Thank you for planning to attend the 2024 All-Staff Conference. Below is the full list of presentations and their correlating descriptions for both days of the conference. If you have chosen the virtual registration option, please see below which presentations will be offered in a hybrid format. This year we are offering four different focus tracks for our presentations:
- Health/Wellness
- Mentoring/Coaching
- Professional Development/ Skill Building
- Best Practices and Operational Excellence
As a commitment to sustainability the All Staff Conference Planning Committee will not be printing individual programs or name tags. We ask that conference attendees use their mobile devices to access the conference schedule and room assignments online and wear their University name tags. In addition the daily schedule will be posted in the main halls of the Nebraska East Union and presentation schedules will be posted at each room.
In person conference participation will be limited due the the capacity of the Nebraska East Union. Virtual options are available for those unable to attend in person. Please note district meetings will not be offered in a hybrid format. Optional Tours will be offered Day 1 from 4-5PM participants will be able to choose from a variety of options during registration; space is limited. A volunteer will be available after session 2 to guide tour groups to their respective destinations. Please remember to wear comfortable footwear for the tours.
Day 1: Monday, May, 20, 2024
| Description | Start Time | End Time | Location |
| Check In | 12:00PM | 1:00PM | Nebraska East Union Hallway |
| Welcome | 1:00PM | 1:15PM | Great Plains |
| Keynote | 1:15PM | 1:45PM | Great Plains |
| Session 1 | 2:00PM | 2:45PM | See Day 1 Session 1 details. |
| Session 2 | 3:00PM | 3:45PM | See Day 1 Session 2 details. |
| Tour | 4:00PM | 5:00 PM | See Day 1 Tour option details. |
Day 2: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
| Description | Start Time | End Time | Location |
| Check In | 8:00AM | 8:45AM | Nebraska East Union Hallway |
| Session 3 | 9:00AM | 9:45AM | See Day 2 Session 3 details. |
| Session 4 | 10:00AM | 10:45AM | See Day 2 Session 4 details. |
| Session 5 | 11:00AM | 11:45AM | See Day 2 Session 5 details. |
| Lunch | 11:45AM | 1:00PM | Nebraska East Union Dining Hall & Great Plains |
| District meetings | 1:00PM | 1:45PM | See Day 2 District Session details. |
| Session 6 | 2:00PM | 2:45PM | See Day 2 Session 6 details. |
| Closing Reception | 3:00PM | 5:00PM | Great Plains |
Day 1 Afternoon Sessions
Session 1: 2:00-2:45PM
From Entry to Expert: Best practices for networking professionally
Presenter: Chris Timm
Location: Great Plains A
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence
Joining the UNL community gives you the opportunity to build a personal and professional network. But how does someone begin to network and choose what may be best strategically? This session will provide concrete ideas on how to connect with colleagues in-person, virtually, and socially. We will look at different opportunities available and make plans to move from ideas to actual engagement. And finally, we will address strategies to help introverts or just those that just aren't excited about networking.
What Did You Say? Using Lessons in Parenthood, Psychology, and Political Science to Help Us Become Effective Communicators
Presenter: Jordan Gonzales
Location: Great Plains B
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
Research indicates effective communication is important for many reasons including building high-performing teams, inspiring innovation and creativity in the workplace, and creating a caring and trustful culture. This session leverages parenthood experiences, combined with research in psychology, sociology, and political science to help you understand, navigate, and thrive as a great communicator. On average, you communicate 10,000 words a day. This session can help you make those words more impactful and intentional.
Individuals attending this session will:
- Understand how effective communication begins with active listening.
- Learn how using body language, tone, and pace can improve self-confidence when communicating with individuals or groups.
- Discover techniques to identify your audience and adjust your message to ensure its impact.
- Engage in two interactive breakout groups to practice effective communication.
Sleepless in Nebraska
Presenters: Jordan Luxa and Hannah Guenther
Location: Great Plains C
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence | Mentoring/Coaching
Sleep rules every moment of our lives, yet it is often overlooked and underutilized as an aspect of health in America. 1 in 3 American’s is not getting the recommended 7+ hours of sleep each night according to the Sleep Foundation. Disseminating evidence-based information and practical strategies on improving sleep to the public is an important step in addressing current mental health and overall wellbeing concerns in the US.
Sleepless in Nebraska is an engaging, educational program that can be delivered as a lecture, lunch and learn, webinar, or a hands-on health fair for youth and adults. Participants learn about sleep cycles and the impact lack of sleep has on their whole body and walk away with the tools they need in order to address sleep quality that same night. “I learned that there are many things I do that affect why I can’t sleep at night,” one participant stated. Data collected has shown that this program has the potential to improve the environment in which people are sleeping, leading to improved sleep habits and long term benefits to physical, mental, and emotional health as well as safety. Of the 725 participants reached in 18 months, 91% plan on making a behavior change to improve their quality of sleep. Before program participation 17% of youth recognized the impact of sleep on their learning, mental health, and athletic performance. After the program, this number increased to 78% of youth participants. The data is preliminary, but shows promise on the impact and potential of this program.
Welcoming the World : Nurturing and Supporting International Students with Children
Presenter: Thandeka Ncube and Domonique Cudjo
Location: Prairie Suite A
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence
This presentation aims to provide tools in which colleges and universities can provide support to international students with children who are coming to the United States for graduate school. This involves an all-inclusive, holistic approach in order to ensure students with children are successful in their academic and personal integration. It is salient to acknowledge the various obstacles and challenges faced by international students with children. In this scope, universities can execute individualized initiatives to create a nurturing campus environment.
AI Mastery: Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Your Everyday Tasks
Presenter: Ben Lennander
Location: Prairie Suite B
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
In this dynamic and hands-on session, participants will delve into the practical applications of AI, demystifying its complexities and discovering how it can elevate their daily work. Attendees will navigate the landscape of ChatGPT, Bard/Gemini, and Bing Search, gaining an understanding of their functionalities. From streamlining routine tasks to enhancing decision-making processes, this workshop empowers participants to harness AI's potential for efficiency and innovation. Through interactive demonstrations attendees will witness firsthand how AI can be seamlessly integrated into their professional toolkit.
Key topics include selecting the right AI tool for specific tasks, effectively utilizing prompts, ethical considerations for using AI and verification of AI outputs. Participants will leave with a newfound confidence in navigating the AI landscape and some basic abilities to leverage its capabilities for increased productivity and success in daily endeavors. Join us in learning how to leverage AI to transform the way you approach your everyday tasks!
A Proactive Approach to Handling Burnout (Hybrid Presentation)
Presenter Annalisa Davenport
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Track: Health/Wellness
During this 45 minute presentation, employees will learn how to identify different symptoms of burnout, learn what actions steps can be taken to help handle these symptoms, and discover how working on wellness can help build resilience against burnout.
Enacting an Ecology of Validation at UNL
Presenter: CJ Venable, Joey Lynch and Kristy Saunders
Location: Arbor Suites
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence
This session will offer a brief overview of Ecology of Validation (EoV) research, a student success and support model focused on belonging and validation, and explore how the principles of EoV can be enacted across campus at UNL. This research is based on the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community and is conducted jointly by the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California, the University of Nebraska, and the Susan T. Buffett Foundation. Join to hear about how EoV has been embedded into the work of three different units on campus (academic advisor training and development, Husker Hub, and the Academic Navigators team) and begin brainstorming ideas for how you can do the same in your area.
Session 2: 3:00-3:45PM
Be Your Favorite You Through Self-Reflection
Presenters: Jannah Vanie and Joy Eakin
Location: Great Plains A
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
How have your past experiences and emotions shaped your life, personally and professionally? What are the most important goals you want to achieve? How can you access needed skills and experiences to grow? These are questions one can consider during intentional self-reflection time. Whether it’s pausing, taking a walk, or journaling, individuals can gain deeper clarity into their motivations and priorities through self-reflection. Reflecting on emotions, reactions, and plans can help us grow in our personal life and professional career.
Many people want to learn and grow, but they can get caught up with the busyness of work and life and forget to take a moment to step back and reflect on what they really want. In this interactive session, we will explore how to use self-reflection as a tool for better understanding yourself and achieving your goals. The presenters will share about the practice of self-reflection and the power it has for personal and professional growth. Attendees will have the opportunity to self-reflect on their past, present, and future. Through exercises, we will explore various methods for starting an effective self-reflection practice. Reflect on who you want to be and take the next step toward your future.
Learning Objectives
After this session, attendees will:
1. Understand the value of self-reflection for personal and professional growth
2. Identify different strategies for self-reflection they can incorporate into their lives.
3. Practice various methods of self-reflection to enhance their self-awareness.
Helping the Helpers: Providing support for students during turbulent times and transitions
Presenter: Charlie Foster
Location: Great Plains B
Track: Health/Wellness
Many of our staff members find themselves pushing through their own stress or concerns as they seek to provide support for our students. Join in a discussion that is targeted for our staff who could use a bit of support themselves or who supervise staff in need of support. We will discuss boundaries, burnout and bravery as we seek to remain healthy while caring for our students.
Building Inclusive Community and Belonging with #NCLUDE
Presenter: Jennifer PeeksMease
Location: Great Plains C
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Mentoring/Coaching | Health/Wellness
Each semester, individuals across the university and local community partner with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to host small learning groups. In each small group, six to twelve people gather for at least six one-hour meetings (virtual or in-person) to focus on a particular diversity, equity, and inclusion topic. Topics have included inclusive culture, Nebraska farm life, generational differences, disability, racial and indigenous allyship, mental health, and equity-minded leadership. Group members prepare for meetings by reading, journaling, or other forms of self-education. Meetings focus on collective reflection regarding the material as it informs their personal and professional lives, emphasizing everyday actions individuals can take to address their particular topic. In this session, you'll learn what it means to join the larger #NCLUDE community, participate in a small group, or develop your leadership by anchoring a group.
Staff Senate Update
Presenter: Sara Haake
Location: Prairie Suite A/B
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence
Join staff and staff senate members as Staff Senate President Sara Haake provides information and updates on the work completed in first year of the Staff Senate. Presentation will include information on wins from the past year, and what the next steps are for the Staff Senate.
Advancing your Career at UNL (Hybrid Presentation)
Presenter: Celeste Spier
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Track: Mentoring/Coaching
This panel session offers invaluable insights and practical strategies for career advancement at UNL. Panelists from various disciplines across campus, who have grown their own careers at Nebraska, share their personal experiences and offer actionable advice on exploring options, networking effectively, and gaining the necessary skills for career progression. Whether you're early in your career journey, just looking to make change, or ready to advance into a leadership role, this panel equips attendees with the tools and knowledge necessary to prepare for the next step in their career at Nebraska.
Institutional Equity and Compliance: The University’s Civil Rights Office
Presenter: Ryan Fette and Meagan Counley
Location: Arbor Suites
Track: Best Practices/Operational Excellence
Institutional Equity and Compliance (IEC) is the civil rights office for the university community. Are you curious how IEC might help you navigate civil rights compliance issues on campus? In this presentation, we will describe IEC’s major functions. We will identify the types of processes we oversee related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct and how to report incidents or share concerns with our office. We provide information about the accommodation process for individuals with disabilities under Faculty/Staff Disability Services. We will review IEC’s requirement for training for individuals involved in the hiring process. Some lesser-known functions of the office, such as training and professional development opportunities and ergonomic assessments, will be discussed. We will leave ample time for questions and answers.
Tours: 4:00-4:45PM
International Quilt Museum
Limit: 60 people (Groups of 15)
Tour Length: 1 hour
Tour Requirements: None
The International Quilt Museum's mission is to build a global collection and audience that celebrate the cultural and artistic significance of quilts.
Nebraska East Campus Tours
Limit: 50 people
Tour Length: 1 hour
Tour Requirements: None
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) ambassadors take you on a tour around East Campus and highlight student life and available resources.
Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center
Limit: 50 people (Groups of 10)
Tour Length: 45 minutes
Tour Requirements: Closed Toed Shoes, Legs & Arms Covered. Safety information will be provided. Tour participants are required to read it prior to the tour
The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center (NVDC) employs state-of-the-art testing procedures to provide disease surveillance and diagnostic services to veterinarians, livestock producers, pet owners and researchers. The diagnostic center is part of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The NVDC is recognized nationally for its expertise in diagnosing diseases in cattle and other food animals. It is Nebraska's only veterinary diagnostic lab accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
Animal Science Complex
Limit: 40 people (Groups of 20)
Tour Length: 45 minutes
Tour Requirements: Closed Toed Shoes
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Department is composed of a unique faculty with diverse expertise, talents and experiences in the animal sciences. We have individuals who excel in teaching as well as individuals who lead the world in discovery and dissemination of new ideas in animal biology, care and products to enrich the lives of people and animals. Our vision relays our common passion to promote the success and/or enrich the lives of each student, each producer, each client and each citizen in Nebraska and around the world.
Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory
Limit: 20 people
Tour Length: 45 minutes
Tour Requirements: Closed Toed Shoes
The University of Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL) is the officially designated tractor testing station for the United States and tests tractors according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) codes OECD codes. Tractors are tested in the country of manufacture. Twenty-nine countries adhere to the tractor test codes (including non-OECD members: China, India, the Russian Federation, and Serbia) with active tractor test stations in approximately 25 of those countries. Reciprocity agreements with the codes require that once an OECD test report is officially approved, it must be accepted by all participating countries.
Massengale Residential Center
Limit: 40 people (Groups of 20)
Tour Length: 45 minutes
Tour Requirements: None
Massengale Residential Center is an inviting, supportive community where students can thrive academically and meet new friends. Massengale is located on East Campus, has both traditional- and apartment-style (upper-division) rooms. Massengale Hall traditional rooms feature pod-style bathrooms, where only a few students share that bathroom.
Day 2 Morning Sessions
Session 3: 9:00-9:45AM
Sleepless in Nebraska
Presenter: Jordan Luxa and Hannah Guenther
Location: Great Plains A
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence | Health/Wellness
Sleep rules every moment of our lives, yet it is often overlooked and underutilized as an aspect of health in America. 1 in 3 American’s is not getting the recommended 7+ hours of sleep each night according to the Sleep Foundation. Disseminating evidence-based information and practical strategies on improving sleep to the public is an important step in addressing current mental health and overall well being concerns in the US.
Sleepless in Nebraska is an engaging, educational program that can be delivered as a lecture, lunch and learn, webinar, or a hands-on health fair for youth and adults. Participants learn about sleep cycles and the impact lack of sleep has on their whole body and walk away with the tools they need in order to address sleep quality that same night. “I learned that there are many things I do that affect why I can’t sleep at night,” one participant stated. Data collected has shown that this program has the potential to improve the environment in which people are sleeping, leading to improved sleep habits and long term benefits to physical, mental, and emotional health as well as safety. Of the 725 participants reached in 18 months, 91% plan on making a behavior change to improve their quality of sleep. Before program participation 17% of youth recognized the impact of sleep on their learning, mental health, and athletic performance. After the program, this number increased to 78% of youth participants. The data is preliminary, but shows promise on the impact and potential of this program.
Using EAP to Prepare for your Next Transition
Presenter: Kyla Gorji
Location: Great Plains B
Track: Health and Wellness
It's never too early to start thinking about the resources you have available to mitigate the impact of stress and change. Learn about all of the EAP services and 4 specific ways to feel prepared for your next life challenge.
Building Inclusive Community and Belonging with #NCLUDE
Presenter: Jennifer PeeksMease
Location: Great Plains C
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Mentoring/Coaching | Health/Wellness
Each semester, individuals across the university and local community partner with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to host small learning groups. In each small group, six to twelve people gather for at least six one-hour meetings (virtual or in-person) to focus on a particular diversity, equity, and inclusion topic. Topics have included inclusive culture, Nebraska farm life, generational differences, disability, racial and indigenous allyship, mental health, and equity-minded leadership. Group members prepare for meetings by reading, journaling, or other forms of self-education. Meetings focus on collective reflection regarding the material as it informs their personal and professional lives, emphasizing everyday actions individuals can take to address their particular topic. In this session, you'll learn what it means to join the larger #NCLUDE community, participate in a small group, or develop your leadership by anchoring a group.
Sustainability 101: Introduction to Sustainability at UNL and Opportunities to Engage
Presenter: Anna Oetting, Morgan Hartman and Madeline Yeatts
Location: Prairie Suite A/B
Track: Health/Wellness
Join presenters from UNL’s Office of Sustainability (OS) for an interactive session that will provide an overview of 1) why sustainability is the smart choice for UNL; 2) how UNL demonstrates its commitment to sustainability; and 3) how participants can make a difference. Attendees will engage with OS staff to learn how they can integrate sustainable behaviors that align with their work, areas of interest, and capabilities into their lives at UNL. Participants will leave the session with actionable knowledge and resources that will enable and empower them to participate in sustainability efforts and create a positive impact at UNL. If you attended this presentation last year, we invite you to join for a refresher or explore the OS's other session: Sustainability 102: Strategies to Reduce Waste and Recycle Right at UNL.
Cultivating a Coaching Culture in the Workplace (Hybrid Presentation)
Presenter: Ranelle Maltas
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Track: Mentoring/Coaching
Workplace coaching is a form of on-the-job learning. It’s a collaborative process that occurs through everyday interactions between a manager and an employee as well as between peers. In this session you will learn what defines a good coaching relationship. By the end of the session, you will understand the elements of effective coaching using the Coaching Cycle. You will be able to identify where breakdowns may occur and how to overcome them. Finally, you will have participated in a practice coaching session to strengthen what you have learned.
Empowering Supervisors: Harnessing the Potential of Bridge
Presenter: Diona Hartwig and Mikeala Petersen
Location: Arbor Suites
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
Are you interested in supporting your staff's professional growth? Curious about how you, as a supervisor, can leverage Bridge to aid employees and monitor their compliance trainings? Join us for an informative session as we explore an overview of Bridge and learn how to tailor it to your specific needs.
Session 4: 10:00-10:45AM
Welcome to the Team! An Innovative Approach to Onboarding and Training New Team Members
Presenter: Megan Christensen
Location: Great Plains A
Track: Best Practices/Operational Excellence | Mentoring/Coaching
Effective on-boarding and training is critical to building positive and meaningful experiences for new employees. An organized and well thought out on-boarding and training structure provides new employees an opportunity to be more engaged within their organization, create supportive relationships with colleagues, develop a commitment to professional growth, and be more successful in their new position. In this session, participants will learn how the College of Business Advising and Student Engagement Office approaches on-boarding and training new team members using OneNote and Outlook calendars, as well as explore strategies to improve their own on-boarding and training plans in order to meet expected training outcomes. The session will focus on educating participants about the key components of on-boarding and training, share about training strategies and overall training plan format ideas, as well as provide an opportunity to discuss ideas to meet the needs and concerns of new employees and professional offices.
From Bystander to the "Third Side" in Workplace Conflict Resolution
Presenter: Beverly Russell
Location: Great Plains B
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
Many of us at UNL have taken bystander training, and much attention has been given on college campuses and elsewhere to the potential role of the active bystander in helping to support safety and de-escalate conflict in social situations by intervening in harmful, or potentially harmful, individual and interpersonal behaviors, such as harassment. The "third side," a concept developed in the work of international negotiator and conflict resolution expert William Ury, highlights the value and power of "bystanders," aka the community, in helping to resolve many types of conflict. In this interactive presentation, we'll take a look at the elements an! d potenti al of the third side for a variety of workplace conflict situations; how we may already be acting as "third siders" in our teams, organizations, or departments; and how we can do so more intentionally and effectively in preventing, resolving, and containing conflict.
Microsoft 365 Updates
Presenter: Brandon Young and Bryan Fitzgerald
Location: Great Plains C
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence
This will be a general update on Microsoft 365 services for the University of Nebraska including Outlook Email, SharePoint and OneDrive storage among others. Will include updates to services and new tools and features.
From Entry to Expert: Best practices for networking professionally
Presenter: Chris Timm
Location: Prairie Suite A/B
Joining the UNL community gives you the opportunity to build a personal and professional network. But how does someone begin to network and choose what may be best strategically? This session will provide concrete ideas on how to connect with colleagues in-person, virtually, and socially. We will look at different opportunities available and make plans to move from ideas to actual engagement. And finally, we will address strategies to help introverts or just those that just aren't excited about networking.
HealthierU, Employee Wellness at UNL (Hybrid Presentation)
Presenter: Annalisa Davenport
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
This 45 minute presentation is an overview of the services and resources available to UNL employees through the employee wellness program.
Be Your Favorite You Through Self-Reflection
Presenter: Jannah Vanie and Joy Eakin
Location: Arbor Suites
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
How have your past experiences and emotions shaped your life, personally and professionally? What are the most important goals you want to achieve? How can you access needed skills and experiences to grow? These are questions one can consider during intentional self-reflection time. Whether it’s pausing, taking a walk, or journaling, individuals can gain deeper clarity into their motivations and priorities through self-reflection. Reflecting on emotions, reactions, and plans can help us grow in our personal life and professional career.
Many people want to learn and grow, but they can get caught up with the busyness of work and life and forget to take a moment to step back and reflect on what they really want. In this interactive session, we will explore how to use self-reflection as a tool for better understanding yourself and achieving your goals. The presenters will share about the practice of self-reflection and the power it has for personal and professional growth. Attendees will have the opportunity to self-reflect on their past, present, and future. Through exercises, we will explore various methods for starting an effective self-reflection practice. Reflect on who you want to be and take the next step toward your future.
Learning Objectives
After this session, attendees will:
1. Understand the value of self-reflection for personal and professional growth.
2. Identify different strategies for self-reflection they can incorporate into their lives.
3. Practice various methods of self-reflection to enhance their self-awareness.
Session 5: 11:00-11:45AM
Using Bridge Journeys to Create Customizable Learning
Presenter: Nicole Jacobs
Location: Great Plains A
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
Have you designed training on Bridge and wondered what that whole “Journeys” feature is all about? Are you looking for ways to design training that requires multiple learning pathways? Bridge Journeys is a tool to help course designers create customizable learning. In this session, you will be provided with an overview of this tool. In addition, attendees will be provided with a case example demonstrating how this feature was used to create a probationary training program for a department of nearly 200 staff that is both standardized and differentiated in pacing and content. Opportunities to discuss applications and practice using this feature to design your own Bridge Journey will be included. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptop so they may practice using the tool during the session
Understanding & Enhancing Student Email Communications
Presenter: Lydia Coulson and Kathryn Holling
Location: Great Plains B
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence
For the 2023-2024 academic year, Undergraduate Education and Student Success paid six students to set their university emails to automatically forward every email they received to Communications Specialist Lydia Coulson for categorization and analysis. One first-year student received over 1200 emails just in fall semester alone.
Join Lydia for a look at the emails UNL students are receiving, patterns in communications, and to get an idea as to why students might not be reading your messages. We’ll end with lessons learned and strategies to improve your unit communications and get your messaging out to students.
The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward
Presenter: Jordan Gonzales
Location: Great Plains C
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
We all have regrets. When people tell you what they regret the most, they tell you what they value the most. This session combines insight from the World Regret Survey and research in social psychology, neuroscience, biology, and workplace management to help us leverage regret as a force for good. You'll learn why regret makes us human and how it can improve our decision-making skills, boost performance, and deepen our personal and professional relationships. A regret framework is offered to help us understand, reflect, and act on our regrets. Done right, regret can inform us and lift us up, not drag us down.
Individuals attending this session will:
- Learn about the psychology and impact of our regrets.
- Discover the four core categories of regret.
- Understand how regret can improve our decisions and boost performance.
- Leverage regret to deepen relationships.
- Learn how to manage regret and take action to use regret as a force for good.
AI Mastery: Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Your Everyday Tasks
Presenter: Ben Lennander
Location: Prairie Suite A/B
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
In this dynamic and hands-on session, participants will delve into the practical applications of AI, demystifying its complexities and discovering how it can elevate their daily work. Attendees will navigate the landscape of ChatGPT, Bard/Gemini, and Bing Search, gaining an understanding of their functionalities. From streamlining routine tasks to enhancing decision-making processes, this workshop empowers participants to harness AI's potential for efficiency and innovation. Through interactive demonstrations attendees will witness firsthand how AI can be seamlessly integrated into their professional toolkit.
Key topics include selecting the right AI tool for specific tasks, effectively utilizing prompts, ethical considerations for using AI and verification of AI outputs. Participants will leave with a newfound confidence in navigating the AI landscape and some basic abilities to leverage its capabilities for increased productivity and success in daily endeavors. Join us in learning how to leverage AI to transform the way you approach your everyday tasks!
Sustainability 102: Strategies to Reduce Waste and Recycle Right at UNL (Hybrid Presentation)
Presenter: Anna Oetting, Morgan Hartman and Madeline Yeatts
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence | Health/Wellness
Join presenters from UNL’s Office of Sustainability for an interactive session that will provide staff with the knowledge and tools to contribute to the accomplishment of UNL’s institutional sustainability goals, specifically related to waste management. Presenters will engage attendees in identifying opportunities to reduce the amount of waste they produce on campus by providing actionable strategies and resources. Attendees will learn about items accepted for recycling at UNL and best practices for correct disposal. Staff will leave the session understanding simple actions they can take to reduce waste and recycle right at UNL.
Leading with the Power of Positivity
Presenter: Tim Hodges
Location: Arbor Suites
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence | Mentoring/Coaching | Health/Wellness
The last few years have been challenging, to say the least! From the COVID-19 pandemic to political and racial unrest to wild swings in the economy and employment trends, we’ve all been challenged to rethink and reinvent the ways we lead.Ready for some good news? More than 25 years of research in the fields of positive psychology and behavioral economics leads to several tangible discoveries that we can integrate into how we lead. This session will review highlights from the behavioral science research and break it into tangible steps you can take to improve your life and the lives of those you lead and serve. The future is going to look different – let’s do all we can to make sure that it’s going to look better! The session will be facilitated by Dr. Tim Hodges, Executive Director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of Management in the UNL College of Business.
Lunch 11:45AM - 1:00PM
Lunch will be provided by the Nebraska East Union Dining Center. At the All-Staff Conference, a variety of activities will be available during the lunch hour. Attendees are encouraged to use these opportunities while waiting to eat and to network with fellow participants.
Lunch Activities
Walking Group
Location: Meet at the First Floor Lobby by the Dining Center.
Time: 11:45AM -12:00PM or 12:50 - 1:10PM
Description: Enjoy some time outdoors as you take part in one of the two walking groups. Each group will be led by a leader who will keep you on track and talk to you about the different sites as you pass by. Refer to the list below to choose which walking group best fits your interest:
- Botanical Garden and Arboretum Walking Tour
- Backyard Garden Walking Tour
UNL Trivia with Ranelle Maltas
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Time: 12:00 – 12:20PM
Description: Are you ready to showcase your expertise on all things UNL-related? This trivia game will cover university historical milestones, famous alumni, and iconic campus landmarks. Welcome to the ultimate test of your university knowledge with the "UNL Trivia Challenge"!
Chair Yoga with Annalisa Davenport
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Time: 12:30-12:50PM
Description: Sit back and relax in during this beginner's friendly chair yoga class. No need for a yoga mat or workout clothes, just find a chair and follow along with some tension releasing movements and stretches.
Tabling Discussion Topics
Location: Great Plains Room
Time: Offered for the entire lunch period
Description: Engage in discussions with colleagues. Choose a table with your preferred topic for networking and knowledge-sharing in a relaxed setting.
Tabling topics include:
- Strategies for Working with Faculty
- Ideas for Making the Workplace Fun
- Building Community and Culture (In a team, with coworkers, etc.)
- Best Practices for Remote/Hybrid Work
- Managing Student Workers
- Work Life Balance (Parenthood, Graduate School, etc.)
- Navigating Professional Development & Career Growth
- Utilizing Technology for Efficiency
- New UNL Employees (0-1 year)
- Exploring Lincoln (Food, Culture, Trails, etc.)
- Find a Walking Partner (Other Strategies for Self-Care)
Quiet Room
Location: Legacy A
Time: Offered for the entire conference and during the lunch period
Description: Use the Quiet Room as a retreat from the conference hustle and bustle, take a brain break, catch up on emails, or simply recharge away from the noise of the event.
Meditation Room
Location: Legacy B
Time: Offered for the entire conference and during the lunch period
Description: The Meditation Room provides a tranquil space where participants can self-practice prayer, meditation, or reflection, fostering a peaceful and introspective atmosphere during the conference.
Day 2 Afternoon Sessions
District Meetings: 1:00-1:45PM
District 1: Business & Finance
Location: Great Plains A
District 2: Chancellor
Location: Great Plains B
District 3: Academic Colleges
Location: Great Plains C
District 4: Student Affairs
Location Prairie Suite A
District 5: Additional EVC's Offices
Location: Prairie Suite B
District 6: IANR
Location: Prairie Suite C
District 7: Research
Location: Arbor Suites A
University System
Location: Arbor Suites B
What is my district?
Session 6: 2:00-2:45PM
A Major Undertaking: Leveraging Campus Partnerships for a Common Goal
Presenters: Matt Bryant, Aaron Coleman, and Tristen Metcalf
Location: Great Plains A
Track: Best Practices/Operational Excellence
University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Admissions and Student Enrollment Management team, along with the Digital Experience Group, collaborated on a project to overhaul undergraduate majors across UNL.edu. This is the story of how we learned from our mistakes and found success by leveraging our strengths and those of our campus partners to refresh how prospective students discover and explore academic majors. The project was a collective effort, and this presentation will delve into its broader aspects while specifically examining design, development, and project management. Discover how we utilized user testing to shape a mobile-friendly design, executed the deployment of a unified Drupal template across various web platforms, and harnessed the knowledge of our campus partners and the expertise of the marketing team to construct a seamless experience for end-users. All this, while managing tight deadlines and adapting to evolving requirements on the path to the finish line.
Helping the Helpers: Providing support for students during turbulent times and transitions
Presenter: Charlie Foster
Location: Great Plains B
Track: Health/Wellness
Many of our staff members find themselves pushing through their own stress or concerns as they seek to provide support for our students. Join in a discussion that is targeted for our staff who could use a bit of support themselves or who supervise staff in need of support. We will discuss boundaries, burnout and bravery as we seek to remain healthy while caring for our students.
Empowering Supervisors: Harnessing the Potential of Bridge
Presenter: Dionna Hartwig and Mikeala Petersen
Location: Great Plains C
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building
Are you interested in supporting your staff's professional growth? Curious about how you, as a supervisor, can leverage Bridge to aid employees and monitor their compliance trainings? Join us for an informative session as we explore an overview of Bridge and learn how to tailor it to your specific needs.
Cultivating a Coaching Culture in the Workplace
Presenter: Ranelle Maltas
Location: Prairie Suite A/B
Track: Mentoring/Coaching
Workplace coaching is a form of on-the-job learning. It’s a collaborative process that occurs through everyday interactions between a manager and an employee as well as between peers. In this session you will learn what defines a good coaching relationship. By the end of the session, you will understand the elements of effective coaching using the Coaching Cycle. You will be able to identify where breakdowns may occur and how to overcome them. Finally, you will have participated in a practice coaching session to strengthen what you have learned.
Strategies for Being an Effective Supervisor (Hybrid Presentation)
Presenter: Celeste Spier
Location: Prairie Suite C & Via Zoom
Track: Professional Development/Skill Building | Best Practices/Operational Excellence | Mentoring/Coaching
In this panel session, seasoned supervisors share strategies, best practices, and practical insights to help attendees enhance their supervisory skills. We cover topics like building trust, managing performance issues, effective communication techniques, the unique challenges of supervising student workers, and cultivating a positive work culture. Whether you're a new supervisor or looking to refine your leadership approach, this session provides invaluable guidance to help you navigate the complexities of supervision and increase your confidence in the role.
Institutional Equity and Compliance: The University’s Civil Rights Office
Presenter: Ryan Fette
Location: Arbor Suites
Track: Best Practices/Operational Excellence
Institutional Equity and Compliance (IEC) is the civil rights office for the university community. Are you curious how IEC might help you navigate civil rights compliance issues on campus? In this presentation, we will describe IEC’s major functions. We will identify the types of processes we oversee related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct and how to report incidents or share concerns with our office. We provide information about the accommodation process for individuals with disabilities under Faculty/Staff Disability Services. We will review IEC’s requirement for training for individuals involved in the hiring process. Some lesser-known functions of the office, such as training and professional development opportunities and ergonomic assessments, will be discussed. We will leave ample time for questions and answers.
Closing Session and Awards Ceremony
We invite all conference attendees to join us for refreshments from 3-5PM on Tuesday, May 21st for the conference closing session, giveaways and Staff Award Ceremony presented by the UNL Staff Senate Recognition Committee. Staff members will be recognized their contributions to the University in eight different categories. For more information about the awards and recipients visit the Staff Senate Recognition website.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2024 All-Staff Conference possible this year! Thank you to our All-Staff committee members, conference presenters, conference volunteers, UNL Dining Services, UNL Facilities and Operations Staff, University Communications and all our wonderful sponsors and donors. We would not have been able to coordinate this event without your assistance.
If you are interested in serving on the 2025 All-Staff Conference Steering Committee, please click here and complete an interest form.