MaPSAC Awards Three Professional Development Grants
The goal of the Managerial and Professional Staff Advisory Committee (MaPSAC) Professional Development Grant is to enhance the knowledge or understanding of a particular topic which will benefit the employee’s work performance. We want our members to actively pursue professional development opportunities to ensure that their knowledge and skills stay relevant and up to date.
Professional development not only helps employees to be more efficient and continue to be competent in their field but also excel in it. That is why it was important for MaPSAC to offer our first professional development grants in Spring 2020. With a budget of $1500.00 we received 19 applications and awarded 3 applicants.
We would like to congratulate our three winners:
Jennifer Birchfield – Urban Water Coordinator, College of Engineering and Sciences
Nerissa Germain-Cronister – Academic Advisor, CHESS/Psychology
Rachel Krcmarich – Campus Planning Administrator, Space Management
All of our winners are lifelong learners with advanced degrees. They are devoted to their craft and enjoy helping others and connecting our students and partners with available resources which can make a difference in their lives.
We have been thrown for a loop with the coronavirus pandemic and while many people have had to put their lives on pause these three winners did just the opposite. The pandemic did not stop them from reaching their goals. The timing of the grant was perfect for all three winners.
Jennifer Birchfield attended a Plant Identification for Wetland and Adjacent Species Workshop that was scheduled for later in the year. With some of the pandemic restrictions being lifted the workshop was held during the original scheduled time in August. The workshop was held outside and all participants were wearing masks.
Her background is in Environmental Science so this workshop will add to her knowledge base. During the 3-day workshop she was able to work with a botanist and obtain valuable information about wetland plants. The information gained during this experience will allow her to work with partners on wetland restorations and able to identify wetland plants and use that knowledge to assist students as well.
Nerissa Germain-Cronister applied for two e-tutorials, Theory and Practice of Advising and Creating Peer Advising Programs offered by the National Academic Advising Association which commenced at the end of March. This 2 day conference was scheduled to be held in Milwaukee Wisconsin, however due to the pandemic it was administered all on line so the conference fee was waived and the grant covered the cost of the two e-tutorials.
With a background in psychology, these tutorials have provided Nerissa with different approaches taken to assist students and how to be a better resource to them. In addition, this conference allowed her to learn how to research, analyze and manipulate data to ask pertinent questions in the realm of Higher Education Advising.
Rachel Krcmarich used the grant to earn The Certified Educational Facilities credential (CEFP). The is self-directed and self-paced during the months of July through October with the final exam commencing on October 27, 2020. So, the pandemic did not affect her completing the program.
With over 8 years of experience in Facilities in Higher Education, this opportunity allowed Rachel to go beyond her daily task and see the full picture, from beginning to end, of how facilities work from planning to financing. In additional it enhanced her own knowledge of how to effectively utilize space.
The recipients of the Professional Development Grant are life-long learners and well deserving of the grant. They all have a passion for what they do and this grant allowed them to enhance their knowledge base.
Again, congratulations to the Spring 2020 Professional Development Grant winners. We look forward to providing this opportunity again next year.