‘Engage & Learn’ supports staff learning and growth

Engage & Learn is a new, campus-wide comprehensive learning and professional development program for staff that will enhance the growth of staff members as they work to advance their careers at the university. The first phase of Engage & Learn consists of the relaunch of the Professional Education Portal (PEP) with an updated look and feel as well as the following features:

• On-demand professional development courses through LinkedIn Learning and curated playlists on special topics and skills.
• Completion badges.
• Mobile compatibility.
• Supervisor dashboards and new reporting features.
• PEP help videos and guides.

Future phases of Engage & Learn will feature an annual Engage & Learn conference, new professional development programming, a professional development grants program, enhanced talent management, manager toolkits, a revamped onboarding experience and a staff mentoring program.

This initiative to support the growth and development of university staff members was launched by President Jere W. Morehead in his 2019 State of the University address. Ryan Nesbit, vice president for finance and administration, charged a 14-member task force that included representatives from units across the university to develop the overall program. Last fall, the task force submitted its final report to Morehead, which included numerous recommendations for Engage & Learn, all of which were accepted.

In his 2020 State of the University address, Morehead noted his support of the robust new program to enhance professional development for staff members at every level of the organization and at every stage of the employment cycle. “These steps make a clear statement about the vital importance of our staff to the success of this university,” he said.

Additional information about the program can be found at engageandlearn.uga.edu.