Carnegie Mellon University
EN-9: Staff Professional Development and Training

Because several of the UN Sustainable Development goals are pertinent in this context, we've categorized our staff development and training opportunities within that framework. Some of the opportunities below are also addressed in other Credits.

UN Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages:
We offer Free Group X-ercise classes for CMU undergraduate/graduate students, faculty and staff. These classes are offered at no cost and taught by professional instructors. Group X applies to current CMU faculty, students, and staff. See http://athletics.cmu.edu/fitness/groupx for additional info.

Additionally, campus wellness programs are also offered through Student Affairs Wellness Initiatives. Although student focused, staff are encouraged to participate. See https://www.cmu.edu/wellness/

Monthly new hire orientation sessions also include experts that detail the campus physical and mental fitness resouces available across campus.

Weekly onboarding sessions review employee benefits that include health and welfare benefits that provide access to well-being resources outside of campus. 

UN Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all:
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) offers its members rich opportunities to increase their knowledge, enhance their skills, interact with their peers, and increase their social and cultural awareness. Osher provides its members a wide range of courses taught by members, volunteers, faculty from CMU and other regional colleges and universities, and representatives from community organizations, all eager to share their expertise and engage in dialogue with their peers. Although Osher and Carnegie Mellon University are two separate organizations they interact in many ways, enriching one another and the surrounding community they share. Osher’s membership is a reflection of the University’s commitment to nurturing individuals for a lifetime. Osher provides the University with audiences for artistic and musical performances, patronage of dining facilities, volunteers for research projects conducted by students and faculty, and an opportunity for current and retired faculty to share their passions and expertise with eager, mature students. Membership in Osher provides CMU alumni with an opportunity to strengthen their connection with the Oakland campus. The University, instrumental in the founding of Osher’s lifetime learning program, continues to provide the Osher program with a rich cultural and educational environment, classrooms and office space, technical assistance, and many other support services. See https://www.cmu.edu/osher/ for more info.

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) promotes lifelong learning through a library of on demand and instructor-led courses and programs. FocusU, our Learning Management System, provides access to hundreds of courses, books, videos and interactive AI similators that allow employees to develop on variety of technical and professional topics.

OHR has also established access to two additional online resources Academic Impressions (provides leadership, personal development and skills-based training opportunities to faculty and staff in higher education via virtual workshops, conferences and cohort programs) and Development Dimensions International (access to on-demand courses covering a diverse range of topics applicable to employees and supervisors) to supplement Computing Service's LinkedIn learning portal (library of training videos and tutorials covering a wide range of software, technologies and business topics).

OHR also developed and delivers core instructor-lead programs the annual CMULead (fosters development as leaders, expanding networks and encouraging stewardship of the university’s mission, vision and strategic goals) and Lean Six Sigma (training focused on improving processes and creating efficiencies followed by a hands-on team project that uses the principles and tools of Lean Six Sigma) programs. And, OHR has partnered with the Community College of Allegheny County to offer the annual Administrative Professionals Program (geared toward developing the foundational technical and professional skills of administrative professional). Refer to the following sites for more information:

• https://www.cmu.edu/hr/career/development-programs/cohort-programs/cmu-lead/index.html
• https://www.cmu.edu/hr/career/development-programs/cohort-programs/lean-six-sigma.html
• https://www.cmu.edu/hr/career/development-programs/cohort-programs/administrative-professional.html

OHR also developed and delivers the Staff Supervisory Awareness Program, a nine-session, instructor-led training program to build core HR knowledge critical to a supervisors success that infuses diversity, equity and inclusion into the day-to-day supervisor activities. See https://www.cmu.edu/hr/career/development-programs/supervisor/awareness-program.html to learn more.

OHR also promotes team building through programs levering DiSC and True Colors that allow employees to explore similarities and differences in communication and work styles to promote understanding and collaboration and more effectively address miscommunication and conflict. 

Finally, CMU has an annual mentorship program that continues to expand to include more colleges and departments each year. The CMU Mentorship Program provides staff in participating areas with an opportunity for professional development, information sharing, personal growth and exposure to other departments. Mentors and mentees are matched based on professional interests and experience, goals and interests. The program is mentee-led, allowing the mentee to set the goals and expectations for their experience. See https://www.cmu.edu/hr/career/development-programs/mentorship/index.html to learn more.

UN Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls:
Carnegie Mellon Women's Association (CMWA) is open to all women associated with the university including faculty, administrators, trustees, and staff or wives/partners and friends of faculty, administrators, trustees, and staff. CMWA celebrates the diversity and achievements of women at Carnegie Mellon while building a greater sense of community life on campus. Programs include Networking Happy Hours, Lunch & Learns, Community Service, and Speaker Series. See https://www.cmu.edu/cmwa/index.html for more info.

OHR partnered with Tepper Executive Education to develop and deliver the annual Strategies for Advancing Women in Organization program that empowers women leaders at CMU. The program helps participants develop a unique leadership brand, navigate challenges specific to women in higher education, and leverage strengths for individual and organizational success. See: https://www.cmu.edu/hr/career/development-programs/cohort-programs/women-leaders.html
for more info.

Additionally, Staff Council provides formal and informal opportunities for staff members to get involved. Staff Council is a volunteer organization that serves as the voice for staff at CMU through policy advocacy and community involvement. See https://www.cmu.edu/staff-council/ for more info.

Carnegie Mellon University was a GCSHE Host Institution for the 2021 and 2022 events, allowing all CMU employees and students to attend AASHE’s Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education for free. 

In addition, CMU provides access to several on demand training modules via an internal training content management system (FocusU) and via a partnership with LinkedIn Learning. The training sessions cover topics such as building a strategic commitment to sustainability, facilitating sustainable change, weighing risk and opportunities, effects of environmental change, employee's guide to sustainability, and sustainability strategies.

Sustainability is a core value at CMU and our performance management process allows supervisors to determine how to measure employee performance related to core values and competencies.