Lafayette College
EN-9: Staff Professional Development and Training

All new staff are invited to a series of calls in their first year through the new staff orientation program. The Office of Sustainability presents to new staff through this program.

All staff are invited to schedule a visit to Lafayette's 3 acre farm to tour the facility, learn about farm processes and sustainability at Lafayette, and work at the farm. The farm tour is guided by Josh Parr, Manager of Food and Farm, and Samantha Smith, Outreach and Engagement Manager. In spring 2022, the Development Office elected to take this tour and volunteer at LaFarm, gaining knowledge about the farm and sustainability while also developing skills in environmental initiatives and volunteerism. The Development Office consists of over 50 employees hailing from Career Services, Alumni Relations, Annual and Leadership Giving, Campaign and Development Operations, Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations, Development Research, Leadership Initiatives, Major Gifts and Prospect Engagement, Prospect Strategy, Maroon Club and Athletic Giving, Parent and Family Relations and Giving, Planned Giving, and Presidential Communications and Donor Relations. In addition to these department tours, 6 other staff have come to the farm for individual tours and 12 professors have taken classes to the farm or come out as individuals. Employees also have the opportunity to to purchase and tend to a community garden plot, of which there are 18.

Additionally, Lafayette's Office of Human Resources has established the Lafayette Employee Wellness Program (LEWP), and intends to continue its ongoing efforts in advancing a culture of health and wellness promotion at the College.

For all the internal and external opportunities listed, out of 557 non-academic staff, 550 participated in one of more of the programs.

In Fall 2020, Lafayette became an inaugural member institution of the University of Southern California’s Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA).

Participants in the Alliance have access to monthly synchronous online sessions delivered by leaders of national higher education associations, tenured professors who study race relations and people of color, chief diversity officers and other experienced administrators, and specialists from the USC center. The sessions focus mostly on strategies and practical approaches and are intended for faculty, staff, and administrators only.

LACRELA resources are also provided for use in actively promoting racial equity and inclusion and fighting anti-Black and other forms of racism on our campuses and in our communities.

Additionally, through Human Resources partnership with Capital Blue Cross, the College offers Capital Blue Cross’ health promotions, which integrates and coordinates population management programs across the entire continuum of care, including wellness, behavior modification, disease management, and care management. Through these aspects, we look forward to engaging members, developing and evaluating programs, and supporting the modification of health behavior.

The HR Department also provides Mental Wellness & Work-Life Balance Resources through partnerships with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Wellthy Family Care Support, Behavioral Health with Capital Blue Cross, Mindfullness Resources, and Work-Life Balance Resources.

https://hr.lafayette.edu/wellness/
https://hr.lafayette.edu/caregiving-support-and-well-being-resources/