Past Events

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• 2019 Panel Discussion: Developing Momentum to Advance Your Career

  2019 Conversations with Staff
  Panel Discussion: Developing Momentum to Advance Your Career
  Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019
  Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
  Location: Bayou City Room, Student Center South
  
  

  The University of Houston continues to build momentum to transform itself and the people at the core of this institution, the staff. 
  
  This year's Conversations with Staff event featured a panel discussion by five University of Houston staff leaders who grew professionally and progressed in their careers here on campus.

  • Kim Howard, Sr. Director of Advancement, CLASS 
  • Teeba Rose, Marketing Manager, Student Housing and Residential Life
  • Natalie Sumrow, Director of Undergraduate Programs, NSM 
  • Esmeralda Valez, Executive Director, University Services

  Staff also had the opportunity to win one of two UH Catalyst Professional Development course prizes and other goodies! 

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee and Co-Chairs Seth Evans & Whitney Johnson.

• 2018 Developing a Healthy You!

  2018 Conversations with Staff
  Developing a Healthy You!
  Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2018
  Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee and Co-Chairs Diane L. Burkett & Jennifer Ebert.

• 2017 Conversations with Staff

  2017 Conversations with Staff
  Date: Monday, October 16, 2017
  Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
  Location: Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, M.D. Anderson Library

  As a staff member at the University, you are critical to all conversations about current and future staff initiatives and contributing to the development of future university-wide initiatives.

  This year's event created awareness for UH Main Campus initiatives and created an open dialog regarding these activities and other concerns for staff and faculty.

  Hear from:

  • Reuben Parrish (Staff Council): Staff Council accomplishments
  • Breion Rollins (HR): Changes to health benefits and vision care insurance
  • Neil Hart (Auxiliary Services): Changes to UH Dining Services
  • Courtney Stein (HR): New Campus Farmers Market
  • Jaime Gonzalez (LGBTQ Resource Center): LGBTQ Resource Center Services

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee.

• 2016 Conversations with Staff

  2016 Conversations with Staff
  
  

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee.

• 2013 Fall Conversations with Staff

  2013 Conversations with Staff
  Date: October 24, 2013

  At this year's fall Conversations with Staff Council event, suggestions included improvements to the new hire onboarding process, establishment of a staff mentor program, and tours to campus personnel.  Attendees proposed training for managers on the ePerformance and staff promotion process, improving the communication infrastructure, and training on conflict management. 

  Distribution of red shirts and a staff mentor program were the most common suggestions, and employees advocated a work culture change to promote mutual customer service, empowerment, and respect.  Staff also recommended several opportunities for fellowship such as increased social events, and attendance at campus sporting events, and initiating a staff spotlight program to highlight staff accomplishments across campus.

   This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee.

• 2013 Spring Conversations with Staff

  2013 Conversations with Staff
  Date: May 7, 2013

  At this year's spring Conversations with Staff Council event, suggestions on recognizing and supporting staff contributions included more recognition events and events for staff to do as a whole; recognizing staff more frequently with low cost and non-monetary thank yous; appreciating staff suggestions; appreciating staff initiatives to obtain training; allowing such perks as flex time and work from home; and training supervisors to be more supportive of staff. 

  Ideas about how to develop, maintain and empower a Tier One staff included defining what is expected of a Tier One staff member; empowering staff to do their jobs (remove roadblocks); encouraging staff to be creative and come up with new ideas in an environment that is safe for them to make suggestions; clarifying the path(s) to career development and promotion; taking into account the employee’s professional goals and staff development on e-performance; and doing a better job at Orientation of showing new employees the campus and making them aware of campus resources available to them.

  Ideas on valuing staff committee service and volunteering included adding service to the university to e-performance; emphasizing the importance of service to the university as career development; and creating a volunteer day when all UH staff/community members participated in one or more community volunteer projects.

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee.

• 2012 Conversations with Staff

  2012 Conversations with Staff
  Date: August 7, 2012

  At this year's Conversations with Staff Council event, suggestions on career development included providing detailed career path mapping for individuals, providing a resource list of internal and external available trainings and provided targeted training courses for specific groups of employees.  Participants put forward different takes on mentoring programs, including cross-training.  Suggestions were also provided on improving communications, such as implementing tracking systems for support areas like Office of Contracts & Grants, purchasing, HR, etc. 

  Staff suggested better ways to communicate between different colleges and divisions as well as between departments within the same college or division.  Participants proposed cross-unit networking and quick dissemination of information down the chain of command to encourage inclusivity of information.

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee.

• 2011 Conversations with Staff

  2011 Conversations with Staff
  Date: August 2, 2011

  At this year's Conversations with Staff Council event, suggestions included developing a culture of encouragement, an infrastructure for staff recognition, and a sense of community through informal events designed to bring employees together. Attendees proposed improving the communication infrastructure to allow for greater transparency and to defuse the rumor mill. Opportunities and support for professional development were requested and attendees were interested in mentoring programs.

  Flextime was among the most common suggestions, and employees advocated a work culture change to promote mutual customer service, empowerment, and respect. Attendees also made several cost-saving recommendations, which included selling equipment and furniture and advertising to increase property rental income. Resource conservation tips were provided, such as reducing campus phones, revamping business processes, and developing interdepartmental mechanisms to share shortcuts and best practices. 

  This event was organized by the Staff Affairs Committee.