by Donna Johnson

Twenty years ago the Labor-Management Workplace Education Program (LMWEP) began here at the University with many course offerings, targeted primarily for AFSCME members, such as ESL and basic computer skills.  After a few years LMWEP was expanded, to include USA members, offering additional computer skills training in Excel, Word, and Access. From this growth in course and training opportunities, USA became a full and active participant in this proven worker education program.

       

Over the years LMWEP staff expanded these classes to include such things as organizational skills, writing and leadership classes, to name a few.  Then, a few years ago, the program took a budget hit that has affected the ability to offer some, or enough of, these courses and workshops to the USA.  In an effort to meet the needs of our members, the USA Career Ladder Committee has met with the LMWEP staff and together we have devised a plan to help meet our needs.  The Career Ladder Committee has agreed to give some of the funds we have available to immediately offer additional workshops this fall and during intersession.  LMWPE and USA will work together on hiring an additional computer instructor to meet the requirements for advanced computer instruction. Jim Plaza and I have been asked to be a part of this hiring committee.  In addition, as members complete their courses, the Career Ladder Committee will begin conducting independent evaluations of the participants and use this information to problem solve any issues that may arise. 

       

We will soon begin planning for the spring and summer of 2008.  In addition we will begin pursuing the certification needed to address a career ladder for our contract in the future.

    

I am really excited about our renewed partnership with the LMWEP program and the prospect of our members' career training needs being met.  This is a work in progress and the Career Ladder Committee will be overseeing this every step of the way.  The chair of the committee, Jim Plaza, is an avid advocate for training and meeting the career needs of USA members.  We need your input, so please respond to the evaluations which we will begin sending out at the end of the fall classes.  In the interim, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact Jim at plaza@comm.umass.edu. 

   

I'd like to thank Jim for all his hard work on this and to also recognize the other committee members:

               Linda Hillenbrand

               Doris Goodwin

               Leslie Marsland

I have had the opportunity as ex-officio of this committee to work closely with all of them and let me assure you they have your best interests at heart.