Return on Education
UCSD Staff Enhance Skills, Knowledge and Opportunities Via In-House Offerings

By Colleen DeLory | January 18, 2005

Deborah Seidle

With 78 classes under her belt, Deborah Seidle may just be UCSD Staff Education and Development's No. 1 fan. Through its course offerings and her own innate desire to learn, Seidle gained the skills and knowledge to advance from the UCSD temporary pool to her current position as director of Core Resources for Health Sciences.

"Staff Education and Development classes not only made me skill-competent," said Seidle, "they played a pivotal role in my development as a manager, helping me garner a host of 'soft skills' such as performance and time management." In particular, she describes Supervisory Training Laboratory, aka Sup Lab, as a transforming experience.

This 46-hour program draws together a host of subject matter experts to help better prepare individuals in their supervisory roles. Months of preparation come together in a seamless experience for the attendee. Sup Lab is one example of how Staff Education and Development, a division within Human Resources, packages training to meet individual and organizational needs.

Other programs include those focused on administrative professionals, middle managers, and business officers. In addition, staff interested in developing in a certain arena can work their way through ten different curricula, including communication, sponsored projects administration, and student services.

Groundskeeper Mike Scarry is one class shy of his work leader certificate. After starting at UCSD in 2003, he was encouraged at New Employee Orientation and by his supervisors to pursue professional development activities.

"I've been lucky that my supervisors have recognized and fueled my initiative," said Scarry. "It must be expensive to recruit from the outside, so if you can develop people from the inside, it's a plus for the employee and employer."

Interested in moving into a lead or supervisory role down the road, Scarry is also now more aware of the breadth of positions on campus having met a wide variety of staff in his classes. "I'd like to spend another 15-20 years here," he said . "The classes can help open the door to new opportunities."

Staff Education and Development classes are published in a yearly print catalog and online through Enrollment Central, where staff can browse more than 200 classes in close to 1,000 sections each year. Through Enrollment Central, staff also can enroll for the many no-cost or competitively priced classes and track their training history.

Lana Brenes, director of Staff Education and Development, has seen learning options expand in her 21 years on campus.

"One significant way in which this campus can continue its rapid progression is by preparing our staff for the next challenge," said Brenes. "These classes are an effective means of ensuring UCSD's staff have the knowledge and skills needed to excel."

With UCSD- and community-based partners and instructors, Staff Education and Development works to provide the training people need. In response to a request from Seidle, Staff Education and Development helped organize a basic cell culture lab workshop. In another example of campus collaboration, Staff Education and Development began partnering with Environment, Health and Safety in 2002 to enable participants to enroll in EH&S courses through Enrollment Central.

The possibilities are endless, but time is limited. Asked where she finds the time to manage a busy department, care for her family and continue learning, Seidle is adamant.

"It's easy to be reactionary," she said, "but if you are proactive with your time, you will spend a few hours one day to save you untold hours of grief down the road. I promise - the return on investment will be worth it."