The Special Topics Series is an annually planned group of seminars. Topics are chosen collectively by KCPDC board members based on identified development needs from each member institution.
Employees participating in the seminars can learn new skills, build relationships and share ideas with colleagues from other institutions, having some fun in the process. Special Topics sessions may be used to satisfy the elective requirements for the Supervisory and Faculty Development Certificate Programs.
Registration
Advanced registration is required for all KCPDC events. Registration is free for employees of KCPDC member institutions. Registrations must be submitted to your campus KCPDC representative. Your KCPDC representative will provide you with information for the session.
2024 – 2025 Seminars
ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts Syndrome) in the BRAIN Presented by Diane Mannion and Dee Chesnut
- Date: Thursday, October 3rd
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- Type of Breakout Session:
- Leadership & Management track (Servant Leadership and Managing Change)
- Professional Development track (Personal Advancement)
- Learning Outcomes:
- Anxiety and strife flowing from transition during uncertain or uncomfortable times.
- Negative behavior may surface in even the most disciplined of employees
- How we must manage our emotions and responses in our work world.
- Understanding how we, as well as others around us, react to stressful situations
- Tools for creating a more professional and personable YOU!
- Basic Survival Skills
Stress and Time Management Presented by Jennifer Olberding
- Date: Tuesday, October 29th
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- Managing projects, meeting deadlines, and working with people can put leaders and team members into a pressure cooker of emotions. Learn how to recognize common pressure situations, how to deal with a variety of emotions, and learn basic stress management strategies. In addition, learn valuable time management tips that will help you manage stress and create an effective action plan for working more effectively and efficiently.
Conflict Resolution Presented by Dr. Kevin Sansberry, DBA
- Date: Thursday, November 7th
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- The purpose of this session is to provide individuals with the knowledge to recognize the causes of workplace conflict, how to facilitate resolution of conflict, and how to manage the work relationships once the conflict has been resolved. Individuals are provided a short assessment to identify their preferred conflict style and an understanding of other styles.
Easing Workplace Stress with Chair Yoga Presented by Kim Lutgen
- Date: Thursday, January 30th
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- Stress can be a major factor affecting workplace motivation and wellness. The negative impact can cause companies to have staff absenteeism, turnover, and an overall decrease in productivity. Yoga is one of the best ways to combat this. Join us for a chair yoga session to help decrease stress and increase blood flow to elevate your mood. We will start with a relaxing breath focus, followed by a sequence of modified poses targeting all body areas with all poses done right from your chair.
- Benefits of chair yoga:
- Improved circulation
- Increased flexibility
- Reduced stress
- Improved productivity
- Better focus and concentration
- All over employee wellness
Emotional Intelligence Presented by Carissa Sadique
- Date: Thursday, February 11th
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- Join us to learn more about the pillars of Emotional Intelligence, how you can improve your own EQ and how to better your skills in common workplace situations – Conflict Resolution, Bettering your Adaptability, Increasing your motivation, dealing with negativity in the workplace and more!
Disrupting Bias in Evaluation: Theory and Tactics for Educators and Supervisors Presented by Dr. Stephen Norton, Ph.D.
- Date: Thursday, April 3rd
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
- Location: Zoom
- In this session, line managers and teachers will learn about the origins of bias and how to be disruptors of bias in their evaluation of employees and students. By the end of the session, participants will understand how bias functions as a form of systemic inequality to impede professional and academic progress and talent development and be equipped with real-world tactics and strategies to counter bias and nurture a more integrated workforce.
