Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week is Feb. 25-March 1

The University’s upcoming Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week features an afternoon reception with coffee, dessert and relaxing chair massages from licensed massage therapists; several professional development opportunities; and discount tickets to root for the Orange and help set a new home attendance record at the Syracuse-Notre Dame women’s basketball game.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week—Monday, Feb. 25, through Friday, March 1—is presented by the Office of Human Resources in recognition and support of faculty and staff across the institution.

Stop by Schine to enjoy a fun afternoon reception

The Faculty and Staff Appreciation Reception—Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. in 304ABC, 302 and 303 Schine Student Center—is the University’s thank-you to faculty and staff members. The event includes free coffee and dessert; relaxing free chair massages (first-come/first-served, with five massage therapists on hand); information on professional development and wellness opportunities; gauging interest in specific groups for the relaunch of affinity groups/employee resource groups, gift raffles; and a Bookstore discount coupon for all attendees.

There will also be three presentations: a yoga demonstration and information at 2 p.m.; a demonstration at 3 p.m. on Qichong, a mind-body-spirit practice that improves one’s mental and physical health; and a 4 p.m. presentation on ways to be involved in the Syracuse community with Emily Winiecki and Mark Jackson from the Office of Community Engagement and Syeisha Byrd from Hendricks Chapel.

Take part in a professional development workshop

Three workshops offer opportunities for learning:

• “Diversity and Inclusion: Next Steps—Skill Expansion”: Tuesday, Feb. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 304ABC Schine Student Center. In partnership with the Office of the Interim Chief Diversity Officer Keith Alford, this engaging workshop, led by Al Vivian, president and CEO of Basic Diversity, will focus on prompting an enriching and deeper discussion to impact the University beyond the higher-level bias awareness training that has already been offered across campus.Vivian is a former U.S. Army captain with a background in human resources. He has provided diversity counsel to CEOs, civic and religious leaders, political officials and television news personnel. He learned about managing diversity very early in life via personal interactions with Dr. Martin L. King Jr.′s staff and later honed his diversity skills in the Army (one of the largest and most diverse organizations in the world), where he held numerous executive positions, including equal opportunity officer (the military equivalent to diversity manager). Registration is limited to 55 participants and is open now online.
• “Understanding Our Diverse Student Population”: Thursday, Feb. 28, from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Milton Room, 411 Whitman School of Management building. Syracuse’s student population is unquestionably diverse. From the University’s rich international student diversity to first-generation students and the distinct characteristics of Generation Z students, all have specific needs. A better understanding of students’ values, cultures, challenges and expectations can directly impact faculty and staff members’ ability to better support the student experience. This workshop, presented by Amanda Nicholson and Wei Gao, was first presented in an abbreviated version during the “Service Leadership Workshop” last December. As a result of the positive response that presentation received, a more in-depth workshop has been developed. Registration is open now online.
• “Introduction to Project Management” (for supervisors of benefits-eligible staff): Friday, March 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Milton Room, 411 Whitman School of Management building. Presented by Pat Penfield, this workshop offers an introduction and overview of project management, project teams, budgets and schedules, and reporting and project closeout. It is limited to 20 participants and carries a fee of $100 per participant (payable by the participant’s department). Registration is open now online.

Cheer on the Orange women’s basketball team

Faculty and staff are invited to cheer on the Orange women’s basketball team and help set a new attendance record as Coach Quentin Hillsman’s squad hosts No. 6 Notre Dame on Monday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. in the Dome. Discount tickets are $2 each and may be purchased online. Parking is available in home lots, West Campus lots and Manley lots.

For more information on Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week, visit the Human Resources website.