Preamble

The County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors and Departments have long recognized and valued employee training and development. It is a key function of a manager and supervisor to provide for the skill development and enhancement of every employee. The Employees' University and this Charter are designed to formalize this important County practice. This County-funded effort is designed to complement and enhance existing Department training efforts and fulfill the unmet needs for universal training of consistent, Countywide skills.

The Board of Supervisors recognized this need and captured it in their Strategic Plan:

Goal III: Organizational Effectiveness

A strong, professionally managed County organization.

Objective 7: Develop competent and well-trained employees committed to continuous improvement.

Purpose

The Governing Council is the ongoing body governing and operating the Employees' University. The Council is responsible for decisions affecting all aspects of the university operations including curriculum and certificate content, course approvals, offerings and schedules, logistics, accreditation, trainer selection, alignment with County management strategies, and overall evaluation.

Goals

For the first year of operation, key goals of the Council include:

1. Develop a university operational plan and present it to the Department Directors and the Board of Supervisors
2. Create a course design and approval process
3. Establish and offer the first phase of courses beginning in the fall of 1998
4. Create and initiate a marketing and feedback program
5. Establish and track performance measures
6. Recruit, select and train course facilitators
7. Develop a long-term plan for financial stability of the university
8. Recruit and select vendors
9. Manage and evaluate the quality and satisfaction with the university and its courses on an ongoing basis

Organization

The Governing Council is composed of volunteer representatives which meet both as a committee of the whole for discussion and decision making, and as subgroups tasked with specific assignments and decision making responsibility. Subgroup membership can include both Council members, as well as other County employees with specific interest in the subgroups tasks.

Subgroups initially may include:

• Train-the-Trainer Team Curriculum Design Team
• Logistics Team Course Review & Evaluation Team
• Marketing Team Finance Committee

Decision Making Process

Key decisions will be made by consensus of the Council members present at their meeting, unless the Council agrees to another process for specific decisions, or on the occasion when a consensus cannot be reached. The chairperson will be responsible for decisions which must be made between meetings, when time will not allow a Council meeting to be convened, or when the Council delegates decisions to the chairperson. In these cases the chairperson will inform members of decisions as soon as possible.

Timeframe

This is an ongoing group, which will be formally established in August, 1998. To accomplish its work, the Council will meet at least monthly. Subgroups will be created and meet as necessary to accomplish their tasks.

Roles and Responsibilities

Council members are responsible to attend and participate in the discussions of the Council and subgroups. The success of the Employees' University and the County's training efforts depend on the diversity of perspectives which come from each member. Council members are expected to be a conduit for sending and receiving information from their departments and work groups. Collectively the Council members have the responsibility and authority to produce a successful employee development university.

Ground Rules

Members of the Governing Board of the Employee's University agree to promote the success of the team by observing the following ground rules:

1. Meetings:

1. Attend scheduled meetings, arrive on time, and be prepared to participate.

2. Make attendance at subcommittee meetings a top priority.

3. If a meeting must be missed: Notify chair of absence in advance and cover assigned work; Do not send substitutes, but enlist other Governing Board members to represent you as appropriate.

2. Work:

1. Volunteer for committees and other work

2. Complete assigned tasks on time

3. Take the initiative to get help from others as needed

4. Develop and present challenging ideas which further the success of the team

3. Values and Focus:

1. Make success of the team a personal responsibility:

1. Place the needs of the team before personal agenda

2. Cooperate with and support fellow team members.

2. Champion the EU in appropriate forums

3. Model a standard of excellence

4.  Exercise honesty and integrity in conducting team activities

5. Show respect for others

1. Allow them to express their views without interruption

2. Value their questions and ideas

3. Be concise when making comments

4. Conflict Management:

1. Keep disagreements focused on the work of the team and not on individuals

2. Resolve conflict through positive discussion and by developing a consensus of team members' opinion

Membership

Governing Council membership is composed of full-time, permanent County employees. Members must be interested in employee development, committed to the employee university concept, and willing and able to contribute the time necessary as a Council member. Expertise or experience in training or corporate universities is not necessary.

Membership of this Council is limited to 14 members plus the chairperson. Council members (with the exception of the chairperson) serve in two-year, renewable terms running concurrently with the County's fiscal year. Half the Council members in the first year will serve a one-year term.

Membership is open to any employee meeting the above requirements. At least two Council members must be managers, and two must be executives. At least four members must have training or organizational development as part of their job responsibilities. At least four members must hold nonmanagerial positions. Selected members will represent the geography of County worksites.

Initial membership will be determined by the County Administrator and the Director of Organizational Effectiveness based on individuals who indicate an interest. Nominees will also be solicited from the Labor-Management Collaborative. Future membership size and selection will be determined by the members.

Current Members

Past Members

 

Living | Working | Doing Business | Visiting | Emergencies | Government | Contact Us | Home The Official Site of the County of Santa Barbara Employees' University Copyright ©2001-2007 County of Santa Barbara. All rights reserved.