these categories ensure a holistic approach to professional excellence across the university.
New Employee Onboarding
To introduce new employees to the university and equip them with the tools, resources, and connections to succeed in their careers.
Learning and Professional Development
To help staff gain new skills, stay competitive, and grow their potential through unique training, workshop opportunities, and conferences.
Staff Mentorship Program
To connect employees seeking to excel in their roles with experienced colleagues to share support, provide insights, and grow their Husker communities.
Leadership Development
To provide new ideas and in-depth discussions to help employees lead effectively, support their teams, and grow in their roles as leaders.
Our Programs
NRICH Professional Development Series
NRICH is designed for all UNL employees. These sessions and workshops cover a wide range of topics, from well-being and communication to professional development and technical skills.
All Staff Conference
The UNL All-Staff Conference is an essential two-day event for professional growth and community building. This conference is specifically designed to support every level of University staff by delivering targeted professional development, encouraging vital cross-campus dialogue and fostering engagement.
Having these conferences every year shows me that… they value staff. A lot of the sessions I attended are helpful for my personal development which also contributes to my job satisfaction.
– All Staff Conference Attendee
Bridge E-Learning Training
Bridge E-Learning Management System (LMS) is a resource for flexible, asynchronous professional development. Accessible with a NUID, the Learning Library offers a robust, searchable repository of optional, on-demand courses. Staff can proactively access content to align with their skill-building goals on their own schedule.
Bridge empowers employees to own their development
NCLUDE Learning Groups
NCLUDE Learning Groups are structured, semester-long opportunities for all community members—including staff, faculty, students and alumni—to build community and belonging. These small groups foster deeper relationships across the institution and help participants understand and embrace their role in creating a more profound sense of belonging for everyone.
NSPIRE Supervisor Development Series
NSPIRE is a leadership development program specifically for supervisors and aspiring leaders. Participants work on key attributes like effective communication, coaching and motivating teams to become the kind of leaders who truly inspire others. It's a monthly opportunity to become a dynamic people leader.
I particularly appreciated the focus on understanding our individual strengths as supervisors. It was incredibly beneficial and self-revealing.
– Jenny Zepeda, 24-25 NSPIRE attendee
Staff Mentorship Program
The Staff Mentorship Program is a dynamic experience running from September to May designed to unlock employees' full potential. It strategically connects participants with a seasoned staff member or esteemed retiree who acts as a dedicated coach. Mentors empower mentees by offering fresh perspectives and guiding them through the creation and implementation of a personalized learning goal to fuel their professional and personal growth within the university.
The program is an awesome way to give back to fellow staff members to improve the university as a whole.
– Kristin Beede, 24-25 Mentor
New Employee Orientation
New Employee Orientation (NEO) introduces staff to the vibrant community and welcoming culture at the university and provides useful information as new employees transition to work life at the university.
By attending, new employees can…
- Connect with new employees from various departments across campus and begin to develop meaningful relationships.
- Understand how the university’s Odyssey to Extraordinary strategic plan aligns with their roles and goals within the university.
- Gain valuable insights from a senior leader who will share their experiences and help them understand the value and impact of staff members.
- Discover how to make the most of their benefits options and access the resources designed to support their well-being and professional development.
- Meet with representatives from a variety of campus offices to learn about our wide range of employee resources.
Looking To The Future
ODT is committed to an ambitious vision for staff development, directly supporting the University of Nebraska System’s Odyssey to Extraordinary strategic pillar for an Extraordinary Culture & Environment. Moving forward, we will continue to build an attractive workplace by offering robust professional development focused on continuous learning, core competencies, engagement and belonging so all staff can thrive.
Key Organizational Development & Training Initiatives:
- Elevating the Learning Experience: Formalize professional development into clear learning pathways to help staff easily identify training for skill mastery and career advancement.
- Targeted, Flexible Resources: Add more asynchronous, grab-and-go resources to the ODT website and Bridge LMS for supervisors, ensuring just-in-time access to crucial training.
- Reigniting Leadership Pathways: Relaunch the Staff Leadership Academy, a comprehensive, structured program to cultivate UNL's next generation of dynamic leaders.
- Launching a Culture Initiative: Initiate Husker Staff POWER, a new campus-wide culture program focused on boosting engagement, recognizing excellence, and cultivating a unified workplace culture.
Thank You
This past year's success wouldn't have been possible without the invaluable collaborations across our campus. We extend our deepest gratitude to the many departments, units and individuals who partnered with ODT, sharing their insights and commitment to professional growth. Your commitment is instrumental in fostering a culture of continuous learning and engagement at the university, and we look forward to continuing these fruitful partnerships in the year ahead
