by Melissa Sortman, MEA Uniserv Director
As it was mentioned in the most recent APA Newsletter, the University is prioritizing performance excellence as part of the MSU Bolder by Design initiative. As the professional staff union, the APA membership supports a renewed focus in staff development. APA members want to excel and continue to enhance their skill set.
It was priority in contract negotiations to improve the opportunity for professional development for our membership. The APA was able to expand the use of the annual $800 for professional development to include credit-bearing classes and ensure that members can use the up to five hours of educational release to include professional development classes. The professional development monies must be job-related and supervisor approved.
The University’s goal is to train all supervisors on how to set goals with employees. The supervisors will then meet with employees to set goals in the first half of 2016. The new evaluation program and forms will be used in the employee reviews after July 1, 2016. The new evaluation forms will include a new set of markers that include: exceeds expectations; meets expectations; developing; does not meet expectations. The new forms can be found on the MSU Human Resources website: https://www.hr.msu.edu/performanceexcellence/index.html
APA will be holding special training sessions in early 2016 to assist members in how to set performance goals, integrate the request for contractually bargained professional development monies and prepare for the performance review.
If you have any questions, please call (517) 999-4004 or email [email protected].