In This Email:

1. Latest News - There's Still Time! Submit Your Innovation Challenge Idea

2. Development Opportunities - Upcoming Conferences

3. Upcoming Events of Interest - April Observance Calendar

The UT Institute for Public Service’s Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership is offering its professional excellence series, which is open to all UT employees.

The series includes individual classes on a variety of topics including communication, work-life balance, handling conflict, etc. The classes are $150 each and are three hours in duration. Classes are held in Nashville, Jackson and Knoxville. Classes qualify for HR128 professional development hours. Interagency transfers may be coordinated with Patrick Mills at Patrick.Mills@Tennessee.edu. 

Classes coming up in June

Jackson

The Art of Great Communication and Soft Skills Matter

Nashville

Overcoming Burnout, How to be a Team Player, The Road to Being a Great Leader and Assertiveness is not Aggressive

Knoxville

The Art of Great Communication and Soft Skills Matter

Interested employees can register here.

Additional classes may be found at the same link for August 2023, October 2023 and March 2024.

Beginning April 1 and continuing through June 30, we will be accepting applications for new enrollees in the Knoxville-area sick leave banks. This includes the Institute for Public Service, UT System Administration, UT Foundation, UT Space Institute and Institute of Agriculture. View the application form. 

For more information regarding the sick leave bank visit Sick Leave Bank | Human Resources (utk.edu). An informational on-demand session is available at SLB Information Session on Demand - YouTube. 

For questions, or to submit your application, email sickleavebank@utk.edu today!

If you want to see more of what is on the horizon for DASH, save the date for our first DASH town hall on May 3 at 3 p.m. EDT. We are excited to share project updates, hear from leadership and answer questions as we move closer to our July 1, 2024, go-live date. Be on the lookout for more details to come!

We are excited to announce the upcoming picnic on the plaza! Save the date on your calendar from noon-1:30 p.m. May 3. More details will be coming soon to your inbox.

CPR and AED training will be offered at 1 p.m. April 26 and May 4 in the Mocs conference room (UTT 1201). The course will last three hours and is free of charge for employees. If you are interested in signing up, please fill out the form below. 

The University of Tennessee System has partnered with Graphic Creations to launch an online store offering branded apparel and merchandise ranging from polos and pullovers to bowties and backpacks. Most items can be personalized, and payment options include personal and departmental cards. Check out all of the options at the online shop. 

For questions or feedback about the UT System store, please email Halley Kurtz at halley.kurtz@tennessee.edu. 

Have you ever had an idea that you thought could make your work or the work of others more efficient and effective? Maybe you have imagined ways the University could potentially save money while still providing excellent service. If so, now is a great time to see your ideas put into action and potentially be rewarded for your effort! We are seeking your great ideas in UT’s Innovation Challenge. 

As you already know, the Innovation Challenge seeks to improve the University’s operations and efficiency. Through the Innovation Challenge, UT employees systemwide can come together and submit ideas either for a specific campus or institute or the entire UT System.

Your contributions to the Innovation Challenge will help shape the University in making this the greatest decade in the history of the University of Tennessee. 

To learn more about the Innovation Challenge, the evaluation process, financial incentives, and to access the submission form, please click here.

The UT System Administration Office of Procurement Services is hosting the Big Orange Vendor Fair on May 4, from 1-4 p.m. at the Neyland Stadium North End Zone Social Deck!

With more than 20 vendors, it is a great opportunity for departments to network with our contracted hotels, caterers and event space partners. There is no cost for attending this event.

If you are interested in attending, please click the link below to learn more and to RSVP. Please respond by April 24. We look forward to seeing you on May 4. 

Conference for Women’s Leadership provides sessions on topics relevant to women at varying stages of the leadership journey, from those who are emerging as leaders to women in advanced leadership roles.

Date: May 24 at 11 a.m. through May 25 at 4 p.m.

Location: Knoxville Convention Center

Price*: $250 will be charged after the event via internal transfer.

*For non-exempt employees, the Career Development Fund (CDF) is available for registration assistance.

REGISTER HERE

Sessions

This year’s conference is based on leadership and self-help books by women authors. Some of the books include the following: “The Likeability Trap” by Alicia Menendez, “Validation Is for Parking” by Nicole Kalil, “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office” by Lois P. Frankel and “Embrace Your Almost” by Jordan Lee Dooley.

Luau Night

After our Wednesday sessions, we will be hosting a "We wear sundresses at night!" Luau. Be sure to bring your boots and sundresses! 

BEST Man Forum is designed to connect and meet the needs of the UT men that serve our campuses and institutes. The forum serves as a catalyst to unite UT men system-wide, to learn, network and contribute to embodiment of the Be One UT Values in performance, behaviors and relationships.

Exempt employees and/or those who have supervisory responsibilities are welcome to register.

Date: Sept. 19 at 12 p.m. through Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. 

Location: UT Conference Center Building

Price*: $200 will be charged after the event via internal transfer

*For non-exempt employees, the Career Development Fund (CDF) is available for registration assistance.

REGISTER HERE

Sessions

The forum will consist of concurrent breakout sessions focused on building essential skills together. Participants will select their sessions upon registration. There will also be an executive leadership panel with the opportunity for Q&A.

Game Night

Tuesday night we will have a variety of individual and team games with the opportunity to participate in a tournament. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. 

April is Celebrate Diversity Month. Initiated in 2004, it recognizes and honors the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will gain a deeper understanding of each other.

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