By Marquita Govan
Last year, more than 400 faculty and staff members attended classes in the Faculty/Staff Training Program. These classes were intended to enhance their skills for career development and train them to do a better job at UNO.
Over 25 of these classes have been eliminated due to budget cuts, according to Human Resources Director Rod Oberle.
The programs were designed based on an analysis of demand. The classes offered were ones that were truly needed.
Even though the programs given by the Department of Human Resources Training and Development got very high reviews from employees, "the university is probably saving an employee’s job" by removing them, Oberle said.
In fact, Oberle said he only wishes that he had more to cut in order to save the jobs of others.
The annual Faculty/Staff Training and Development Course Catalog for 2002-03 offered over 30 classes. Among classes that were offered last year no longer being offered include The Value of Mentoring and Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
These classes both had a waiting list for attendance and were aimed at empowering workers to be better people professionally and personally.
Other classes no longer being offered include technology teamwork and supervisory skills.
Current personnel suggestions on how to keep the program running include seeking external funding through the work force development program and through grants provided by the state.
The budget reductions will not just affect this program, Oberle said. They will also hurt the NU Values program, a classification and compensation program some of the classes were for. The program made it possible for employees to improve their occupational advancement and upward mobility.
However, Oberle noted the classes cut were supplemental. The employee scholarship program still remains, he said, allowing employees the opportunity to take classes for credit with the university.
Though Oberle knows the effects the budget cuts will have on his workforce, he is trying to stay optimistic.
"All cuts hurt, as Chancellor Nancy Belck said. We ask faculty and staff to let their senators know of these hurts and to continue to support the university and their mission."
