myHR: January 26, 2022

Navigating the College Process

Preparing for college can be an exciting and stressful time for parents and students. As you consider the college search, tuition, applications, and campus visits, it’s important that you find the right experts to help you navigate the process. Four workshops, led by Penn Undergraduate Admissions, the Student Financial Aid (SFA) Office, TIAA, and the Division of Human Resources will help benefits-eligible staff and faculty set their college-age dependents on the path to success.

Penn’s virtual workshops will show you how to make the most of a college campus visit, provide options on saving and paying for college, and explore how to build a college-ready curriculum.

Details about each of the sessions are listed below. Click on the workshop name to register today.

Navigating the Curricular Waters
February 16
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

It is time for your high-school-age dependent to start picking classes for the next academic year. What recommendations and choices do they have at their school? How does course selection impact holistic and test-optional admission? Join this session to learn how to navigate these curricular waters and the admission process. This workshop is presented by Penn Admissions.

Opening Doors to the Future – Save in a 529 College Savings PlanMarch 8
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

As all parents know, college has increasingly become more expensive, so it’s important to understand all the available savings options. In this workshop, TIAA representatives will show you how 529 college savings plans work and how to invest in one for a child, grandchild, yourself, or another loved one.

Navigating the Penn Tuition Benefit Program and Financial Aid for Your College Age Dependents
March 16
12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Staff from Penn Human Resources Tuition Benefit Program and the Student Financial Aid (SFA) Office will discuss the tuition benefit program for dependents and the college financial aid process. This session will also offer tips for reading and comparing financial aid package components, communications with financial aid offices, and provide additional resources.

Maximizing Campus and Virtual Visits
April 27
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Virtual or in person, information gathering about colleges and universities has changed during the pandemic. In this session, Penn Admissions representatives will offer tips, suggestions, and resources for making the most of your college “visits.” 

A Community of Communities

Even the most independent person works best when they feel a sense of belonging. To paraphrase a famous saying “no one is an island, entire of itself.” Each person’s identity is a combination of their individuality and their affiliation with groups. To foster that sense of belonging, members of the Penn Community have access to an array of cultural resource centers, professional organizations, and other associations for conversation, support, and activities.

The following list of University-affiliated organizations and resources gives you an overview of community contacts. These centers offer more spaces and events for various demographic groups. They also help everyone to better understand and celebrate the different perspectives and commonalities that bring us together.

African-American Resource Center

The African-American Resource Center (AARC) provides services to all. AARC is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of faculty, staff, and students at the University of Pennsylvania with a particular focus on those of African descent. Any person associated with the University may use our free and confidential services as needed.

AARC programs include Penn’s 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change, which continues through January 28.

AARC has many resources of interest to Penn employees such as short-term counseling and monthly workshops on topics ranging from personal to professional development. Email aarc@upenn.edu to request to be added to the AARC email list or inquire about AARC services and programs.

Men of Color at Penn (MOCAP)

Men of Color at Penn meets monthly to provide men support in relationship to surviving and thriving at the University of Pennsylvania as staff, faculty, and students. For more information about the Men of Color at Penn monthly meetings contact Darin Toliver at aarc@upenn.edu.

Women of Color at Penn (WOCAP)

WOCAP is a community of remarkable volunteers who come together to celebrate and promote causes that impact women. Through lecture series, current research, health and finance leadership, the Queen’s Tea, or daylong celebrations and conferences, the WOCAP group has supported womankind for 33 years. If you are interested in joining the Women of Color at Penn Planning Committee, please contact AARC at aarc@upenn.edu.

LGBTQ+Employees at Penn and Faculty Working Group

The Penn Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center has two groups that specifically serve staff and faculty:

LGBTQ+ Employees at Penn (LEAP)

LEAP is dedicated to the retention and edification of Penn’s LGBTQ+ employees and is open to all staff, faculty, and postdocs. LEAP provides social, informational, and other outlets to help foster a sense of belonging. For more information or to join, please contact Malik Muhammad (he/him) at malikmuh@upenn.edu.

LGBTQ+ Faculty Working Group

The LGBTQ+ Faculty Working Group works on and advocates for issues of import to LGBTQ+ faculty, standing and non-standing. It also provides a space to make intellectual and personal connections across disciplines. For more information or to join, please contact one of the co-conveners, Dani Bassett (they/them) at dsb@seas.upenn.edu or Erin Cross (she/her) at ecross@upenn.edu.

Pan-Asian Faculty & Staff AssociationM

The Pan-Asian Faculty & Staff Association (PAFSA) serves as a space for Penn Asian/Asian American-identifying staff and faculty to share ideas, knowledge, and connections. PAFSA provides networking, and professional development opportunities throughout the year. For more information and to join the network, please contact PAFSA facilitators, Aman Kaur at amankaur@pobox.upenn.edu and Ryan Viillanueva at ryanv@upenn.edu.

Cultural Resource Centers Within University Life

While the cultural centers within Penn’s Division of the Vice Provost for University Life focus on student services, faculty and staff are welcome to support and participate in specific activities.

Greenfield Intercultural Center

The Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC) fosters intercultural understanding on campus through cross cultural activism, reflection, and dialogue. GIC’s numerous co-curricular educational and cultural programs bring together diverse groups to raise awareness of the rich traditions and diversity within the Penn community and highlight our need for shared understanding. The center also provides consultation, guidance, workshops for affiliated student groups, organizations, college houses, and schools on diversity and cultural competency issues.

GIC student services include the First-Gen, Lower-Income and Natives at Penn programs.

The Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina

La Casa Latina promotes greater awareness of Latino issues, culture, and identity at Penn. La Casa Latina works closely with the Penn community to offer a supportive environment where all students are welcomed and engaged in programs, events, and dialogues that address important issues affecting Latinos/Hispanics locally, nationally, and internationally.

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center’s mission is to enrich the experiences, foster the success, celebrate victories, and affirm the existence of Penn’s LGBTQ+ undergraduates, professional and graduate students, staff, faculty, and alum using the lenses of social justice and intersectionality. Through education, support, and advocacy, the Center cultivates a campus climate where all students, regardless of their gender or sexual identity, can live authentically.

Makuu: The Black Cultural Center

Makuu seeks to enrich and support the principles of diversity and community in Penn student life, with an emphasis on students of African descent. Makuu utilizes the seven principles of Kwanzaa to provide support and guidance to individuals and student groups and aims to identify student evidenced challenges, enhance collaborative efforts among students, and become a repository of Penn resources that will increase students’ academic, intellectual social, cultural and professional success.

Pan-Asian American Community House

The Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH) serves as the central resource for advising East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander American students, student organizations, and their activities, as well as those interested in the Asian American diaspora. PAACH provides co-curricular events focusing on Asian American research, culture, history, politics and social issues, and develops and implements innovative programs for leadership development in close collaboration with student and community groups, faculty and staff.

Faculty and staff are welcome to sign up for the PAACH listserv to learn more about their resources and events.

Penn Women’s Center

Founded in 1973, Penn Women’s Center (PWC) is one of the nation's oldest women's centers and we support students of all genders and identities. The mission of Penn Women's Center is to promote gender justice, and to empower, support, and advance personal and professional development. PWC sponsors student groups, advocates on a wide range of issues, and provides confidential crisis and options counseling. 

Our confidential services and community spaces are open to all students, staff, and faculty. Subscribe to PWC's weekly newsletter for the latest information on events and programs. 

Faculty and Staff Professional Organizations

Weekly-paid Professional Staff Assembly

The WPPSA represents weekly-paid professional employees on the University Council and gives voice to the interests of its membership throughout the Penn community.

Penn Professional Staff Assembly

The PPSA provides a forum through which monthly-paid staff can engage in dialogue about issues facing the University and higher education.

Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate was established in 1952 as the representative voice for full-time teaching faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. Elected members of the Faculty Senate’s executive and standing committees engage in investigation and consideration of important matters with the University administration.

Penn Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty

PASEF initiates and coordinates activities that encourage retired faculty members to maintain connections among themselves and with the intellectual and social life of the University.

The Office of the Chaplain

The Office of the Chaplain staff are available to students, faculty, and staff members for pastoral support, guidance, or informal advising and counseling. The Chaplain, an ordained clergy person, participates in campus ceremonies such as Convocation, Baccalaureate and Commencement and also officiates at weddings and campus memorial services.

The Office of the Chaplain also maintains a range of service programming in partnership with faith and community-based organizations across Philadelphia.

A Hub for Parents and Caregivers

Parents, co-op caregiving groups, and other members in the Penn community are connecting to work together to support childcare, find summer camps ,and address other caregiving needs. 

Caregiver Connections is an online platform for Penn faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs who are also caregivers to build connections and find support in our local neighborhoods. You can find and build connections to Penn colleagues in your neighborhood who are also trying to address caregiving issues, including babysitting, tutoring, eldercare, and care for adults and children with special needs.

For Veterans

Veterans Upward Bound Resources

Cohen Military Family Clinic Guide

For more community connections, visit the Human Resources Penn Community pages.

Adaptive Leadership

Whether you supervise a large department or you’re managing a project for the first time, it’s crucial to know when and where to take different approaches to help your group meet its goals. Think about leaders who brought out the best in you over time. When the situation called for quick and coordinated action, they told you and your teammates what to do. When you needed to create or learn, they asked you questions to guide your discovery. When you sought motivation, they shared their vision. Now that you’re a leader, how do you know which method to use and when to use it?

Find the answers at the Adapting Your Leadership Style virtual workshop on February 9 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join Training & Development Consultant, Bryant Kuehner, and other Penn staff members for a discussion that will help you learn to recognize style differences and develop motivation approaches for a variety of employees and organizational needs.

Learning how to apply different leadership styles doesn’t mean changing who you are. “We all have our natural preferences and dispositions,” says Kuehner.

The Adapting Your Leadership Style workshop invites participants to assess what works best for them, while understanding that leadership styles exist within a context.

Kuehner says, “It’s important to be mindful about how circumstances determine whether a manager should be more commanding or democratic, and whether they should set an example or coach their direct reports to find their own way to meet their goals.”

This nimble and responsive leadership approach allows you to relate to others and guide them more effectively. It gives you flexibility to successfully evolve.

Register for Adapting Your Leadership Style and discover how to keep your group productive and engaged in ever-changing environments.

For more professional development opportunities, visit the Learn and Grow section of the Human Resources website.

Healthy Meals: Healthier Chicken Nuggets

This kid-friendly favorite is made with chunks of chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs and baked until golden brown. These tender bites have a satisfying crunchy coating without the greasy, over-processed mystery ingredients and excess sodium. An easy-to-make recipe, adults can also enjoy this dish by serving it over a salad for a satisfying lunch.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed
3 cups panko breadcrumbs (any fine breadcrumb will work)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 tablespoons olive oil  

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Coat with cooking spray.

Place panko, garlic powder, onion powder, and basil into a quart size plastic bag and seal. Shake until combined.

In a medium mixing bowl, drizzle olive oil over cubed chicken and mix until evenly coated.

Place olive oil coated chicken cubes into the plastic bag with your breadcrumb mixture. Shake bag until evenly coated.

Evenly distribute chicken nuggets onto foil lined sheet pan and cook for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through. 

Meet With a Registered Dietitian Today!

• One-on-one, virtual nutrition counseling
• 100% covered under many insurance plans and available to spouses and dependents
• Simple Sign Up Process – Visit Penn’s Corporate Wellness Nutrition’s Sign Up page, provide your information and a customer service team member will reach out in one to two business days to book your appointment.

Did You Know: Booster Vaccinations Due January 31 

All eligible staff, faculty, and post-docs are required to receive a booster vaccination by January 31. Anyone not eligible for the booster by this date must receive the shot within 30 days of becoming eligible. You are exempt from this new requirement if you’ve been approved for a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination requirement. Upload your latest dose in Workday. Review the Self Service: Enter Vaccine Information tip sheet for uploading instructions.