Dear Colleagues,
It was leadership development expert John Maxwell who said: "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." We all experience changes in our lifetime; how we choose to respond is up to us. Here at UMBC, we have already seen changes taking place on our campus as well as continuing changes to the evolving landscape of higher education itself. We understand that periods of transition can pose both challenges and opportunities for us personally, professionally, and organizationally. In order to be effective in our work, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with the knowledge, strategies, and a common language to understand, cope with, and adapt to change.
As we considered the challenge of supporting change, it became obvious that we needed a whole-system support structure that could be scaled up on campus quickly to address current and future needs. To that end, we have partnered with a respected leader in the field of change management, FranklinCovey, to launch one of their signature programs--Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity. This course includes a series of change modules for individual contributors and campus supervisors (managers and leaders) on navigating and leading change. The FranklinCovey team will facilitate campus sessions from October 18 - 25. See the attached flyer with session information as well as the program flyer from FranklinCovey detailing information on their change model and modules.
These experiential, engaging sessions address the multifaceted nature of change, offering insights, tools, and practical strategies that will empower you to thrive during times of transition.
Our hope is to offer this experience to as many faculty and staff as possible during this time frame, but space is limited. Given our commitment to extend this learning experience to everyone, we are also investing in 50 divisional representatives who will be designated as "Change Champions." These individuals will receive certification during the October timeframe to teach this FranklinCovey program and provide change support to staff within their division. More information can be found on the Change Champion cohort certification program opportunity.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to contact Jill Wardell, director of talent learning and organizational development at 5-1442, via Webex, or email at jweink1@umbc.edu
Ideally, we acknowledge that campus change management support would have happened earlier. We hope you can extend grace to us as we took the time to thoughtfully implement a holistic, interactive, whole-system initiative.
This is an excellent opportunity for all of us to come together, learn from one another, and collectively strengthen our ability to navigate the changes we face now and in the future. I strongly encourage you to make the most of this opportunity and be part of these sessions. Together, we can embrace change as a catalyst for growth and innovation.
Thank you for your dedication to our university, and I look forward to seeing you at these enlightening sessions.
Warm regards,
Lynne Adams
Chief Human Resources Officer
Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management