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New professional development workshop for faculty and staff
Career development planning, work-life balance, and workplace mental health and well-being. They’re not just business buzzwords; they’re vital components of the employee experience at Central Michigan University. And now, CMU faculty and staff are invited to join President Neil MacKinnon for a conversation about the importance of all three.
Career Compass: Navigating a Well-Balanced Life is both a professional development opportunity and a chance to engage in conversation with the university’s top leader. The president’s office has scheduled special sessions this fall for groups including the P&A Council, the Joint Union Council and the Council of Chairs, with more planned for the spring semester.
“Part of the goal of this series is to bring people with shared career experience together in conversation that may not organically happen in their regular day-to-day interactions at work,” MacKinnon said. “We also want to provide an opportunity for individuals who may not often have the chance to participate in career planning or professional development programs.”
MacKinnon said there he will offer open sessions that any university faculty or staff member can register to attend. The first open session is scheduled for noon on Thursday, November 12, in the Bovee University Center. Space is limited to the first 20 employees who register to allow for personal interaction.
Register to attend Career Compass
The Career Compass workshop is based on leadership lessons learned from the president’s experience as a student, faculty member, dean, provost and president, and also features highlights from some of the president’s favorite researchers and authors, including Kevin McClure’s “The Caring University,” and Board Chair Denise Williams-Mallett’s "The Village Effect.”
It is also informed by MacKinnon’s published research and study of work-life balance and employee workplace well-being. His articles on the topic have been featured in publications such as Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the International Journal of Medical Education and the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.
“In 2022, the U.S. Surgeon General released a national framework to address workplace mental health with a new approach to work-life balance,” MacKinnon said. “We spend a significant portion of our lives at work, and our experiences in the workplace can deeply affect our lives outside of work.”
MacKinnon said the workshop is structured around a five-step process he developed to avoid burnout and find harmony between life at and outside of the workplace.
“Priority three of our current strategic plan is focused on enhancing our organizational culture, and that includes our work to become a national leader in Caring University behaviors,” MacKinnon said. “As the institution seeks ways to strengthen our organizational culture, we can also each take stock of our own workplace wellbeing and consider how we can make our experience the best it can be.”
In addition to his service as CMU’s president, MacKinnon also holds a faculty appointment in the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine and remains active in research with a team that includes current CMU faculty and students.
Watch MacKinnon’s work-life balance interview on The Search Bar Podcast
MacKinnon’s workshop is one of several professional development opportunities available to university employees. In addition to the tuition benefit program, faculty and staff members can register for professional development programs and workshops on leadership, time management, communication styles, conflict resolution and more. Individuals and teams can also learn more about CliftonStrengths training available now through the Go Grants! initiative.
“Lifelong learning isn’t just a goal for our current students; it’s a goal for every member of our university community,” MacKinnon said. “It’s an ideal that shows up repeatedly in our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, and it’s something that I hope everyone will choose to pursue. There are numerous ways for every student, faculty and staff member, graduate and partner to engage in opportunities to enhance their skills and acquire new knowledge at CMU, and I’m very proud of that.”
