Inaugural Staff Supervisor Professional Development Program: Submit a Nomination by May 20

In support of CU Denver’s strategic plan goals to become an equity-serving institution and best place to work, campus leaders are excited to announce a professional development program focused on the growth of staff supervisors in the workplace and in the CU Denver community. 

Sponsored by CU Denver leadership, the inaugural Staff Supervisor Professional Development Program will launch in fall 2022 and include one session per month from August through June, with sessions being offered in-person and virtually. This is the first time CU Denver has established a yearlong cohort-style professional development program specifically designed for staff supervisors. While this program will share similar competencies and content as other leadership programs, this program is designed to foster growth among supervisors in areas such as performance and staff management, financial and budgetary literacy, communication and many more.

Campus leaders are seeking nominations for supervisors who oversee frontline employees and who demonstrate high potential for growth in their role and contribution to the work culture of CU Denver. Nominators must be the direct supervisor of the nominee and must support this time commitment, as one expectation of the cohort is that all sessions are attended.  

While CU Denver offers several professional development opportunities for its employees, the Staff Supervisor Professional Development Program is a result of Chancellor Marks’ 100 Days of Listening Tour and the vision report for Goal 5 of the 2030 Strategic Plan, becoming a people-centered best place to work. During these outreach forums, campus leaders heard that staff supervisors want and need focused opportunities to build their management skills as they relate to the strategic plan, to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and to leading in a post-COVID era. The Staff Supervisor Professional Development Program will cover topic areas including performance development and management, project management, budgets and financial literacy, strategic communication, workplace culture, critical events management, and more. 

“We heard that staff want to be able to grow in their roles, and they felt that University leaders got the attention, not the front-line employees,” said Megan Backstrom, learning and development consultant, who is helping leadership create the new program. 

CU Denver’s Executive Vice Chancellor of Administration and Strategy Jennifer Sobanet added, “We wanted to be intentional with this program to reinforce to our frontline supervisors how valued and important they are to CU Denver.”  

Those who are interested in nominating a supervisor for the training should complete the form below, which asks for a brief explanation of why the supervisor will benefit from the program and how the supervisor contributes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and belonging at CU Denver.  

Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20. After reviewing the nominations, a member of the CU Denver Learning & Development team will contact the nominators and supervisors, no later than June 14. For questions, please contact CUDenverL&D@ucdenver.edu.