“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.” —T.D. Jakes

Over the course of the last seven months, we have all been stretched to learn and adapt to our new COVID environment. During these extraordinary times, we have had to learn to be agile and more technology savvy, and to operate in a world of unknowns while attempting to keep all of our personal and professional “trains on the tracks.”

While at times it is challenging and even painful, we have had to keep our heads up and continue to forge through for the sake of our students, one another, the College and our Lady on the Dome. And if I may say so myself, we have done a damn good job at all of it … but I challenge you to do more!

Much like a good fitness plan, our growth and development is never “done.” It’s not a box that can ever be fully checked. Instead, we continue to build skills, grow stronger and find new opportunities to develop further. So while there has been a great peak in our professional and personal learning this year, as Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” We have to be creative in our roadmaps and seek new kinds of learning opportunities, especially during these unusual times of remote work and minimal budget availability.

As you are working on your annual plans, goals, and objectives and key results (OKRs), I want to encourage to you to be selfish and intentionally consider your own professional growth and development during this time. I invite you to consider some of the many options available to you at no cost as a Mendoza and University employee:

Winter Term Development Program
While there is never truly any quiet time (though many of our friends/family often assume we all have our summers “off”), the halls of Mendoza and our undergraduate students’ needs should be a bit quieter in December and January this year. In an effort to create an opportunity for community building, engagement and professional development, I am currently formulating a plan to create a Winter Term Development Program to be executed in mid-late January.

The program will consist of the following opportunities:

In an effort to ensure our content is most meaningful, I am seeking your input in advance. Please complete the Winter Term Professional Development survey by Friday, October 23.

Non-Degree Online Courses
Earlier this year, we communicated that Mendoza faculty and staff would have the exclusive opportunity to utilize our online non-degree certificate programs at no cost through Bisk, our third-party learning provider, which markets and administers a host of online learning certificates on our behalf. While we have recently determined that we will not be renewing our current contract with Bisk beyond September of 2021, there are still some courses that will remain available to faculty and staff in the coming months.

You will find a listing of all of the available non-degree online courses for the remainder of the Bisk relationship here. If you are interested in applying for an online course, please complete this form. All applications will be reviewed by Executive Education and the Dean’s Office based on the criteria identified and timing of submitted application.

Think ND
ThinkND is designed to help easily access free online learning opportunities from across the University. They have partnered with distinguished faculty at Mendoza along with others from Arts and Letters, The College the Science, College of Engineering, School of Architecture, The Law School, Keough School of Global Affairs as well as the Graduate School and the many centers, institutes and departments on campus to bring a digital learning experience through talks, podcasts and other series. Visit ThinkND to view the talks, podcasts and webinar series available.

Other University Resources
While many of our professional development and training programs offered through the University look a little different now, there are many outstanding programs available.

Employee Resources Group Educational Opportunities:

While 2020 has thrown us all quite the curve ball, I believe we will all look back at this as a time of amazing growth and learning. Thank you for all you have continued to do to put one another, our current and prospective students and our stakeholders first. Now it’s time to give yourself the same care and attention that you give to others.

In Notre Dame,

Kara

Kara J. Palmer
Director of Administration