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SIUE supports a culture of continuous improvement as part of our involvement with the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) in connection with our accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. One of our current AQIP projects involves the connection between staff engagement and student success. The recent National Study on Student Engagement (NSSE) indicated that students’ perceptions of staff engagement at SIUE have declined over the last few years. The survey results caused us to question how we can improve our results since there is a strong connection between how students feel on campus and their likelihood to stay enrolled at their institution.
The Connections NOW Program consists of a series of courses that will help SIUE improve the level of quality service to students, staff, and everyone in the campus community and was selected because of the quality service message contained in the material meets our objectives. All of the material is presented in a university setting, using a blended learning approach consisting of line training supplemented with classroom instruction. We believe that a blended learning approach is the most effective way to deliver the training material to our diverse community.
Below are frequently asked questions about the program.
PLEASE CLICK ON EACH QUESTION TO VIEW MORE INFORMATION:
Prior to registering for the Connections NOW Program you must have permission from your area supervisor. Please do not register without prior permission and discussing the schedule for Connections NOW to ensure that you will be able to attend all the sessions. Once those steps have been completed you may click on one of the following links:
Deans and Directors Connections NOW Registration
Managers and Supervisors Connections NOW Registration
Individual Contributors Connections NOW Registration
Once you have submitted your information for registration you will receive an email confirming your participation.
After you have registered for Connections NOW you will receive periodic emails with important information. Some of the information provided will include your login information including your password and the link to Connections NOW. We suggest you save the link as ‘favorite’ on your internet browser. You may also access Connections NOW by following this link: CONNECTIONS NOW.
We met with students to obtain their feedback as to how we can improve their success through staff engagement. One of the key suggestions we received from students is that they would like staff to improve the delivery of quality service. In addition, we have received feedback from employees that they would like more training so that they can be more effective in their jobs.
All staff employees are expected to attend this training.
Yes
The training is in response to feedback from students and staff regarding staff employees.
At this time only the university staff will be going through the program. If a department has a student worker or graduate assistant that they feel would benefit from the course they may elect to have that individual go through the program. The department will be responsible for the cost of the course. Please contact Sherrie Senkfor ssenkfo@siue.edu if you have a student worker or graduate assistant that you would like to go through the program.
Each module will take 20-30 minutes to complete. Typically, you will be expected to complete 2-4 modules each week. Your position determines the number of modules you will have to complete. All employees will complete at least 8 modules in total.
Modules are not timed; you are able to stop and start the modules at your convenience.
Modules do not have to be submitted to supervisors nor does your supervisor have access to your on line training. However, your progress and completion of the modules will be monitored by a training administrator to make sure you complete the program.
All staff employees are expected to complete the training. Your initial enrollment is paid for by the Office of Human Resources. If, for some reason you start Connections NOW and are unable to complete the program within the specified period of time, you will have to take the course again. However, an enrollment fee will be charged to your department. Therefore, it is very important that when you register for your session that you are able to commit to the scheduled dates.
Make sure you click all the way through the module and do not exit out too early. If this problem continues you may email lscrogg@siue.edu or connectionsnowsupport@noellevitz.com.
The on line training modules and PDF documents are available to you up to 60 days after you begin the training.
You will sign up for a Connections NOW class that will indicate the date, time and location of your classroom discussions. Your position will determine how many times you will meet for the discussions. The majority of employees will attend 3 separate classroom discussions, each lasting 2-3 hours.
Yes, you are required to attend all of the classroom discussions you are enrolled in. Since you choose the class you want to take, you will know the dates and times of the discussions prior to enrollment. You will be excused from the classroom discussion if you are ill and are absent from work.
You should complete the assigned modules prior to each classroom discussion.
The PDF documents are additional resources for you so you want to print them out for your own reference. You will not need the PDF documents for the classroom discussions.
There will be 1-2 facilitators leading discussions on key points from the assigned material. There will be small group discussions as well as discussion among the entire group. Occasionally there will be small group exercises to help reinforce the training material.
No. You must complete the on-line modules and attend the classroom discussion sessions.
You will be asked to introduce yourself at the beginning of the first session. No one will be forced to talk in a big group but will be expected to participate in small group discussions. However, everyone is expected to attend the class discussions prepared and familiar with the material.
If you have a problem in your group, please inform your facilitator. You may also contact lscrogg@siue.edu. However, participants will not be allowed to “switch” classes based on schedule conflicts once the class has begun.
The focus of Connections NOW is to improve quality service on our campus. Specific office duties and training for individual offices will not be addressed in these sessions.
This will be covered in one of your classroom discussions.
This will be covered in one of your classroom discussions.
Employees are expected to complete the modules and participate in the classroom discussions. Employees will not be “graded” on their participation.
New employees will be included in the program after the majority of existing employees have completed the training.
Connections NOW is mandatory for all staff employees. If you have someone that is refusing to attend the training, please inform your supervisor.
